Jimmy Butler Expected To Play In Game 4

Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks appear to need one another without much leverage in either direction, but both sides are prepared to negotiate as free agency opens. Irving will meet with the Phoenix Suns even though they lack realistic options to match the Mavericks financially.

“Kyrie Irving is trying to create a market out there,” said Adrian Wojnarowski. “It may just not be there for him. Certainly, Dallas, I think, is going to try to show some restraint, some discipline on what they’re going to offer Kyrie Irving with a new deal in Dallas. It’s going to be more than anybody else can offer him.

“I think he’s going to try to spend some time here trying to manufacture a marketplace of salary cap space and teams that might actually scare Dallas into thinking they have to up their offer. I’m not sure that’s happening. That will be an interesting process as it plays out. I still think Kyrie Irving inevitably will return back to Dallas on a deal to play with Luka Doncic.”