Weeks after hiring Masai Ujiri and parting ways with Jason Kidd, the Dallas Mavericks have finally found their new coach. In a somewhat surprising turn of events, the Mavericks got their hands on Dusty May.
May is fresh off leading the Michigan Wolverines to the national championship. He was tied to multiple coaching positions shortly after lifting the trophy, which is why it was a bit of a shocker to see him finally take his talents to the pros months after taking care of business.
Notably, May's arrival might be great for player development, but not so much for the veterans. As such, there's a strong case to be made for Kyrie Irving to be on the trade block, and he may actually appreciate that.
Kyrie Irving may want to leave Dusty May's Mavericks
Irving has said all the right things about wanting to stay in Dallas, even after Kidd's departure. That said, he was close with Kidd, one of his idols growing up, so watching him leave may have been a big blow.
Moreover, Irving reportedly didn't want to be coached by Kenny Atkinson in Brooklyn years ago. He's not the same guy he was when he played for the Nets, but it's hard to believe he'll be okay with playing for an unproven coach making the jump from college basketball.
The Mavericks might not be a championship contender right now, not even with Irving back to full strength. He's not getting any younger, so he might be better suited to win another ring elsewhere, and he knows the clock is ticking.
Multiple teams, like the Orlando Magic or Detroit Pistons, might be in the market for an experienced, bucket-getting guard, and with the NBA Draft looming large, the Mavericks might want to make the most of this situation. Not to mention that Irving has ties to former Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney, who was one of the main attractions before being hired by the Magic.
Ujiri has never hesitated to pull the trigger and make big moves for the greater good, even if that means parting ways with big-name players and franchise stars. He inherited this roster, so he doesn't hold any allegiances, and Cooper Flagg should be the only untouchable player in Dallas.
May might be the right guy for the job, and he clearly knows how to maximize young talent, but there might be some growing pains. Irving isn't great at dealing with adversity. At this point in his career, he would probably like the chance to play for a contender. Otherwise, he might become a distraction.
Add us as a preferred source on Google