Kyrie Irving has been shut down for the season, and the news couldn't come at a better time for the Dallas Mavericks.
There aren't many players who are both key to a championship effort and take over as a "tank commander."
For the Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie Irving has worn both hats. He was the best sidekick in the league when Luka Doncic led them to the NBA Finals in 2024, and has since been ravaged by injury, namely a torn ACL.
Irving's injury was a key part to the Mavericks landing Cooper Flagg despite having a 1.8% chance to secure the top pick in the 2025 draft, and his lingering ACL injury will keep him out for the rest of the season.
For the Mavericks, that injury news should be bittersweet.
Why Irving Being Out Is Necessary
We never wish for injury, but all signs point to Irving having already mostly recovered. At this point in the season, with his Mavericks in 12th place, a return to the court could only do more harm than good.
First of all, there's no point in his rushing back. Irving is a veteran, 33 years old, and returning before he's "1,000%," as his agent said, could have long-term effects on the rest of his career.
On top of that, do the Maverticks really need an All-Star point guard? Next season, they certainly will. But for now, winning games does more harm than good.
Mark Cuban has made it clear that he thinks teams should tank when needed, and if a team has ever needed to tank, it would be the Mavericks. Sure, they have a franchise centerpiece in Flagg, but can the second-best player on the roster really be Naji Marshall? Not if they want to make it back to the postseason!
Next year, the Mavericks are hoping to be led by Flagg, Irving, and a top rookie. In order to have Irving at his best, Dallas will need him to take his time to recover. In order for them to land a high-level youngster, Irving can't be on the court. He will only hurt their lottery odds.
As far as tanking goes, this season has been pretty "organic," as Mike Fisher would say. The Mavericks, in short, are bad, and any injuries they've reported seem to be legitimate.
There's really no argument in favor of Irving's return other than "Oh, I want to see him play," and that's not good enough for a front office trying to restore a franchise.