Mavericks rumored to be nearing gigantic Kyrie Irving mistake

The Dallas Mavericks seemed destined to make a final playoff push. On Friday, they defeated the Detroit Pistons to snap their four-game losing streak. The Mavs must continue winning, as they have 11 games left in the season. It'll take a miracle if Dallas hopes to replicate last year's success in the postseason.

Currently, Dallas seems headed in the right direction, as multiple players were assigned to the Texas Legends for one-day practice sessions last week, including Anthony Davis. However, many Mavs fans believe bringing Davis might not be the best idea. They have the right to think so; bringing him back comes with many risks.

Bringing Davis back could be a dangerous solution. Currently, the Mavs are tied with the Phoenix Suns for the last play-in spot. The team must overcome the Suns in win percentage, as Phoenix owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. Then, Dallas would need to win two play-in games to make the playoffs. This could be dangerous, as there's a possibility Davis re-injures himself, and this is just the beginning of his journey in Dallas.

Mavericks' rumored Kyrie Irving gamble could backfire quickly

The best plan would be to have Davis come into training camp healthy and hope Irving returns in the middle of the season. Now, this is all based on the idea Irving has a full recovery. Many players struggle to return to their normal form after an ACL year. For example, Derrick Rose tore his ACL during the 2012 NBA Playoffs. He ended up missing the entire 2012-13 NBA season. Rose struggled to regain his All-Star form and failed to replicate his success during his MVP season later in his career.

This is why signing Kyrie Irving to a max extension is risky. Dallas Morning News reporter Mike Curtis jumped on an episode of "Run it Back," featured on FanDuel TV last week. He outlined that the Mavs are still on track to sign Irving to a massive contract this summer. Curtis further explained that Irving was the "heart and soul" of the team. This is nothing new, as General Manager Nico Harrison has been vocal about keeping Irving in Dallas.

The Mavs' guard is having one of his best seasons with Dallas this year. He was selected to represent the Western Conference All-Star team and helped keep the Mavs afloat after Luka Doncic was traded. He was the primary leader the team desperately needed. However, Irving is entering the latter half of his prime.

This means the road may only get harder. Most ACL recoveries can take 9-12 months, assuming things go well. Some things to factor in include age and health. He just turned 33 today, and his recovery will not be easy. Irving has had two key long-term injuries already. He missed the entire 2018 postseason after undergoing a procedure in his left knee. Then, in 2020 he underwent season-ending surgery on his shoulder.

This is why signing 33-year-old Irving to a max contract this summer is scary. Irving will likely get the max extension, however, there is no guarantee he will return to his normal form. Nico's three to four-year plan will be dependent on Irving's health. Of course, Davis' health will be a major factor too. The team will need both players at full strength if they hope to contend in the coming years.

Now, this all depends if Irving opts out this offseason. Assuming he does, Dallas will likely offer him the max. They must proceed with caution though, as every detail must be examined well. If Irving gets the max, he will be in his late thirties at the end of the deal.

So, Dallas has a lot of thinking to do when it comes to Irving. Do they take a gamble and throw money at Irving if he opts out, or consider trying to talk him down? There's no questioning Irving's abilities, it's the outcome of ACL recoveries the team must examine. Mavs fans must hope Nico Harrison makes the right decision here.