After Mark Cuban’s stated desire to extend Kyrie Irving and to keep Jason Kidd, then Luka Doncic’s statements about his future that he still sees in Dallas, Nico Harrison in turn spoke about the major issues to come during the offseason for the Texas franchise.
The priority will therefore be to re-sign Kyrie Irving, a goal on which the GM of the Mavs was optimistic.
“I think the things he’s said along the way about how he feels here, how he feels appreciated, how he feels accepted and allowed to be himself… Those are things he said on a regular basis. This is what allows me to be optimistic and to think that he wants to be here., did he declare.
However, the manager does not want to go too far, while Kyrie Irving skipped the end-of-season press conference. It is therefore difficult to fathom the intentions of the former Cavaliers, Celtics and Nets player. Especially since everything will probably depend on the offer that Dallas will be willing to make to him this summer.
A project with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving based on the long term
Beyond the words, Nico Harrison did not in any case seem worried about what the Irving-Doncic association gave on the ground in two months of competition, while Dallas went from the 4e the 11e place in the West over the period. GM prefers to see what the tandem can bring in the long term.
“We haven’t played very well all year. We constantly lacked consistency. I didn’t know if it was going to be a magic pill. I hadn’t had a vision about it, but I figured it couldn’t get any worse.”he added. “And then, I also considered it a long-term choice, not a short-term one. Setting up this exchange was not for the next three months”.
Over time, and given the talent of his two key players, Nico Harrison is hopeful of seeing Dallas get back on track next season.
“I think Luka and Kai, it works together. When we have two such talented players, it can work. It’s really the players around them who have to know their role when these two players are on the pitch at the same time. I think that’s the thing we have to work on.”
The objective will therefore be, in addition to the re-signing of Kyrie Irving, to surround the two All-Stars with versatile outside defenders, as well as at least one protector of the circle, in order to balance this clearly wobbly workforce.
As a reminder, Kyrie Irving is eligible for a $272 million five-year extension with Dallas, or $202 million over four years with another franchise.
| Kyrie Irving | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2011-12 | KEY | 51 | 31 | 46.9 | 39.9 | 87.2 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 18.5 |
| 2012-13 | KEY | 59 | 35 | 45.2 | 39.1 | 85.5 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 22.5 |
| 2013-14 | KEY | 71 | 35 | 43.0 | 35.8 | 86.1 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 20.8 |
| 2014-15 | KEY | 75 | 36 | 46.8 | 41.5 | 86.3 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 21.7 |
| 2015-16 | KEY | 53 | 32 | 44.8 | 32.2 | 88.5 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 19.6 |
| 2016-17 | KEY | 72 | 35 | 47.3 | 40.1 | 90.5 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 5.8 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 25.2 |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 60 | 32 | 49.1 | 40.8 | 88.9 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 5.1 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 24.4 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 67 | 33 | 48.7 | 40.1 | 87.3 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 6.9 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 23.8 |
| 2019-20 | BRK | 20 | 33 | 47.8 | 39.4 | 92.2 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 6.4 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 27.4 |
| 2020-21 | BRK | 54 | 35 | 50.6 | 40.2 | 92.2 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 6.0 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 26.9 |
| 2021-22 | BRK | 29 | 38 | 46.9 | 41.8 | 91.5 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 27.5 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 60 | 37 | 49.4 | 37.9 | 90.5 | 1.0 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 27.1 |
| 2022-23 * | BRK | 40 | 37 | 48.6 | 37.4 | 88.3 | 1.0 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 27.1 |
| 2022-23 * | DAL | 20 | 38 | 51.0 | 39.2 | 94.7 | 1.1 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 27.0 |
| Total | 671 | 34 | 47.2 | 39.2 | 88.5 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 23.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
