In a blockbuster move,?Kyrie Irving?was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Irving wanted a long-term contract, but the Brooklyn Nets were not interested. So he requested a trade, and the Mavericks jumped at the opportunity. With this, the Mavs have added another All-Star alongside superstar Luka Doncic. However, it is a risky move by the front office because Irving could leave the team in the summer, with the Los Angeles Lakers lurking. The 2016 NBA champion’s worth has been a topic of discussion in the past few days after his move. NBA legend?Shaquille O’Neal?recently gave his thought about the situation.

Shaquille O’Neal on giving a long-term contract to Irving

In the latest episode of the?Big Podcast with Shaq, Shaquille O’Neal talked about the dilemma of giving Kyrie Irving a huge long-term contract. The four-time NBA champion stated that everyone makes mistakes and said he will not judge Irving for his off-court issues. Shaq added Kyrie is one of the best scorers in the league and can find open teammates. Co-host Nischelle Turner asked Shaq whether he would give Irving a multi-year deal. Turner then stated that Irving is a $50 million per year player.

However, she pressed Shaq on whether Irving can be given that money upfront or he should earn the deal by showing up first. O’Neal admitted the eight-time All-Star is a $50 million per year player. But he was not ready to comment about the long-term contract. He said, “My voice and my opinions hurts people’s feelings. I don’t want to hurt people’s feelings and cause influence when it comes to somebody’s money.”

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So the Los Angeles Lakers legend declined to answer the question. However, he noted that Stephen A. Smith’s comments about the situation make sense to him. Notably, Stephen A. Smith’s comments about the situation did not sit well with former NBA player Jay Williams on Live TV.

Kyrie Irving’s contract situation

Kyrie Irving is in the final year of his four-year $136.49 million contract he signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019. He is eligible for a five-year, $272.92 million maximum contract if he re-signs with the Dallas Mavericks.

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If he decides to leave the Mavs, other teams can offer him a four-year $201.67 million contract in free agency. However, because of his absences in the past few seasons and his off-court issues, there are concerns about giving him a huge long-term contract.

Do you think Kyrie Irving deserves a max contract? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.