Grade the Deal: Mavericks re-sign Kyrie Irving to massive extension

The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed Kyrie Irving, and it didn't take long, as he and the Mavs officially agreed to terms on a new contract within the first hour of free agency.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Irving has inked a deal to return to Dallas on a three-year, $126 million contract, which will include a player option in the third and final year.

All of the reporting heading into free agency indicated that the Mavs felt confident they would re-sign Irving, and they got it done in the blink of an eye.

Irving is still in the middle of his prime at 31 years old, and the Mavs didn't need a long-term commitment or a lucrative deal to retain his services. The star point guard's new extension is not a max contract. Furthermore, Irving's deal places him 17th among the association's highest-paid players, at the time of signing.

There was no chance that the Mavs front office would let Irving walk after trading for him this past season at the deadline. Dallas sent Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2029 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Irving and Markieff Morris.

Now, with the news that Irving has agreed to stay in Dallas moving forward, the mid-season gamble made by the Mavericks has paid off.

Irving has numerous accolades under his belt as an eight-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA player, and an NBA Champion in 2016. He brings a new dynamic to the Mavs. A second star.

This is something the Mavs have been searching for since they drafted Luka Doncic in 2018.

The Kristaps Porzingis addition didn't go as planned, and the Mavs knew it. Adding Irving as Doncic's sidekick should ensure the Mavs perennial playoff appearances for years to come (despite their failure to reach that goal this past season.)

After losing Jalen Brunson to the New York Knicks last offseason, the Mavs didn't make the same mistake, as they made it their top priority to keep Irving in Dallas.

The Mavs re-signing Irving deserves an A grade.

Dallas locked Irving in at roughly $42 million per year, with a player option in the third season. Although $40-plus million is a lot to hand out, Irving is worth it, regardless of his availability concerns. He is a top-25 player in this league and provides the Mavs with a second star to pair with Doncic.

That's a win.