Could the Dallas Mavericks be in for a roster shakeup this offseason?
Just last season, the Dallas Mavericks made two crucial moves at the trade deadline and they ended up being an NBA Finals team. Built around Luka Doncic, the team’s franchise superstar, and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks are well-positioned to be a contender when healthy.
However, the Mavericks haven’t stayed healthy. They’re slipping in the standings as they are currently 23-20 and the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.
The Mavericks are a contending squad on paper, even more so with the addition of Klay Thompson, but they are in the Play-In Tournament picture over midway through the season because of injuries.
Because of their current standings, the alarms are starting to sound.
Irving is headed towards a critical offseason. He’s about to finish year two of a three-year contract, though he’s headed toward a player option that could allow him to exit his contract.
Could Irving leave the Mavericks and pursue an opportunity to win elsewhere? According to former NBA veteran Chandler Parsons on a recent episode of “Run it Back,” Irving leaving is “always possible.”
“I think it’s always possible when things don’t go as planned, that’s why those player options [exist]. No trade clauses and player options are extremely valuable,” Parsons explained. “Everything Kyrie’s done, he’s move around a little bit, at this point of his career, he has the money, he wants to win.”
Right now, the Mavericks are slipping. Things aren’t exactly going to plan. However, playoff success can be had. Irving and Doncic can get back on the floor together to pull the season back together.
Dallas has been mightily successful with Doncic and Irving on the floor with one another. The pairing has led to an NBA Finals appearance and can lead to much more success if the Mavericks can retain the star guard this offseason.
According to Lou Williams, following up what Parsons said, by going out and improving the roster around those two, they can keep them around.
“The one thing Kyrie Irving wanted was stability, he somewhere he could call home, he wanted to continue his career and be Kyrie Irving, and he’s found that in Dallas,” Williams said.
“Before he moves, I think the Dallas Mavericks look to a position where ‘we’re going to add pieces around Luka, we’re going to add pieces around Kyrie’, we’re not going to let these guys walk out of the building.
“I see them building for the future as opposed to allowing these guys to walk.”
As Williams alluded to, the Mavericks making moves to allow the duo to compete at the highest level alongside one another for the longest amount of time will be the club’s mindset and intention.
If Irving knows the Mavericks will do what it takes to equip him and Doncic with the teammates needed to win an NBA title, he would be a fool to leave that comfort of a situation. The organization has also truly embraced him and given him comfort in his career.
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