Kidd reveals how Mavericks really feel about Kyrie Irving ahead of free agency

The Dallas Mavericks are finally getting some rest after a wild schedule over the last month that included them barely being at home, as they'll be in Dallas for the next few days before traveling to Golden State later this weekend.

Dallas is getting this rest at the perfect time considering that both P.J. Washington and Maxi Kleber need to recover from being ill while Jaden Hardy receives a couple of extra days to nurse his injured ankle, and they enter this game against the Warriors coming off a tough NBA Cup loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Dallas turned the ball over 19 times in this game, and OKC's tight on-ball defense was too much for the Mavs as they couldn't get their offense consistently rolling. Dallas has to fix this turnover problem that has plagued them recently, and that includes their dynamic duo. Neither Luka Doncic nor Kyrie Irving could get fully going, as they combined for just 33 points

Despite this relatively quiet performance from Dallas' star-studded duo, they have both been excellent all season long and are playing like they can hold down the fort for years to come. With that being said, they are both due new contracts this summer, with Irving's being the most serious considering that he can become a free agent.

Kidd wants Irving to be a Maverick for years to come

Irving has a player option this summer and could become an unrestricted free agent if he were to opt out. He seems to love Dallas from everything that he has said about the team on and off the floor, but the Mavs may have to pay up if they want to keep him. He has helped turn the team into a consistent contender every year with the help of Doncic, and Jason Kidd recently reflected on Irving's first 100 games with the Mavs earlier this week.

"I'm happy that he's hit the 100-game mark," Kidd said. "Hopefully he'll have another 200 games here. When you look at what he's done on & off the floor, it's been at a very high level. I think that's what we expected when we made the trade for him."

Despite all of the outside noise that surrounded Irving's reputation during his time in Brooklyn and Boston, Kidd said the Mavs "expected" him to be as successful as he has been in Dallas on the hardwood, and off the court as well. There has not been a single off-court issue with Irving since he arrived in Dallas, and his on-court impact has been just as strong.

He and Doncic went from struggling to figure out how to play with one another to being one of the most dominant duos in the league, and Irving has helped give the Mavs their first serious duo in ages.

Kidd's message about Irving shows that he obviously wants him around for years to come, and the Mavs likely feel the exact same way. Kidd has done an amazing job at managing the locker room over the last few years with Irving and Doncic at the center of it, and Irving has become the clear leader of the team in less than two years.

Kidd needs more credit for making this era of Mavericks basketball work so elegantly, and he has been a big reason that the Irving project has turned into a masterpiece. Kidd deserves all of the recognition he gets for how he has led this group recently, and he could end up being a huge reason that Irving remains a Maverick (if he re-signs).

Kidd clearly sees Irving as a franchise cornerstone moving forward, and pretty soon, we'll know if Irving makes Dallas his long-term home.