DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - We know how one of the Mavericks' two All-Stars feels about his future in Dallas, but we might have to wait a little bit longer to find out how the other feels.
Mavs general manager Nico Harrison knows that he'll have Luka Doncic leading the franchise next season, as the superstar point guard is under contract for at least the next three seasons before he can opt out of his contract following the 2025-26 season. At Sunday's end-of-season press conference, Doncic said he was 'happy' to be a Maverick despite the team missing the play-in tournament after finishing with the 11th-best record in the Western Conference at 38-44.
Meanwhile, the team's other star, Kyrie Irving, is now a free agent. During his introductory press conference after being moved to Dallas in a February trade that sent Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, and a future first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets, Irving requested that the media refrain from asking him about his future until the season was completed, which the media obliged. However, when the team's season ended Sunday, Irving declined to speak with the press, casting some doubt about the superstar's chances of returning.
Listen to Nico Harrison's entire media availability here
But despite his silence, Harrison shared why he's optimistic that Irving will choose to return after he visited the 31-year-old on Monday.
"[I] had a great conversation with (Kyrie Irving). The things that he said along the way about how he feels here, how he feels appreciated, how he feels accepted and allowed to be himself -- those are the things that he said kind of consistently. That's what gives me the optimism that he wants to be here," Harrison said Tuesday during his end-of-season visit with the media."
Irving shined on the offensive end of the floor, averaging 26.9 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds in the 20 games he played with Dallas. Despite his offensive output, the Mavs went just 10-18 after the trade.
Dallas holds Irving's Bird Rights and can sign him to a five-year deal worth up to $2722.9 million this offseason. Should Irving sign elsewhere, he can only earn a four-year deal worth up to $202 million.
Harrison was asked how much the team was ready to commit to Irving financially this offseason, but the GM didn't want to talk numbers.
"When you talk about money and years, I don't think that's fair to talk about that. Because that's going to be a part of the negotiation when we're allowed to actually do it. But Kyrie's definitely someone we want here and we're excited about the potential of him being here," Harrison said.
NBA free agency will begin around June 30.
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