NBA Free Agency Report: Kyrie Irving, Mavs 'Need Each Other'

With free agency right around the corner for the Dallas Mavericks, the speculation surrounding Kyrie Irving's free agency continues to swirl.

The Dallas Mavericks enter the summer with the No. 10 pick in their asset arsenal with a number of roster decisions and coaching staff additions to be made to bolster their chances of contending for the playoffs next season.

On Thursday's episode of The Ryen Russillo Podcast, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski spoke on several NBA offseason topics, including his thoughts on how he thinks Kyrie Irving's free agency will shake out. Most signs point to him re-signing in Dallas.

"I think they need each other," Wojnarowski said. "They [Mavericks] can't let him walk. They just can't. Not if they're gonna try to continue to give Luka a reason to be hopeful, and they can pay [Kyrie] the most."

Of course, just the thought of Dallas fumbling yet another free agency situation – a la Jalen Brunson last summer – is one that gives Mavs fans nightmares. Despite the amount of baggage that Irving has come with in the past, his skillset is unmatched, and his reputation among his peers is awfully high. That leads a number of rumors of teams who could pluck him away from Dallas, like the Los Angeles Lakers or Miami Heat. Then again, it also leads to Irving trying to recruit LeBron James to Dallas ... and James actually considering it.

"If you're Kyrie Irving, your chance to get the maximum years and the money is with the Mavericks," Wojnarowski said. "I think in the end, it's just a matter of what the deal looks like. I think the two sides find their way to each other in early July."

Woj is right. If max financial security is what Irving is looking for over anything else, then Dallas seems to be the only likely option, unless he'd prefer to sign with a rebuilding team like Houston. Making max money while playing alongside a star talent like Luka Doncic for the next handful of years sounds like the best-case scenario for both sides, especially if the Mavs can add more talented defensive pieces around them.

"Again, I just think they need each other," Wojnarowski said.

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