Luka Doncic on playing with Kyrie Irving: 'It's a great fit'

Irving’s current deal will come to an end after this season. The Mavs obviously knew this coming in when they pulled the trigger on the blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets, and they were well aware of the fact that there was a significant risk of Kyrie being nothing more than a half-season rental for them. If you ask ESPN’s NBA guru Ramona Shelburne, however, she is adamant that the Mavs will be able to strike a deal with Irving this summer: “They feel really good about their chances of keeping Kyrie Irving,” Shelburne said. “When they traded for him, they had an option, obviously, to sign him for a two-year extension. He wants more than two years. … Kyrie wants four. So, it may come down to whether or not they’re willing to go to that fourth year. -via Clutch Points / April 11, 2023

The early (stress: very early) rumbles have led to projections of a three- or four-year pact. As I’ve also been saying, over and over, Dallas will face major roster-building challenges to find the shooting, rim protection and defense on the wing that it needs even if negotiations with Irving go swimmingly. -via marcstein.substack.com / April 11, 2023

Kyrie Irving: A Big Thank you to every single one of you around the world that’s prayed for me and reached out through texts, calls, or DMs to lend their support over these past few years. I love you and I appreciate you and your family. Let’s keep building our A11Even TRIBE. -via Twitter @KyrieIrving / April 11, 2023

Doncic, according to sources, has not been very active in the Mavericks’ decision-making process—and has no desire to change that. But around the league, teams are watching for the moment when Doncic gets fed up with the Mavs. “It is more just wishing than reality,” one Eastern Conference GM told Heavy Sports. “But there is definitely a thought process of this happening eventually, and it being a matter of when and not if. But the truth is, we were saying that about Giannis, too, and that certainly changed. Bradley Beal, guys like that—there is no reason to think that Luka is bolting for the door. Not yet, at least.” -via Heavy.com / April 10, 2023

There is the reality, too, that Doncic has a contract that will pay him $215 million over five years, and gives him very little leverage in seeking a trade from Dallas. “The Mavericks are not going there, and everyone knows it,” a Western Conference executive told Heavy. “There is just no way. The only way he can force a trade is to sit out like Ben Simmons did and anyone who knows anything about Luka knows he is not going to do that. There’s just no way. -via Heavy.com / April 10, 2023

“Anyone saying they’re going to trade him isn’t looking at the facts, or it is wishful thinking. Why trade him? You have him signed through 2027. This is not an issue until 2025 or 2026. That’s just the reality, the way the CBA is set up. He has not been in town long enough to start asking out.” But no doubt, the clock is ticking in Dallas. -via Heavy.com / April 10, 2023