Mavericks lowered prices on Irving, serious knee injury becomes a hidden danger

According to Jake Fischer, a well-known NBA reporter, the Dallas Mavericks plan to provide Kyrie Irving with a three-year, $120 million contract renewal contract in this offseason, with an average annual salary of $40 million, far lower than Irving's current contract (126 million in three years, average annual salary of $42 million) and the market maximum salary level. The core reason for this decision is that Irving suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on his left knee, reimbursed for the 2025 season, and will not return as early as January 2026.

However, this contract with an average annual salary of US$40 million is not only lower than Irving's current annual salary of 42 million, but also far from the 5-year super maximum salary he could get in theory.

On March 24 this year, during the Mavericks' match against the Kings, Irving fell to the ground with his left knee when he broke through. The news of the confirmed diagnosis of an ACL torn left knee not only made him directly reimbursement for the 2025 season, but also became a "fatal injury" in the contract renewal negotiations.

data shows that this is the third surgery for Irving's left knee - two surgeries in 2015 and 2018. Coupled with this serious injury, even if he returned in January 2026, he would miss the first two months of the next season.

The Mavericks' concerns are not without reason: Irving only played 50 games this season, and his attendance rate has just exceeded 60%. Compared to Van Vreet, who also earned an annual salary of 40 million yuan, who attended all this season and averaged 20.3 points per game. Irving, who is frequently injured, obviously lost the initiative in salary negotiations.

And interestingly, VanVleet (average of 18 points and 6 assists) has an annual salary of 40 million, while Irving, as an All-Star guard, was asked to cut his salary, and the market conditions were significantly damaged.

However, if Irving executes the 44 million player option next season, the subsequent 4-year contract of 240 million will also be attractive. But this means that the Mavericks will be tied to high salaries for a long time, contrary to the team's "three-year reconstruction" plan.

There are only two ways before Irving. Although the salary cuts and signs contracts have lost some of their salary, they can at least stay in the championship lineup. They still have a chance to prove themselves after their comeback in 2026, and the Mavericks' lineup is currently pretty good.

If you refuse to cut your salary, Irving can also go to a championship team because he does not lack the favor of the championship team, but the risks still exist. The Mavericks may seek to sign first and then exchange, and he may be traded to other bottom teams.