Raptors predicted to trade for Mavericks' $118M NBA champion, All-Star to pair with Kawhi Leonard originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
All of the stars over the last decade are starting to get older and closer to retirement than the NBA world would like to think. One of those all-time greats is Kyrie Irving who is finally playing after having to sit out last season.
The Dallas Mavericks guard is looking to help Dallas win games this season. He has also brought up that he is close to retirement.
“You have social media and gambling which is running rampant and it's not the same NBA that I fell in love with as a kid and I'm very much aware of that… Basketball is an eternal flame, it always will, but I don't see myself playing in the nba at 42, 43," Irving told the media.
The talk of the offseason was whether or not Irving could potentially get traded. For now, it seems like he is in a good spot, but if it changes, there is belief management would grant his wishes.
“Ujiri has made it clear that the franchise is committed to keeping Irving with Flagg, who is 15 years younger than the star point guard," ESPN's Brain Windhorst wrote. "Rival front offices question whether Dallas can stick to that plan with roster holes elsewhere and the two stars on different career timelines."
There are a lot of teams that will be trying to get Irving if he becomes available. Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale believes the Toronto Raptors would strike a deal for him.
“Shooting and passing top the Toronto Raptors' list of needs. Kyrie Irving takes care of both while creating a filthy offensive trio with Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard. Aging up the roster even further would be a risk, and Kyrie's $39.5 million isn't cheap. But the Raptors have two other stars to streamline his workload, and they can use his player option next summer as a chance to negotiate a longer deal with a smaller annual number,” Favale wrote.
Irving would be good in an offense with Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, and maybe RJ Barrett depending on the deal. It would give them another guard, which would likely allow Barrett to play more of a forward position.
Irving is currently in the last year of his $118 million contract with Dallas. There is no doubt that the NBA champion would help Toronto’s goal to win another championship with the group they have.