Kyrie Irving asks media to keep focus on present with Mavs

DALLAS — Kyrie Irving made a polite request during a news conference Monday evening to introduce him to the Dallas media: Please do not ask him about his future beyond this season.

The Dallas Mavericks traded for Irving last week despite not having any assurances he would remain with the franchise after his contract expires at the end of the season. Irving and the Mavs agreed not to discuss a potential contract extension until after the playoffs, and Irving made it clear Monday that he does not intend to discuss the subject publicly for the remainder of the season.

«It puts unwarranted distractions on us and our team,» Irving said before making his home debut for the Mavericks against the Minnesota Timberwolves. «I've dealt with it before, and it's very emotionally draining to ask questions like, 'What's the long term? What's the long term?'»

Because he was recently traded, Irving is only eligible to sign a two-year contract extension worth a maximum of $83 million during the season. He could sign a four-year, $220.6 million supermax extension during free agency or re-sign with the Mavs for up to $272 million over five years as a free agent.

The Los Angeles Lakers are among the teams that could have significant salary-cap space that are expected to be suitors for Irving in the offseason. LeBron James, who won a championship in Cleveland with Irving, has publicly expressed a desire to reunite with him and bemoaned the Lakers' failure to get a trade done after they made an offer to Brooklyn of Russell Westbrook and a pair of first-round picks.

«I can't sit here and say I'm not disappointed on not being able to land such a talent, but [also] someone that I had great chemistry with, and know I got great chemistry with on the