Mavericks hint at key Kyrie Irving offseason move every fan desperately craves

When the Dallas Mavericks traded for Kyrie Irving at the end of the 2022-23 season, it was a move that had Mavericks fans divided at first. Some fans feared that Irving would leave in the offseason since he was on an expiring contract, and some off-court rumbles from over the years made fans believe he may not be the best fit in Dallas.

Over the last two years, Irving has proven that he is an amazing fit in Dallas as well as a great teammate and leader, and the Mavericks may have just hinted at an impending move with Irving in free agency that every Mavs fan is begging for. On June 20, the first day of summer, the Mavericks posted a graphic on social media with the caption "Startin' to feel like summer," with several Mavericks players by a pool, and Irving was on the graphic despite having a player option.

If the Mavericks believed that Irving was going to leave in the offseason, they likely wouldn't have included him on the graphic, and Irving being right next to Anthony Davis on this graphic could show that they believe a return is all but confirmed this summer.

Mavericks hint that Kyrie Irving isn't going anywhere in free agency

Other players on this graphic include Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Dwight Powell, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington. Powell, like Irving, has a player option for next season, and it was reported yesterday that he will opt into his player option to remain in Dallas.

While Irving likely won't opt in like Powell did, all signs have pointed to him returning to the Mavericks for months. Even before he tore his ACL against the Sacramento Kings in March, no one from around the league expected him to leave Dallas, and that notion remains the same.

It seems like the most likely scenario for Irving will be a three-year contract with Dallas to line up with Davis' deal, and it could even end up being a team-friendly deal, considering that hardly any teams around the league have cap space to begin with. This doesn't mean that the Mavs shouldn't pay him what he deserves, but it does mean that Irving may not have as much leverage as initially expected.

Every Mavericks fan desperately wants Irving back this summer, as he helped weather the storm following the Luka Doncic trade and has been a fan favorite for years. Losing him in free agency would be heartbreaking for fans and the entire city of Dallas, as they have become attached to Irving over the last few years.

The Mavericks' fan base can't handle losing another beloved star player, and if Dallas were to somehow lose Irving, the city would be filled with outrage once again. Even though an Irving return looks all but confirmed, fans were traumatized after the Doncic trade and won't believe it until a pen is put to paper. Dallas needs guard depth badly, and if they were to lose Irving in free agency, that hole would become too deep to overcome.

The first step of free agency for the Mavericks must be signing Irving to a new contract (assuming he opts out of his deal), and if they secure this move, they will start the Cooper Flagg era on a high note. While Irving won't be able to play until some point (likely) in 2026 due to his ACL, having him in the locker room and around the team during the first half of the season will be crucial for Flagg's development.

Irving has become an outstanding leader as a Maverick, and there is no one better that Flagg could be learning from to begin his NBA journey.