Months After his Interest to Join LeBron James Went Public, Kyrie Irving Claims He “Had Dallas No.1” on his List During Free Agency

Kyrie Irving is one of the most electrifying players in the NBA. Despite his one-of-a-kind playstyle and constant love from fans, the NBA trajectory has not always been in his favor. Currently, Irving is struggling to display his status among the league’s elite after more than three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets. One of those chances came as his transfer to the Dallas Mavericks near the trade deadline last season. However, even after a pairing with Luka Doncic, things didn’t get better last season.

At the time of Kyrie’s arrival, Mavs were among the conference leaders. However, things took a perplexing twist as Dallas soon found itself slipping out of the playoff bracket, raising questions about Kyrie’s impact on the team. While some questioned the Mavericks’ decision to acquire the 31-year-old star, others pondered whether Dallas was the right fit for Kyrie’s unique talents.

Kyrie Irving says that resigning with the Mavs was a no-brainer

Last season, Kyrie played 20 games with the Mavericks while chipping nearly 27.0 points and 6.0 assists. Regardless, Dallas fell short of securing a postseason berth, prompting both media and fans to question the team’s dynamics. Consequently, the re-signing of Kyrie Irving appeared to be more intricate. However, the Mavs wasted no time and inked a new deal with Kyrie as soon as the NBA free agency period began.

In a recent conversation with NBA reporters on September 28, Kyrie shared a different perspective on his decision to re-sign with Dallas. When discussing his fresh contract, Kyrie remarked,?“It started with my agent Shetellia, also my step-mother. Family run business, so, she has my best interest at heart. It asnt a too difficult of a process. I had Dallas as number 1 on my list.”

Furthermore, Kyrie revealed that he had explored opportunities with other teams across the league before committing to Dallas. He emphasizes that he took his time, carefully considering all aspects before ultimately choosing to extend his stay with the team.

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Kyrie Irving sealed the deal with Dallas on the first day of free agency. Currently, he is under a three-year $126 million contract.

The Mavs have been adding supporting players around their two-stars

After the disappointing season, Mark Cuban claims that the struggles came from a lack of their supporting cast. While Dallas possessed ample offensive firepower, a glaring lack of reliable defenders left them vulnerable. During the offseason, Cuban took decisive action to rectify the same issue. In addition to bolstering their bench scoring, he primarily focused on recruiting defensive-minded players to complement the star players.?

The most significant adjustment comes in the frontcourt. Contrary to what the Mavs were trying to achieve, they waived JaVale McGee and Christian Wood in free agency. In their place, they brought in Derek Lively, a newly inducted defensive center from the 2023 drafts; they also secured Richaun Holmes. Both are expected to provide stability and synergy effectively with the team’s two All-Star guards.

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Furthermore, the Dallas Mavericks have also acquired Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics. Possessing a physical, three-and-D forward skillset, Williams is poised to step into the void left by Dorian Finney-Smith.?