5 teams that will be chasing Mavericks star Kyrie Irving in free agency

The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a blockbuster trade for eight-time All-Star Kyrie Irving just days before the deadline. They jumped at the chance to put a co-star next to Luka Doncic, and Kyrie came at a relative discount for a superstar. The drama he caused in Brooklyn coupled with him becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer drove the price down, and Dallas did not hesitate to meet it.

There is no guarantee Irving stays in Dallas long-term. The two sides agreed to table extension talks until after the season, which means the 30-year-old point guard will become a free agent this summer. Kyrie will be free to sign with any team, and there will be plenty of suitors on the open market.

The Mavs are pot committed on Irving. They want to sign him to a long-term deal, and Dallas will be looking to add the pieces that make them a title contender. Will Kyrie stay? The Mavericks have work to do to make that a reality, and here are the five teams they will have to fend off to keep the eight-time All-Star.

Teams Dallas Mavericks must fend off to re-sign Kyrie Irving in free agency: 5. Phoenix Suns

The Suns have a new owner that is willing to make bold moves. He traded for Kevin Durant just days after buying the team, and Phoenix wants to build a championship contender for the next decade-plus around Devin Booker. Chris Paul is 37 years old, and the Suns would love to add another star point guard to fill his shoes.

Durant and Kyrie chose to play together in Brooklyn, and both sides could have some interest in reuniting in Phoenix. The relationship may appear frosty right now, but fences can be mended quickly in the NBA. Having a Big 3 of KD, Kyrie, and D-Book would make the Suns a feared team for the foreseeable future.

The Suns won’t have cap space, so they would need the Mavericks to facilitate a sign-and-trade to send Irving to the Valley of the Sun. Dallas won’t have interest in doing that, but fans saw the Knicks work around that problem last summer to land Jalen Brunson in free agency. Phoenix could do something similar if they are sold on landing Kyrie.

The Suns are not the most likely destination for Kyrie Irving, but they are certainly a team to keep an eye on this summer as his decision draws near.