Reports: Despite Kyrie Irving Meeting Suns During Free Agency Its Clear Where He Will Ultimately Land

Kyrie Irving will reportedly meet with the Suns among other teams when NBA free agency begins on Friday, according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.

The announcement coincides with Phoenix’s efforts to assemble a super squad that features Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and its most recent addition, Bradley Beal. The pay cap for the league and the collective bargaining agreement, along with Beal’s acquisition, may make it challenging to sign Irving.

Reports: Despite Kyrie Irving Meeting Suns During Free Agency Its Clear Where He Will Ultimately Land

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, point guard Kyrie Irving, an unrestricted free agent, is hopeful the adage applies to the contract he will be able to get with the Dallas Mavericks. Irving is anticipated to sign a new max deal with the team.

“The market for Kyrie Irving … legitimate places that he would leave Dallas for that make sense, that are available to him, it’s extremely limited, perhaps almost nil,” Wojnarowski said on SportsCenter. “The full expectation is that he returns in Dallas. The question will be what kind of deal does he go back on? How many years on a contract? I don’t think the money will be as much of an issue as how many fully guaranteed years are there for Kyrie Irving?

“I think that’s where the negotiation is going to be between he and the Mavericks. But if he wants to maximize his money on this deal, the place to do that is in Dallas. If he wants a chance to win and make a lot of money, or certainly win at a certain level playing with Luka Dončić … they certainly have much more to do with that roster but certainly a very formidable one-two punch with the Mavericks, it is back in Dallas. Again, the question will be how many years is that deal? What kind of commitment do the Mavericks make to Kyrie Irving?”

Due of the Suns’ financial commitments to Durant, Beal, Booker, and Ayton, Irving can now only receive a veteran minimum salary. But Phoenix could be able to sign and trade for the eight-time All-Star. By doing this, Irving and Durant would be reunited. Before both of them were traded before the trade deadline last season, they were teammates with the Nets.

The Los Angeles Lakers, where LeBron James will be linking up with his old colleague, are the only other team the guard would realistically be willing to join. Irving has allegedly contacted James about joining him in Dallas.

However, it is unlikely that the Lakers would have enough cap space to sign Irving unless he either takes a sizable pay cut or tries to facilitate a sign-and-trade with the Mavericks because Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka is set on re-signing his players from last season who assisted the team in making it to the Western Conference Finals.

Before the NBA’s trade deadline, the 31-year-old was sent to Dallas. Irving averaged 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in 20 games with the Mavericks.

 

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