It's Probably No Big Deal That Kyrie Irving Has Decided He Won't Answer Questions About His Future In Dallas. What Could Go Wrong?

Thearon W. Henderson. Getty Images.

After what happened at the trade deadline, I think it's fair to say that two of the most intriguing storylines for the rest of the year are the remaining seasons of the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks. With the Suns, even if their window is only 2-3 years, at least they know that their franchise building block in Kevin Durant isn't going anywhere any time soon (barring another trade demand). They have the talent to win now while also having a general idea of what their team will look like moving forward.

That is not the case for the Mavs. They made a win now move which didn't make them the overwhelming favorite like it may have with the Suns, but it's definitely a trade that moves the needle for many reasons, basketbal ones included. In that regard, it's arguably the most talented backcourt in the NBA. The Mavs have paired a mostly unstoppable offensive force in Luka with an elite shot creator in Kyrie Irving. So far, it's been mostly what everyone should have expected when it comes to the basketball part of this trade. There are no signs that Kyrie as a Mav doesn't work

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Dallas won their first two Kyrie games, with Luka Doncic watching from the sidelines. We hadn't been able to see them share the floor together until the other night, where they had a brutal OT loss to the Kings. Even in that game, Luka/Kyrie combined for 55. While we still have to see how it all looks defensively, it didn't take long to see that from an offensive standpoint, this trade works.

But unlike the Suns, the Mavs have no idea what Kyrie Irving is going to do this summer. As an unrestricted free agent, Kyrie gets to decide where he ends up. He could take the most money possible, he could take the most years possible, he could take a discount to play somewhere that he wants. It's all on the table when it comes to Kyrie Irving and his basketball future. 

As you can expect, he was asked about this very topic. 

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On the surface, a very professional answer. Everyone with a brain knows that Kyrie was simply avoiding another one of these moments

and I can't get on him for that. I lived through that fiasco. I spinzoned what I wanted to believe to be true instead of what was actually true because that's what fans do. I could have told you Kyrie was going to avoid another mistake like this with his new team, he'd be crazy not to.

He also didn't say something along the lines of "I'm loving being a Mav, it would be great to be here long term, I want to be here". Don't flat out say you're going to re-sign like you did in Boston, but also find a way to show your commitment. Is it possible that Kyrie has every intention of staying in Dallas as long as Cuban offers him a deal? Sure! 

Is it also possible that this is just the start of the clock to the ticking time bomb that is the Kyrie Irving Experience? Will anyone be susprised if he leaves in free agency this summer? If the Lakers are ready to offer the years and the money, is Kyrie turning down LeBron? That's also entirely possible. 

In a sense, it's a lose/lose situation for Kyrie to ask him about his future, but that's all because of shit HE did. It's going to be fascinating to see how it all works on the basketball side since the Mavs traded real pieces for Kyrie, and then you add in the free agency element and they are going to be must watch the rest of the way.

As someone who has been in this position before, my guess is Mavs fans are feeling nervous. They've seen the intoxicating talent of Kyrie help them win games, and then it looked good next to Luka. It's hard to fight off that level of excitement that an engaged Kyrie brings. You want to hope that somehow it'll work out this time because so far so good. I'll just say, this is how it's been at every stop. It's not about how it starts, it's about what comes next. 

First comes the noncommital answer. Then he says to ask him July 1st. Then, well we know what comes next.