The nine-time All-Star is recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee, which he injured in early March.
The first-year salary will be lower than the option he declined. That will enable Dallas to use the $5.7M taxpayer mid-level exception to pursue a lead guard in free agency to run the team while Irving recovers, according to Marc Stein.
The deadline for Irving to opt-in was Tuesday and it wasn’t surprising that the option was declined for more long-term security. As far back as April, it was reported that Dallas preferred to re-sign him to a three-year deal.
The Mavericks are hopeful Irving can return to action sometime in the middle of next season. They were hopeful that the combination of Irving and Anthony Davis would produce a championship in the short run. The unexpected addition of Cooper Flagg via winning the lottery will make them even more dangerous in the coming years.
Irving was enjoying a typically strong season prior to the injury. He averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 50 starts. Most of the outings came with Luka Doncic alongside him in the backcourt, so his assist totals figure to spike when he returns.
