Kyrie Irving may have already played his final game as a Maverick

The Dallas Mavericks have many unanswered questions to start the offseason. The team must figure out how they want to address this year's draft in June. They currently have the 11th-best odds to get the No. 1 pick. This would be a dream for Mavs fans, as they have yet to get over the Luka Doncic trade.

In simple terms, the Mavs have less than a 2 percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick. So, the idea of Cooper Flagg coming to Dallas is extremely unlikely. He would be the perfect candidate to help fans grieving over Doncic, as he would give the team a secure future. However, Dallas could still solve their dilemma in the draft.

One realistic candidate to replace Doncic is BYU prospect Egor Demin. Like Doncic, he is a Real Madrid product who can do everything. During the NCAA Tournament, he shot 42.9 percent overall and averaged 13.7 points per game. He dropped 15 points and seven assists in the team's final match against Alabama in the Sweet 16.

Kyrie Irving's future with the Mavericks is heartbreakingly uncertain

Yet aside from the draft, Dallas has bigger questions it must answer. For example, the team has yet to answer what will happen with Kyrie Irving. The problem is Irving's future in Dallas could be in doubt, as he can control his future this offseason. Irving has a player option this summer and can opt out of his contract and become a free agent.

If he were to leave, this would be a dangerous situation for Dallas. For starters, Irving is the heart and soul of the Mavericks. Before his injury, he was averaging 27.8 points per game in February. He helped carry Dallas to new heights after the team traded Doncic. Irving's leadership kept the Mavs afloat in the Play-In Tournament race.

Everything came crashing down, though, when Irving tore his ACL. The injury derailed Dallas' playoff hopes, as things became clear. Anthony Davis needed a counterpart to help the team earn a playoff spot. Dallas also struggled to find a primary ball handler, as Brandon Williams, Spencer Dinwiddie, and various other Mavs took turns handling the ball, but even all of them combined couldn't make up for Irving's absence.

So, he holds the key to Dallas' future. He is the one person who can revive Nico Harrison's job. If Dallas were to bring back Irving, it would show everyone that Harrison has the utmost confidence in him, even after a catastrophic injury. It could demonstrate Harrison's ability to trust in Irving's ability and the team's belief in his full recovery. Not to mention, Irving has become a valued teammate who could help Dallas attract top free agents.

It's clear the Mavericks need Irving to come back. Yet, his return is not guaranteed. Irving controls his future. He holds the leverage over whether or not he may return. It's expected he will return to Dallas and build a dynamic relationship with Davis. However, as seen in the NBA, nothing is guaranteed. Just ask Harrison about Doncic.

Hypothetically, Irving could opt not to return if he feels disrespected by Dallas in negotiations if they low-ball him. This seems unlikely, as Harrison made it seem inevitable that Irving would be back this summer, but Irving must also do what's best for him as well. This could be his last max contract, as he is nearing the end of his career. So, if he doesn't like the Mavs' expected deal, he could decide to leave. If you recall, he stayed loyal to Dallas after the Doncic trade.

This could be a risky gamble for Dallas, as Irving might never be the same once he returns from his ACL injury. So, while all signs point to Irving re-signing in Dallas, anything is possible. Mavs fans don't get your hopes up too much, as Harrison has shown his true colors in the past.

So, all Mavs fans can do is hope Irving has a speedy recovery and signs with the Mavericks again this summer or opts into his deal. Assuming he doesn't leave, then Dallas has a bright future next season. Things could go south if Irving opts out and doesn't return.