8 Potential Dallas Mavericks free agent targets with ties to Kyrie Irving

The Dallas Mavericks have to improve their roster this offseason after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Luka Doncic averaged a career-high 32.4 points per game, but the roster around him simply was not good enough. The Mavs traded for Kyrie Irving in February, but that further unbalanced their roster and led to a late-season collapse. Dallas lost 18 of their final 25 games to miss the playoffs entirely.

Kyrie is an unrestricted free agent this summer and is in no rush to make his decision. The eight-time All-Star wants a max contract, but will anyone offer one after his turbulent three-and-a-half-year stint in Brooklyn? There is no questioning Irving’s talent on the court, but it has not always been smooth sailing away from it.

The Mavericks gave up two starters and three draft picks, including one first-rounder, to acquire Kyrie, so they are committed to bringing him back. Can they work out a new deal? Irving appears wants to get more talent to Dallas, and the Mavs could target players that have a history with Kyrie.

Dallas Mavericks potential free agent targets with ties to Kyrie Irving

8. DeAndre Jordan

This one seems unlikely considering Jordan’s history with the Mavericks. For those who don’t remember, he agreed to a deal with Dallas as a free agent in 2015 only to change course during the moratorium and re-sign with the Clippers. Then, the Mavericks convinced him to come in 2018 only for Jordan to be traded to New York after just 50 games in the Kristaps Porzingis deal.

Kyrie and DJ won an Olympic gold medal together for Team USA in 2016, and both joined the Nets in free agency in 2019. Kevin Durant and Irving both took less money, so they could get Jordan. Things didn’t go as planned, but Jordan made it clear that his bond with KD and Kyrie goes beyond basketball.

The 34-year-old big man has turned into more of a leader and locker-room presence in Denver this year. JaVale McGee figures to be the Dallas Mavericks' third-string center next season, and DeAndre Jordan’s defending is problematic at this stage. The fit is not there, but if signing Jordan to a minimum deal means keeping Kyrie Irving, the Mavs should do it.

7. Jevon Carter

Despite being just 6’1, Carter is known for his defense. He averaged a career-high 22.3 minutes per game last season for the Bucks. His number did not leap off the screen, but his play had some making the case that he deserved All-Defensive recognition.

The Mavericks desperately need a point-of-attack defender, and Carter could certainly offer that option. According to the NBA’s matchup data, Carter guarded Zach LaVine, Jalen Brunson, Jaden Ivey, Tyrese Maxey, Victor Oladipo, and Jalen Green the most this season. All of those players have the ball in their hands and are looking to create offense.

Carter would allow the Mavericks to play Kyrie off the ball on defense, but it would create some size issues. The 27-year-old would be a reserve option in Dallas, but he could be an impactful signing and perfect fit.

The Brooklyn Nets acquired Jevon Carter during the 2021 offseason, but he spent just six months with the team before being waived. The Bucks picked him up in February 2022, and he has found a fit in Milwaukee. Carter has a $2.2 million player option for next season that he could decline to become an unrestricted free agent. 

If he opts out, the Dallas Mavericks should certainly be interested, but it is unclear if they can outbid the Bucks for his services.

6. Kevin Love

Love and Irving were teammates for three years in Cleveland, and the Cavaliers went to three NBA Finals and won the championship in 2016. LeBron James was the face of the team, but Irving and Love gave him two co-stars for the most successful run in franchise history. Irving was traded to Boston in 2017, and James departed for LA one year later.

Love did not leave Cleveland until February when he was bought out. The 6’8 forward signed with the Heat for the remainder of the season, and he was credited with helping Miami turn things around to reach the NBA Finals. Love is a 15-year NBA veteran that has done it all in the league. Nothing is going to surprise him, and he can make a massive impact on any contending team.

The five-time All-Star made it clear that the Cavaliers should retire Kyrie’s number back in December, and he offered praise for the current Mavericks guard. There appear to be zero hard feelings there for the way things ended in Cleveland, but would Kevin Love be interested in coming to Dallas this summer?

He is an unrestricted free agent, and the 34-year-old will have his pick of destinations. Love is best suited in a 20-minute per-game role at this point in his career, but he would certainly improve the Mavs’ rebounding and floor spacing if he is interested in a reunion with Kyrie.

5. Jeff Green

Green is playing a key role for the Nuggets at 36 years old, including getting up for some monster dunks. The 15-year NBA veteran can only play 15 to 20 minutes per game at this stage of his career, but he offers plenty, including a veteran presence and leadership to any team. Green made it clear that he wants to continue playing next season and would like to stay in Denver.

The Nuggets roster is facing cap concerns, so Green would likely be limited to a minimum contract. Could someone convince him to leave by offering more money? Maybe not, but it may be worth it for the Mavericks as they need veteran leadership and depth to round out their bench.

