Mavericks rumors: Kyrie Irving return not done but Lakers seem far-fetched

The Dallas Mavericks are planning to bring back Kyrie Irving. They traded two starters, one first-round draft pick, and two second-rounders for eight-time All-Star in February. It was a hefty price to pay for a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent, but Dallas wanted to get Luka a co-star. Things did not go as planned as Dallas lost 18 of their final 25 games to miss the playoffs entirely.

Irving avoided the drama that followed him in Brooklyn, but the team’s poor play left plenty of questions. Does Dallas bring him back? Kyrie made it clear that he is in no rush to make a decision. He wants a max contract, but are the Mavs willing to commit those dollars and years after everything that happened with the Nets?

The Lakers rumors are not stopping anytime soon. LeBron James has been recruiting Irving for months, but can the franchise find a way to get the eight-time All-Star to LA? The Mavericks can offer the most years and money. Are both sides using the other as leverage? The latest from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto clears up some of the latest rumors.

Mavericks rumors: Kyrie Irving's return not done but Lakers seem far-fetched

Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus reported that the Mavericks and Irving had a “handshake deal” in place on a four-year contract following the trade, but Scotto refuted that claim by noting, “there’s no truth to any reports that Irving has a handshake deal with Dallas”.

That should not come as any surprise as it does not benefit Kyrie to make one. Irving wants to add the fifth year and get the supermax if he is going to stay in Dallas.

Scotto and The Athletic’s Jovan Buha discussed how it is difficult to see Irving going to the Lakers because LA does not have anything to offer Dallas that the Mavericks want. The Lakers can only create around $30 million in cap space, depending on which of their own free agents they are willing to part with. Is Kyrie going to take a significant pay cut to play with LeBron? If not, the only pathway is a sign-and-trade, and Dallas is not going to make one for the sake of making it.

Will another suitor emerge for Kyrie Irving? The Phoenix Suns seemed like a possibility, but Kevin Durant’s comments threw cold water on that. The Houston Rockets want to improve and need a true point guard, but would they target Irving? Kyrie creating drama with the Lakers improves his leverage, despite the odds of him going there remaining slim.

Will the Dallas Mavericks re-sign Kyrie Irving this summer? Expect the franchise to do anything in its power to keep him, but the decision lies with the eight-time All-Star, so stay tuned for all the latest.