Kyrie Irving? Surely the Mavericks aren’t that desperate, nor should they be

Seems the offender wasn’t the North Texas warmth. Or these further onions within the potato salad. Or the habanero barbecue sauce.

Our acid reflux disorder flare-ups this vacation weekend weren’t induced by insupportable local weather or delicacies, however, quite, persistent reporting of “Kyrie Irving” and “Mavericks” in the identical sentence.

This prognosis was confirmed by Sunday’s fallout from the Mavericks’ newest offseason setback, when their long-rumored and extensively presumed free agent goal, Goran Dragic, agreed to a one-year contract with Chicago.

Dallas’ failure — or was it choice? — to transform what amounted to an uncontested layup by signing Luka Doncic’s 36-year-old mentor and fellow Slovenian additional fueled hypothesis that governor Mark Cuban and normal supervisor Nico Harrison have grander concepts for the crew’s lone remaining roster spot.

For example, Irving, Brooklyn’s unquestionably expert however mercurial 30-year-old guard.

Say it ain’t so, Nico.

On draft night time, June 23, a Mavericks supply dismissed any notion that Dallas would pursue Irving after The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Mavericks had been amongst seven groups to which Irving would welcome a commerce.

Irving finally opted in to the $36.5 million ultimate 12 months of his contract, however teammate Kevin Durant’s commerce request mere hours earlier than final Thursday’s begin of free company has made all of it however sure that each he and Irving shall be dealt.

On Saturday, Charania characterized the Lakers, Philadelphia and Dallas as suitors of Irving. Sadly he meant Irving the participant, not the superb metropolis that’s adjoining to Dallas.

Irving the participant actually is tantalizing, together with his jaw-dropping handles and three-season Nets averages of 27.1 factors, 6.0 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 49% capturing.

The issue is that Irving the individual totes extra baggage as a locker room presence than Kim Kardashian on a monthlong cruise. His fingerprints are throughout Brooklyn’s monumental implosion. His wake of destruction additional dates to 2 contentious seasons in Boston.

He’s hardly the embodiment of chemistry and accountability, the phrases coach Jason Kidd burdened on the primary day of coaching camp final September.

These phrases had been the muse upon which Harrison, Kidd and training employees constructed the tradition of a Mavericks crew that blazed to the NBA’s third-best file after New Yr’s and made a stunning run to the Western Convention finals.

But this weekend, particularly after Sunday’s Dragic information, a noticeable portion of Mavericks followers on social media had resigned themselves into believing that one season of Irving isn’t a lot of a danger, that the potential upside far outweighs any negatives.

Look, I get it. Dropping Jalen Brunson with no compensation badly stung the Mavericks and MFFLs.

Yr after 12 months of getting jilted on the altar by free brokers is tough sufficient. Having certainly one of your personal file for divorce and run off to the crew with which, it seems in hindsight, he was engaged in additional than flirting is very painful.

It’s additionally evident that regardless of the additions of huge males Christian Wooden and JaVale McGee, Dallas’ offseason so far has its roster trending behind these of Golden State, the Clippers, Denver, Minnesota and maybe New Orleans. And what if Durant winds up in Phoenix or San Francisco?

Durant is the magnificent mansion for which you overpay with no questions requested, not even asking for an inspection. Irving is the eye-catching property with all of the bells and whistles but in addition a cracked basis and mildew behind the partitions.

Irving is the acquisition of a determined crew, or a determined and silly one just like the Lakers. The Mavericks with 23-year-old Doncic, coming off the Western Convention finals and, needing roster enchancment, shouldn’t be in determined mode.

As questionable of a match as Irving would appear to be for the locker room and tradition, it’s equally eyebrow-raising to surprise how ball-dominant Irving and Doncic would mesh in the identical backcourt.

This isn’t about Sunday’s Dragic information. It’s comprehensible why followers and sure Doncic are disillusioned, however in actuality 36-year-old Dragic wasn’t going to fill the Brunson void or make Dallas a Western Convention favourite.

The Mavericks can be higher served making a push for Cleveland restricted free agent Collin Sexton. Or taking a calculated gamble on T.J. Warren. And even buying and selling for 33-year-old Bojan Bogdanovic.

However Kyrie Irving? Excuse me whereas I take pleasure in what’s left of the vacation, ideally with a slice of apple pie. A la mode, after all.

Twitter: @Townbrad

Discover extra Mavericks protection from The Dallas Morning Information right here.