Jeff Green joined his longtime friend Kevin Durant on the Brooklyn Nets in 2020 where he got the chance to play with Kyrie. The 6’8 forward pulled no punches when discussing Irving during that season, including saying, “he is who he is and I love who he is”. Could the eight-time All-Star convince Green to leave the Nuggets to come to Dallas?

It feels like a long shot, but that should not stop the Dallas Mavericks and Kyrie Irving from trying. Jeff Green could make a massive impact both on and off the court if they get him to join the team.

4. Seth Curry

Kyrie Irving only played 11 games for Duke during his lone season there in 2011, but he was teammates with seven future NBA players. The 6’2 guard was the number two recruit in the country, and he was supposed to lead the team, but a toe injury kept him out for most of the season. Irving returned for the NCAA Tournament, but Duke was upset by Arizona in the Sweet 16.

Seth Curry has been Irving’s teammate three different times. They were together at Duke, but Curry spent two more years playing for the Blue Devils before coming to the NBA. He went undrafted in 2013 but picked up a ten-day contract with the Cavaliers midseason. Curry played in just one game, and Irving was out with an injury, but they were briefly teammates in Cleveland before linking back up in Brooklyn in 2022.

Curry talked about what it was like reuniting with Kyrie on the court after 11 years with Draymond Green on his podcast.

Seth Curry has had arguably the two most successful stints of his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks. Would the 6’2 sharpshooter be interested in coming back to play next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving? Why not, and he could be a fantastic fit.

Seth Curry is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he will be likely looking for a mid-level exception contract. Who will sign him? That is an unknown, but expect the Mavs to have some interest.

3. Mason Plumlee

The Mavs desperately need to improve their center situation this offseason. It was the team’s biggest weakness in their run to the conference finals in 2022, so Dallas signed JaVale McGee to take over as their starting center last summer. The experience did not work out, and McGee was quickly dropped from the rotation entirely. That put Dwight Powell back starting and left the Mavericks with the same issues.

Plumlee was Duke’s starting center back in 2011 under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K later took over leading USA basketball, and he had his two former Blue Devils back on the World Cup squad in 2014 as they won the gold medal in Spain. Kyrie was a starter and went on to play in the 2016 Olympics. Plumlee was a reserve big man that was not selected for the Olympic gold medal-winning squad.

Could Kyrie convince his former college teammate to join him in Dallas? Plumlee is an unrestricted free agent this summer after joining the Clippers off the buyout market in February. The 6’11 big man averaged 10.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 26.0 minutes per game last season.

Plumlee is not a shot-blocker or rim protector, but he would be a significant upgrade for the Dallas Mavericks at the five. He would solve their rebounding woes and give their offense a dynamic playmaker in the middle. Signing Mason Plumlee is certainly an option the Mavs should explore this summer.

2. Caris LeVert

LeVert’s breakout from role player to sixth man happened during Irving’s first season in Brooklyn. Kyrie played just 20 games because of injury, and LeVert was limited to 45, which left them just 16 games together. Kevin Durant missed the entire season recovering from his torn Achilles, so LeVert had plenty of shots and was a key part of the Nets reaching the playoffs without their two best players on the floor.

The 6’6 wing was traded to the Pacers in Jan. of 2021 in the four-team deal that brought James Harden to Brooklyn. The Nets could not resist adding a third star, even at the expense of their depth. LeVert was traded to the Cavaliers just one year later where he reunited with former Nets teammate Jarrett Allen.

LeVert is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the 28-year-old will be looking to cash in on a significant contract. The Mavericks are certainly looking for size and wing depth. LeVert is one of the best wings on the free agent, but would he be willing to come to Dallas for the mid-level exception?

Caris LeVert defended Kyrie in 2021 when he was sitting out, and he may have an interest in linking back up with the eight-time All-Star. If the Dallas Mavericks trade Tim Hardaway Jr., LeVert would be a natural replacement. Expect the Mavs to take a hard look at LeVert this summer as they attempt to upgrade their roster.

1. Bruce Brown

Brown has taken his game to another level after joining the Nuggets this season. The 6’4 wing has a unique skill set. He is a slightly below-average 3-point shooter that is improving along with being a lockdown defender. Brown can handle the ball, make plays, set screens, and just do a bit of everything on the court. Denver has unlocked his game, and he has been outstanding during the 2023 playoffs.

Brown has a $6.8 million player option for next season, but it feels like he is set to make significantly more on the open market. Do not be surprised to see him decline it and look for a larger deal in free agency.

Bruce Brown would be the perfect fit in Dallas. He can play next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving and excel as a screener, cutter, and floor spacer along with defending on the ball. Brown has been outstanding next to Nikola Jokic, and he could find a new level playing off number 77 in Dallas.

The 26-year-old was teammates with Irving for two years in Brooklyn, and they created plenty of highlights during their time with the Nets. It feels unlikely they will reunite in Dallas, but the Mavericks will certainly have interest in Brown if he hits the open market.

The Dallas Mavericks will be trying to upgrade their roster this summer around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, but can they make it happen? Stay tuned to find out.