They got Anthony Edwards but we got kyrie Irving who can guard him, the Mavs are ready for anybody.
It was the best option for Kyrie Irving, who got what he wanted despite the belief he had very little leverage.
The mistakes of the past created the need of the present for both parties, who now must embark upon the battle of building around Luka Dončić and Irving, hoping they’ll play well together and the other corresponding pieces will augment this cemented partnership.
Extensions for young players have trumped Irving’s salary, and it feels like sticker shock for those who remember a different NBA — the cap has nearly doubled since 2015-16 ($70 million to $136 million in 2023-24).
Salaries have jumped and will continue to jump in the next couple years, so the exorbitant numbers Houston and Dallas shelled out won’t feel so bad before too long.
If that’s who Dallas was bidding against, it was all that was needed for Irving. For all the distractions and internal negotiating that come with having Irving on your team, his talent is undeniable.