3 Disastrous mistakes Dallas Mavericks must avoid making this summer

2. Dallas Mavericks must avoid re-signing Kyrie Irving

This one might be the most controversial of the bunch, but it’s also the biggest decision the Dallas Mavericks have to make.

At first glance, keeping Irving around should be a no-brainer. He’s a superstar-level player and another ball-handler who could help take some of the pressure off of Doncic–similar to what Jalen Brunson did.

But the key difference is in everything Irving brings to the table away from the game, and the fact that he’s just not as good at playing off the ball as Brunson.

Away from the court, constant drama has followed Irving, whether it’s been his fault or not. Teams with Irving actively participating in the playoffs have not made it past the second round since he was teamed up with LeBron James, whether it be because of injury or otherwise.

And on the court, Irving is much more of a ball-dominant player than Brunson was. Brunson has thrived as a ball-dominant guy with the New York Knicks, but he was always okay with playing away from the ball.

While Irving has been able to play that role, as he did with James, he’s always been infinitely better with the ball in his hands. And when he and Luka Doncic shared the court, it often came down to “you go, I go” basketball.

Dallas would be better off exploring sign-and-trade options or simply using the cap space to find another star-level player that fits with Doncic even better, on and off the court.