Report: Mavs 'Optimistic' Kyrie Irving Will Sign New Contract; Retain Luka Dončić

The Dallas Mavericks are hoping their midseason acquisition of Kyrie Irving will not be a short-term rental.

Tim Cato of The Athletic reported the Mavericks front office is "optimistic" about their ability to retain Irving, who will be an unrestricted free agent in July. The team remains hopeful Irving and Luka Dončić will be able to find common ground on the floor for a "long-term partnership."

The Mavericks can offer Irving the most money of any NBA team, but it remains to be seen whether they're willing to pony up—or whether money is even the main motivating factor for the enigmatic All-Star.

Irving missed most of the 2021-22 season after refusing to undergo COVID-19 vaccination, which made him ineligible to play a majority of home games for the Brooklyn Nets. He was then suspended during the 2022-23 season after promoting a film with antisemitic messaging on social media. Add in Irving's injury history and his polarizing personality, and there are real questions as to whether he's worth the trouble—despite being a superstar when on the floor.

Dallas struggled with Irving and Dončić playing together, going 5-11 before both were shut down in a blatant tanking effort for draft position, but that was more a factor of the roster being stripped of quality role players than any real issues between the stars.

"I wish (Kyrie) can still be here (next season)," Dončić said.

Dončić also acknowledged that change is needed, and it'll likely happen on the margins. The Mavs do not have an avenue to meaningful cap space if Irving re-signs. Rotation bigs Christian Wood and Dwight Powell are also worth considering bringing back.

That means the Mavs will most likely have to improve via cap exceptions and through trades. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Davis Bertans will likely be shopped, and the front office may use Reggie Bullock's partially guaranteed contract in deals as well.

The Mavericks need their draft pick to land 1-10 in order to avoid trading it to the New York Knicks, so the draft lottery will also play a significant factor in how things pan out this offseason. If Dallas is able to even keep the No. 10 pick, it could package it as part of a larger deal for a more helpful veteran next to Dončić and Irving.