Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving will reportedly remain with the franchise despite rumors that he could pursue other opportunities.
Irving is currently recovering from a torn ACL and is expected to miss roughly half the season, but he remains one of the most important players on the Mavericks’ roster.
The 33-year-old guard is coming off one of the best seasons of his career with averages of 24.7 points and 4.6 assists while leading the team after the shocking trade of Luka Dončić in February.
NBA Insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported over the weekend that Irving intends to remain with the franchise, though it is unclear how that will come about.
“To be clear: Absolutely nothing has changed in terms of the long-held anticipation that Irving will be anywhere but Dallas next season. Yet it does remain unclear at this juncture whether Irving will simply activate the option and then try to hammer out an extension with the Mavericks that can be signed starting July 7 … or surrender the option to become an unrestricted free agent,” he wrote, per MSN.
“Passing on the option, of course, would suggest that the sides are headed for a new deal in free agency, with Dallas anticipated for some time to try to re-sign the 33-year-old to a new three-year pact in the general vicinity of his original three-year, $120 million deal with the Mavericks.”
Irving is entering the final season of a three-year contract worth $120 million and will now decide whether to accept or decline a player option worth roughly $43 million.
While Irving has continually voiced his love of Dallas, rumors have persisted that he could look to decline his player option and join an opposing team in free agency.
These rumors first arose due to concerns about the Mavericks’ long-term future, Irving’s wariness of playing for a franchise that traded away a roster cornerstone, and his history of bouncing between multiple teams.
However, the Mavericks and Irving are reportedly committed to remaining together for at least one more season, and a long-term contract could be signed as early as this offseason.
Irving will now have until June 24 to make an official decision about this player option.