After the latest PR debacle to come out of Dallas in the wake of the Luka Dončić trade (this time Nico Harrison continuing to trip over himself at every public turn to justify the deal), the Mavericks are perhaps trying to counter the negative vibes engulfing their franchise by throwing a little bit of good news out into the ether.

Irving is one of the best guards of his generation with a resume that includes a championship, nine All-Star nods, a Rookie of the Year and three All-NBA selections. He will be the leader of the team's backcourt once he does return, especially since Dončić is no longer on the roster. And that return is expected in January.

The nine-time All-Star Irving, now 33 years old, tore the ACL in his left knee during a game against the Sacramento Kings in early March ( video here ). ACL tears are generally 10-12 month injuries, so Irving may end up on the early end of that timeline if all goes according to plan.