NBA analyst gives his take on Dallas Mavericks situation with Kyrie Irving - "I think they'll sign and trade him"
The Dallas Mavericks face many questions regarding Kyrie Irving's impending free agency. The Mavericks gave up assets like Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 unprotected first-rounder and multiple second-round picks for Irving before the deadline.
Irving was likely to re-sign with the team upon his addition, as the Mavericks went all in to get him and bolster their hopes of championship success. However, the Mavs posted a 7-18 record following his addition and went from a team vying for a homecourt berth to a team that's now out of playoff contention.
Irving's addition disturbed the team's roster balance as the Mavs lost depth defensively. Meanwhile, Irving's chemistry with Luka Doncic is also questionable. They don't bring a different skillset to the table and are average defenders at best.
NBA analyst Brian Scalabrine believes the Dallas Mavericks will re-sign Kyrie Irving, but only trade him this offseason. Here's what he said on SiriusXM NBA Radio:
"I do think they'll sign him, but I just think they'll sign and trade him... With a sign-and-trade opportunity with Kyrie, why not go out there and get this guy, this guy, that guy?"
Kyrie Irving sign and trade to the Lakers??
@Scalabrine and @TheFrankIsola discuss Kyrie’s future in Dallas
#MFFL #LakeShow https://t.co/p8BXlHAnIC
Scalabrine suggested the Mavericks are better off with Luka Doncic as the sole superstar on the team. He believes the Mavericks will do better if they add elite role players around him who bring more balance to the roster.
Doncic led the team to a Conference Finals berth in a similar setup, so Scalabrine isn't too far from his assessment of the Mavs.
Sign-and-trade an unlikely scenario for Dallas Mavericks with Kyrie Irving
A sign-and-trade would be the ideal way for Kyrie Irving to depart from the Dallas Mavericks, especially from the franchise's perspective. This will allow the Mavericks to get some value in return for the All-Star guard after they shipped assets like Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith along with draft compensation, including a future unprotected first.
However, multiple contending teams are expected to cross the luxury tax threshold of nearly $169 million, prohibiting them from receiving players via sign-and-trade. Meanwhile, teams that will have the chance to acquire Irving via sign-and-trade will get hard capped, limiting them from crossing the luxury tax threshold.
The Mavericks will likely want to contribute coveted role players, and teams might be reluctant to part ways with such assets. Irving hasn't been a reliable presence due to his off-court troubles. He also needs a solid supporting cast.
Kyrie Irving's Nets and Mavericks tenures are significant examples of how a team without adequate role players can struggle despite the presence of superstars, so it remains to be seen if potential suitors will take a gamble on Irving.