Kyrie Irving to Take Time in Making Free Agency Decision

Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving officially will be an unrestricted free agent next month, eligible to sign with anyone.

And apparently, he is not in any hurry when it comes to where he’ll play next season.

“I’m a free agent but in no way am I in a rush to make a decision,” Irving said on Instagram Live.

Irving also suggested that he will announce his final destination on IG Live, or social media of some sort.

“If you hear something about my career, it’s going to happen direct like this,” he said. “I am an independent agency. It’s just me.”

Several reports suggest that Irving is strongly leaning toward a return to the Mavs, given that they can offer him the largest contract. But he is again being linked to the Lakers, especially after attending two of their postseason games in Los Angeles.

Lakers star LeBron James is said to be strongly in favor of reuniting with his former Cavaliers teammate, the two leading Cleveland to its lone championship in 2016.

But Irving indicated the speculation is just that — speculation.

“When they speak on my name talking about potential teams, can y’all please stop paying attention to that?” he said.

While a fantastic individual talent, Irving has not proven to be the type of player who can lift a team to new heights since parting ways with James and the Cavs in 2017. He has since played for the Celtics, Nets and now Mavs, who are “optimistic” about the possibility of re-signing him, per Tim Cato of The Athletic.

Irving, 31, was traded to Dallas in February. He averaged 27.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 20 games, shooting 51 percent from the field and 39 percent on 3-pointers while teaming next to star guard Luka Doncic.

All of those fall in line with Irving’s averages over the past five seasons. But the Mavs failed to qualify for even the play-in tournament, and there are questions about whether Irving and Doncic are a fit long-term.