How does Kyrie Irving fit on the Dallas Mavericks and what could be next?

The Kyrie Irving trade could be the reason that Luka Doncic leaves the Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs had to add another star if they wanted to be serious title contenders. They needed more talent around Luka Doncic, and they had one chance to get it right. Dallas took that swing on Sunday afternoon, and it could be the next domino in the line that pushes Doncic toward another franchise when his contract runs out.

The Mavericks could have Jalen Brunson right now. They failed to offer him a four-year $56 million extension at the beginning of last season, and now, the 25-year-old point guard is playing like an All-Star in New York. Losing Brunson for nothing left Dallas with a gaping hole in the backcourt and pressure forced them to fill it with Kyrie.

What if Luka gets sick of the drama with Irving and the Mavs struggle to make deep playoff runs because Kyrie is rarely on the floor? What if Irving decides to join LeBron James in Los Angeles as a free agent this summer, and the Mavericks lose him for nothing? That would mean they gave up Brunson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and three draft picks for three months of Kyrie.

Irving’s history suggests this movie will end badly, but the moments in between will define this trade. If the Dallas Mavericks win a championship with Kyrie in the backcourt next to Luka, it will be worth it. If it forces Doncic out of town, fans will look back at it as one of the worst trade in league history. Both are possible given Irving’s history, and the Mavs need to maximize their roster immediately after this move.