The Dallas Mavericks are in a tricky spot when it comes to Kyrie Irving’s next contract, for two reasons.
The first is obvious: Irving tore his left ACL in March. His health is now a bigger question mark than it would’ve been in negotiations without the injury.
The second is this: The Mavericks are now on the hook for paying a lot more money to their top draft pick after getting the No. 1 selection in the lottery, which comes with a higher built-in salary than the Mavs would’ve shelled out for someone at pick No. 11.
Irving has a player option for next season worth $44 million.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Saturday that “the Mavericks, either using that option as the starting point for an extension or based on an entirely new deal, have been hoping to re-secure Irving under contract for the next three seasons in the same annual ballpark of $40 million.”
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That three years for $40 million per year suggested by Fischer is the same deal Irving signed before the 2023-24 season.
If Irving signs such a renegotiation, it actually slightly lowers his cap hit for 2025-26.
But Irving is eligible for a lot more, up to five years and $313 million. So it remains to be seen whether he’d sign such a deal.
It could make sense to get that insurance coming off a major injury. A cool $120 million isn’t anything to sneeze at.
But Irving moves to the beat of his own drum, so there’s no telling what he might decide to do.
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