Harrison fully expects Kyrie Irving to return next season

Nico Harrison’s vision for the Dallas Mavericks to win an NBA title in the near future depends heavily on the return of point guard Kyrie Irving to the team’s lineup.

Irving has a player-option on his contract that – if he decides to pick up that option – will pay him $43.96 million next season. Or if Irving decides to opt-out of the contract and become an unrestricted free agent, the Mavs can negotiate a longer contract.

But first things first.

Harrison, the Mavs’ general manager, held a press conference on Monday and told everyone if the Mavs didn’t experience so many injuries this season, they would have been squarely in the hunt to win this year’s NBA title. But they’ll have to wait until…