NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving has 'handshake deal' with Mavs, likely signing max contract worth $210 million

Kyrie Irving is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Irving was acquired by the Dallas Mavericks midway through the campaign before the trade deadline. The latest NBA rumors suggest that Irving could return to the Mavericks for a massive contract.

According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, sources around the league are saying that the erratic guard has a "handshake" deal with Dallas before he was dealt by the Brooklyn Nets.

"I hear they had a handshake deal before the trade," one source said. "And Kyrie wouldn't have said yes to anything less than the max."

Kyrie Irving is eligible to sign a five-year, $272 million contract with the Mavericks. However, an agent believes that Irving could sign a four-year, $210 million deal with a player option in the final year.

"I hear he's going back to Dallas on a 3+1," the agent said. "His contract will line up with Luka's."

Irving demanded a trade out of the Brooklym Nets midway through the season. The Mavericks parted ways with Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round pick and two second-round picks.

The trade wasn't a success, as the Mavericks failed to make to the playoffs. Irving and Luka Doncic looked unstoppable as a duo, but the main problem was the rest of the roster. Dallas didn't have enough perimeter defenders to stop opposing teams.

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Kyrie Irving, Mavs looking to contend next season

Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks made the decision to forfeit the season and tank for a first-round pick in this year's NBA draft. The Mavericks would have given up their first-round pick to the New York Knicks if it was outside the top ten. Dallas ended up with the No. 10 in the draft, though.

It remains to be seen what the Mavericks are planning with the lottery pick. They could attach it to a trade, with DeAndre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns among the rumored names they're interested in.

The Mavericks will look to contend next season but will have to secure Kyrie irving first. They will then need to construct a roster that has defensive ability to mask the deficiencies of Irving and Luka Doncic at that end.

Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus noted that the Mavericks could build a roster like that while having three max huge contracts. However, letting go of Irving is also an option, but Dallas is not a preferred destination for big-name free agents at the moment.

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