ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported that Kyrie Irving will be cleared to return from his ACL tear following the All-Star break, but whether he plays is another story. MacMahon reported that Irving's return will depend on where the Mavericks are in the standings, and even if Irving is ready to come back in March, Dallas could decide to keep him on the sidelines.
"Kyrie will be medically cleared at some point after the All-Star break to return," MacMahon said. "Whether or not he plays this season is a related but different conversation, right? It might be in the franchise's best interest for neither of those guys to play down the stretch.