Kyrie Irving is reeling from a devastating injury blow, made even worse by the lack of clarity on his future.
The 2024-25 season is over for Kyrie Irving – and many believe the Dallas Mavericks campaign is over too.
Irving has suffered a torn ACL, sustained against the Kings, and it is possible he has played his last ever game for the team.
It is a tough blow for the popular star, who was enjoying an excellent season and had become the face of the franchise following the Luka Doncic trade.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks broke down the dilemma facing the team, due to Irving having a player option this summer, where he can choose to enter free agency. He could do this if he does not get the offer from the Mavericks he is seeking.
Marks describes Irving as a ‘significant risk’ due to his age and now serious injury.
Kyrie Irving has been urged to seek a deal with a team with a longer timeline for success, rather than the Mavericks, whose window has been dramatically shortened by trading away their generational star.
Former NBA star Chandler Parsons believes the Houston Rockets or Orlando Magic are ideal destinations for Irving. He believes the longer runway these teams have give Irving a better chance of securing his long-term future.
Parsons told Run It Back: “If I am his agent right now. I am talking to the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets, and I am opting out, and I am signing a three or four year deal with one of those teams that has need a point guard, and that would give him the luxury of the longer contract.”
Parsons’ co-host on the show, former Sixth Man of the Year, Lou Williams, was not so keen on one of the proposals put forward.
He pointed out the Orlando Magic’s own injury situation with Jalen Suggs – although he could yet make a return for the playoffs.
Williams said: “If you’re the Orlando Magic and you got a Suggs that’s out, you have that point guard that’s out, you kind of sitting there like, ‘I don’t want to hitch my bets on on another point guard that’s going to be recovering from an ACL injury’. I’m going to want somebody that’s young and that’s healthy.”
Parsons was not deterred, adding: “I’m calling it now, Kyrie will be on the Magic or the Rockets next year.”
At the moment we are months away from Irving and the Dallas Mavericks having to make a decision. And this is a two-pronged choice, with Irving and the Mavs both having to assess the situation, or work out what is best for them both.
A drastic option put forward is for the Mavericks to trade away Anthony Davis, with ESPN’s Tim Bontemps recommending the move to undo some of the damage done in recent weeks.
