Kyrie Irving’s future is already known, and it won’t be exactly next to LeBron James. He was the base’s interest and it seems that the forward was also interested, but finally the Mavericks They have opted to sign a 126 million contract over three seasons for the controversial star so that he remains linked to the entity. A risky move that leaves the Texans with a clear and firm commitment to an uncertain future, with two stars that have not worked out when they have played together and that, when they got together, entered a maelstrom of lost games that prevented them from even playing the play in in an objectively disastrous season. On the other hand, They are still two absolutely generational talents who always leave room for a silver lining through which hope slips. And that’s where the Mavericks will try to sneak in, through that tiny hole. If that is possible, clear.
The Mavericks aren’t done with this move. Assuming they don’t use Kyrie for a bigger transfer from December (when the contract the star has signed allows it), they have to fill the roster with good shooters and defenders, ddecide what they do with a Christian Wood that right now is more outside than inside and strengthen an inner game at this time orphan of intimidators or great rebounders. But, above all, the Mavs will have to rethink a dysfunctional project, far removed from those 2022 Conference finals and that is going backwards instead of forwards. And that, in addition, maintains some of his defects: a Jason Kidd who has not moved on the bench and Kyrie himself, who has been permanently surrounded by controversy and with a sporting level that has generated many doubts for a long time.when he left the Cavaliers in the summer of 2017, leaving behind a ring and a triple for history.
Kyrie then left Ohio to escape the long shadow of a LeBron with whom he now wants to get back together. Something that he has not achieved, another consequence of his new signing with the Mavericks. It seems that this option is further away than ever, taking into account how vilified the figure of the point guard is and the final stretch of the career of the Kingon his way to 39 years of age and close to facing his 21st season in the NBA. It was said that the threat of withdrawal of James was to put pressure on the Lakers and make them go for Irving. You will never know, since the Angelenos have moved in another direction, they have always denied that they want to deal with him playmaker and they have signed Gabe Vincent to the detriment of Dennis Schröder. Irving stays, therefore, in Dallas. Where, by the way, Seth Curry has also arrived. The rest, we will see.
A future full of uncertainty
There is one thing that is clear: doing the same thing, the results are usually the same. That is to say, the Mavericks have to change things if they want to achieve the dream of that ring that Mark Cuban is looking for againthe goal he achieved with Dirk Nowitzki and that now he wants to conquer with Luka Doncic. Of course, now it seems light years away: the Texans come from a season in which they have been in 11th place in the Western Conference with a record of 38-44, they have had an ineffective defense and have monopolized the attack in Doncic and, in the end, in Kyrie. And with nothing from Kidd, who has gone from eloquent in press conferences to bradypsychic and flattened, he limited himself to watching life go by and did not find the answer at any time. Until the point where she stopped looking for her. In a few weeks in which we have seen a huge number of coaches get fired (Mike Budenholzer, Monty Williams…), Kidd keeps his position. Ironies of fate.
If we think about the data, it’s revealing about what not to do… but the pieces are the same. In the transfer that took Kyrie to Texas, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith flew to Brooklyn; and, with them, a good part of the little defense that the Mavs had, who were going 28-26 then… and 37-41 a month and a half later, until the final 38-44, clear. Giving up, you know, the last games, in which they seated the stars to get a higher selection in the draft (the tenth), with which they signed a Cason Wallace who was transferred to the Thunder in exchange for Dereck Lively II . Along with Doncic, Kyrie has played in 16 games for a 5-11 record. Bad thing. The pieces are the same. So why would the results be different?
Doncic, a lot to prove
Beyond the fact that the Mavericks board, with Nico Harrison and Mark Cuban at the helm, has to take a step forward, the spotlight is once again on Luka Doncic. The Slovenian is a consolidated star who last year averaged more than 32 points and almost 9 rebounds and more than 8 assists per night. His career high in scoring, leading the Mavs in rebounds at point guard (another symptom of the team’s inside game) and going over 36 minutes per game. But he assumes a lot, it seems that the system around him will always be the same, he abuses the triple (less than 35% with 8 attempts per night) and his defensive effort, being greater than in other basketball courses, It continues to be a difficult slab, in addition, to improve. At some point he has to rest and he does it on that side of the track. After all, he touches the ball in every attack… and that wears down anyone who isn’t named Nikola Jokic.
And the thing does not end there: the gossip about the little care of food continues to be a constant that we will see if it is repeated in the next World Cup and in the preseason. And in the face of public opinion, that place where the battles that decide the wars are won and lost, he protests the referees too much (16 techniques in 2022-23, leading the NBA in this section) and has an attitude that is not always liked. He is the hero of the city of Dallas, a man who has a contract until 2027 (more than 166 million committed) and his future is assured. But if things don’t go well, a very typical trend in the era of empowered players is that a limit situation is forced. How far Doncic is from that, only time will tell. For better or worse.
It is the summary of what happens, right now, in some Mavericks that have opted to continue the same. They could always look for a hypothetical transfer for Kyrie (126 million is a good figure if they want a trade) in December, when they have already confirmed the disaster (if that thing happens) and continue the project from there. Keep building around Doncic. But if they stay the same, most likely the same thing will happen: it has already been said. It would be a good time to, if it fits, hit the table. The West is cheaper than ever (the Nuggets led the Conference and they won the ring with just 53 wins) and any team that puts the pieces together well can emerge. For now, the Mavericks are betting on staying the same. Doncic, Kyrie, Kidd… all of that. All that and many doubts, clear.