Kyrie Irving's latest unseen act proves why Nico must make him a Maverick for life

With the Dallas Mavericks soon adding Cooper Flagg, their timeline and future just got infinitely brighter. Not only can the team now focus on the future and how they will build around Flagg, but the 18-year-old's addition also adds to an already loaded Dallas roster that should be able to contend right away.

While the Mavericks still have moves to make this offseason, Flagg's addition clears the air on what direction the team can head in over the next few years. With Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis still on the roster, Dallas is in clear win-now mode the second Irving returns from injury.

Until Irving can return fully from his torn left ACL that he suffered toward the end of last season, the Mavericks will be in search of guard help to ease into the season and take a playmaking load off of Irving when he does return. While Irving is still quite a way from returning, his impact on the team and the community can be seen by how he treats the fans, and more particularly, fans in need.

Irving donates to fan in need despite pivotal offseason ahead

Throughout Irving's lengthy professional career, he has always proven to be a man of the people and willing to help fans who are struggling. It's easy to see Irving stay late after games by signing autographs, as well as giving fans game-worn gear like armbands and often his jersey.

While these are kind gestures, Irving recently one-upped his autograph-signing moments by donating $11,000 to a fan's GoFundMe page who was clearly in need of help at that moment.

In January, Michael Cassidy, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, was involved in a terrifying car accident in Virginia when he was visiting his girlfriend. As he was driving down the road, he hit black ice and his van flipped into a swamp, totaling it. Cassidy told The Smoking Cuban that he was "neck deep in ice cold water with only (his) grip on the seatbelt keeping (his) head above water." As all of this happened, he was wearing his Anta Kyrie logo T-shirt and Anta Kai 1s.

This accident took Cassidy's wheelchair-accessible van, and insurance declined his claim. Irving's generous donation to help Cassidy get a new wheelchair-accessible vehicle shows how much he cares for those around him, and especially those who have been through thick and thin with him as fans.

While Irving could have easily gone out of his way to turn a blind eye to someone in need, he once again proved why he's a man of the people and someone who is misunderstood in the national media. Irving always seems to support causes he supports and those who go through heartbreaking events, and his generosity toward Cassidy in helping him get a new vehicle exemplifies the type of person he is. Cassidy is clearly a diehard fan, as he owns tons of Irving merchandise, and he is ecstatic that his favorite athlete would help him like this.

"I was floored when I saw his donation and I had to look at it several times to realize it was real," Cassidy told The Smoking Cuban. "Kai has brought so much joy to my life, just watching him play. There is no one like him on the court. He is truly 1 of 1. He is 1 of 1 off the court also, and has now brought joy to my life again with his generosity. It's a true blessing. The world needs to know who the real Kyrie Irving is. A deeply spiritual, giving, compassionate human with a huge heart. I've always appreciated Kai, and I always will."

He could have made this donation about himself by attaching his name to it or posting on social media about it, but he didn't. Irving helped Cassidy when he needed it most, and the world needs more people like him. Cassidy has been an Irving fan for over 10 years, and now he knows that Irving is a huge fan of him as well.

"Regarding Kai, I was a long-time LeBron fan," Cassidy told The Smoking Cuban. "When Bron went back to Cleveland in 2014, I started really noticing Kyrie's game. I quickly appreciated his skill level and unmatched talent. Kai quickly became my favorite player. As I followed his career, I saw how misunderstood and underappreciated he was. It made me want to support him more and show the world who Kai really was as a man."

Despite a tumultuous summer ahead of Irving and the Mavericks, it's clear Irving is the type of player you can't simply let go in free agency or trade away to clear up cap space. This offseason, Irving is up for a new contract (if he opts out of his player option), and Nico Harrison would be dumb to let the 14-year pro leave in next year's free agency just for a chance to cut some money from Dallas' payroll.

Irving has proven once again why he's the perfect mentor to young players on the team by how he impacts his community, and it's clear as day why Harrison and the Mavs need to extend Irving. It's unclear when the former champion will return from injury, but when he does return to the hardwood, fans will likely have a warm welcome waiting for him.

Since trading away Luka Doncic on February 1, the idea of loyalty in Dallas has been clouded. While Irving hasn't spent the bulk of his career as a member of the Mavericks, extending him gives Harrison a shot at redeeming himself to fans, showing that loyalty exists between players and the front office.

It's unclear what dollar figure Irving will re-sign for, but it is a possibility that he may need to take a pay cut if the Mavericks wish to stay competitive. With the Mavericks now drafting Cooper Flagg, Dallas' payroll is much more constricted in who they can sign and trade for.

Despite a less-than-max contract potentially being on the table, Irving deserves every dollar figure that is coming his way based on how he treats fans and helps people in need. His tight bond with Harrison could keep him in Dallas for years to come, and as aforementioned countless times, Irving's value stretches far beyond the hardwood.