DALLAS, TX - APRIL 5: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against the ... [+]
The Dallas Mavericks will retain guard Kyrie Irving. According to Shams Charania, Dallas and Irving have agreed on a three-year, $126 million contract. Tim MacMahon of ESPN confirmed the report.
According to Irving’s agent, Shetellia Riley-Irving, the first Black woman to negotiate and complete an NBA contract, the deal contains a player option in the final season.
Irving was Dallas’ primary target as NBA free agency got underway early Friday evening. The Mavericks made it clear that they wanted to keep Irving alongside fellow All-Star in their backcourt soon after the regular season ended.
The Mavericks could pay Irving more than any other team. However, his market appeared to cool off outside of some leverage plays before free agency began. Dallas could have offered him a five-year contract worth $272.92 million because they hold his Bird rights.
Dallas acquired the 10-time All-Star in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets in February along with Marcus Morris in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2027 second-round draft pick, a 2029 first-round draft pick and a 2029 second-round draft pick.
Irving appeared in 20 games with the Mavericks, averaging 27 points, five rebounds, six assists and 1.3 steals in 38.2 minutes. He shot 51% from the floor overall and 39.2% from deep.
His pairing with Doncic raised the most eyebrows in his quarter-season stint with the team. The two played 16 games together, but Irving and Doncic never clicked. Dallas had a record of 5-11 when the two stars shared the court. Despite the on-court chemistry issues they faced, the Mavericks opted to run it back for potentially three seasons.
Now that Irving has agreed to stay in Dallas, the Mavericks can focus elsewhere as the front office looks to fill the roster with the best available talent.
