J.J. Barea, one of the most beloved players in the history of the Dallas Mavericks, believes his former team have a tough decision to make regarding Kyrie Irving this summer.
The now retired Puerto Rican, who was a key figure in the Mavericks’ NBA title run alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd in 2011, acknowledges the trade deadline signing that brought Irving to Dallas from Brooklyn in February did not pay off but that there could still be an argument made for re-signing the 31-year-old guard.
Speaking to Arab News to help promote the highly anticipated preseason games between the Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves in Abu Dhabi in October, Barea weighed in on the Irving dilemma. “I think you could go either way,” he said. “I think Kyrie is such a special talent that maybe you could try it again.
And maybe if you find the right pieces to put around Kyrie and Luka (Doncic), it could be really, really good. “And you also could go opposite, you could let him go or try to do a sign-and-trade and get some good players for him and go that route.