Irving was eventually traded to the Dallas Mavericks due to contract renewal issues with the Nets. After arriving at the new team, Irving's contract extension negotiations are still not going well. According to the latest report by Dallas Morning News reporter Kevin Sherrington, Lone Ranger owner Mark Cuban rejected Irving's five-year, $273 million super cap extension offer, and also rejected Irving's proposed extension conditions. The Lone Ranger management was only willing to give Irving a four-year, $160 million contract extension at most, and there were additional clauses that included attendance requirements, which was difficult for the Irving team to accept. The two sides have now suspended the dialogue on an early contract extension and will discuss it again in the offseason on a case-by-case basis.
Since being traded for the Lone Ranger, Irving has played in four games for the team, averaging 38.5 minutes per game, 28.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks while shooting 53.3% from the field, 43.9% from three-point range and 100% from the free throw line. Judging from the performance of Irving's four games with the Lone Ranger, Irving does have the strength of a superstar, and his performance is one step closer than the Nets period, but this is all based on the premise that the team did not renew his contract early, Irving played hard after not getting the promise of early renewal, after all, it is still necessary to show his real strength before the new owner. And the 30-year-old Irving is at the peak of his personal condition, and the serious Irving is indeed worthy of a long salary!
The Lone Ranger also showed sincerity for Irving, they did not choose a short-term top salary offer of $80 million for 2 years, but directly submitted a 4-year offer of $160 million, but based on a series of off-court problems in Irving's past, the Lone Ranger management also added corresponding binding clauses to the contract, which also coincided with the Nets' contract extension at that time, which is indeed reasonable, and for this contract, the Lone Ranger management has felt quite sincere. It's just that this seems to make the Irving team feel that this renewal offer does not fully reflect the value of Irving, and they insist on asking for a 5-year, $273 million contract, and the two sides cannot agree on this matter!
There is no doubt that Irving has the top individual strength in the league, but since joining the Lone Ranger, the team's supernova Doncic has shown a certain degree of inadaptability, it seems that he is deliberately catering to Irving's style of play, obviously Doncic used to play as a big core with the ball, and now suddenly added a certain no-ball style of play, making it extremely uncomfortable. On the other hand, Irving, he is a player with top off-ball ability, whether it is shooting or singles with the ball, Irving belongs to the league's top ranks, but after joining the Lone Ranger, Irving still insists on himself, and does not seem to want to give 23-year-old Doncic a hand, maybe the run-in between the two will continue. As the cornerstone player of the Lone Ranger, regarding the renewal of Irving, the Lone Ranger management may have to consult Doncic's opinion!
The Mavericks and Irving have only reached an agreement to extend their contracts, which is that they will no longer discuss early contract extensions from now until the end of the season. This is also the best decision for both sides, now push all the puzzles to this offseason, but also allow the players to refocus on the rest of the season, especially now is the critical time to hit the playoffs, the Lone Ranger's playoff position is not solid, the team needs Irving to make a greater contribution, and Irving, who failed to renew his contract early, is bound to work harder and play more convincing performances in order to negotiate more chips this summer. Win the last big contract of your career!
What kind of contract do you think Cuban should pay for Irving this offseason?