The Dallas Mavericks blew a 27-point lead to the Los Angeles Lakers, which was the biggest comeback of the NBA season.

"I'm not the savior here. I'm not playing," Kidd said when asked why he used only one timeout in the second and third quarters as the lead was slipping away. "I'm watching, just like you guys.

"As a team, we've got to mature. ... We've got to grow up -- if we want to win a championship. There's no young team that's ever won a championship, mentally or physically."

The Mavericks are now 1-3 in games played together by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Kyrie Irving was asked how he feels about the trend in the NBA for players to generally reduce the number of games they play in order to prevent or reduce injuries.

"I don't know who created the term 'load management' or guys sitting out games or this narrative that continues to play on about star players or guys not being available," said Irving. "I don't know who started the narrative, but it's completely run amok.

"I think it's dehumanized some of us in terms of just the way we prepare ourselves day-to-day. This is a 24/7 job. We have cameras on us all the time. It's a high-level, combative sport. It's very aggressive.

"Nobody knows how anyone else's body heals. The only person that knows is the person that is hurt or injured. We try our best to tell you guys what is going on, but you have doctors online telling everybody that he needs to be back in two weeks. You've got this person over here saying that he is not really hurt. He doesn't want to play.

"So I think the narratives have run amok. But us as players, we really take pride in preparing ourselves at a very high level and performing not only for our families, but for the fans that support us. We're nothing without our fans.

"I just think the narrative needs to change in terms of load management. Eighty-two games is a long season. I'm not saying we can't do it. We're in 2023. We have all the technology necessary. We have to use it wisely, and we have to be very communicative about what the plan is for everybody individually.

"Everybody's body is different. So you may see somebody heal in two weeks, but it may take someone else a month and a half to heal. It's just different."

Both the Dallas Mavericks and then the Brooklyn Nets turned down offers of multiple second rounds picks for Dorian Finney-Smith, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo.

The Nets acquired Finney-Smith from the Mavericks as part of the Kyrie Irving trade.

Finney-Smith signed an extension with the Mavericks in February 2022 worth $52 million over four years. 

Shortly before the Mavericks traded Finney-Smith, there was a report from Shams Charania linking him to the Utah Jazz. The Mavericks knew at that time it would take the inclusion of Finney-Smith to lead them to acquire a star player. 

Shortly after the Dallas Mavericks traded for Kyrie Irving, there was speculation that he could still end up with either the Phoenix Suns or Los Angeles Lakers. Both the Suns and Lakers tried to trade for Irving before he was moved to the Mavericks. The Suns went on to trade for Kevin Durant, while the Lakers traded for a package that included D'Angelo Russell. The Lakers could conceivably create cap space to sign Irving, or possibly incentivize the Mavericks to participate in a sign-and-trade.

Either way, the Mavericks acquired Irving to keep him and they have the capacity to offer him the most money.

"I think it's more likely than not Kyrie Irving stays in Dallas," said Adrian Wojnarowski on ESPN. "Just because of what they invested in him. And his chance to get the kind of contract he wants... I think given of what they gave up and Dallas' track record of being willing to pay players who want to be there. I think it's more likely than not Kyrie Irving is in Dallas. Of course it can all change.

"I do think [the Lakers] traded for Russell with the idea they'll go forward with him on a new deal."

The Dallas Mavericks made a risky move ahead of the trade deadline in acquiring Kyrie Irving.

Sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo that Doncic gave the Mavericks his approval on the trade before it was executed.

While Doncic strongly indicated his desire for the Mavericks to upgrade their roster this season, sources tell Fischer that Doncic has "remained far from contemplating any future with another franchise." In other words, Doncic is nowhere close to seeking an exit from the Mavericks. Doncic cannot become a free agent until 2026 at the earliest. 

Doncic can sign his next supermax extension 2025.

Kyrie Irving made it clear in comments to the media that he does not intend to discuss his future with the Dallas Mavericks publicly during the season. 

Irving and the Mavs agreed to not discuss a potential contract extension until after the playoffs. Irving will be a free agent this offseason and the Mavericks traded for him without any assurances he would remain with the franchise after his contract expires.

"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?'"

Irving is only eligible to sign up to a two-year, $83 million contract with the Mavericks during the season because he was recently traded. 

Irving 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 expected to be interested in Irving if he becomes a free agent.

"I don't see any risk involved," said Mavs general manager Nico Harrison, a former longtime Nike executive whose relationship with Irving dates to the guard's high school days. "I've known Kyrie for a long time. I know his core. I know what kind of person that he is. I think anybody that's ever watched him play basketball knows the type of basketball player he is.

"So I don't see the risk involved. I actually see the risk in not doing the deal."

"I will say that from the start, from when I came here, there's been nothing but a warm embrace, nothing but genuine love and nothing but a familiarity of relationships that I can really look to in times of questioning or confusion," Irving said. "There's just a positive note there. I'm just taking it one day at a time. That's all I can do in this life. What the future holds is really only going to be dictated on what I do right now and how I prepare for those next steps, and that's being the best teammate that I can be in that locker room and a great leader out here and within the Dallas community and within the NBA. I'll just continue to be myself.

"So I'm just putting that to bed and just focusing on what we have ahead of us as a team."

LaMarcus Aldridge is working out for the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.

Aldridge is preparing to play in his 17th season. Aldridge averaged 12.9 points in 47 games for the Brooklyn Nets a season ago.

Justin Holiday plans to sign with the Dallas Mavericks once he clears waivers following his buyout from the Houston Rockets.

Holiday was traded by the Atlanta Hawks to the Rockets at the deadline.

The Mavericks were previously linked with Terrence Ross, who ultimately agreed to sign with the Phoenix Suns.

The Dallas Mavericks will look to sign Justin Holiday should he get bought out by the Houston Rockets, sources told Marc Stein of Substack.

The Rockets have previously agreed to buyouts with John Wall and Danny Green.

The Mavs were reportedly looking to sign Terrence Ross, though Ross is now rumored to be joining the Suns after a buyout. 

The Orlando Magic and wing Terrence Ross are working towards a buyout. The Dallas Mavericks are the frontrunners to sign Ross when he clears waivers from Orlando.

Ross has seen his playing time drastically reduced this season with the Magic. In 42 games, he's averaged 8.0 points on 43.1% shooting from the field, including 38.1% on three-pointers.

Ross will likely give back a portion of his $11.5 million salary for this season. If Ross signs with the Mavericks, the max they can offer him is a prorated veteran minimum contract.