It has already been a tumultuous season for the Dallas Mavericks, who fired general manager Nico Harrison earlier this month. Despite their struggles, it does not appear as though they are ready to trade injured All-Star Kyrie Irving.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks would like to keep Irving alongside rookie Cooper Flagg as the team attempts to reset.
“Sources say that the Mavericks, by contrast, are not encouraging trade inquiries for Kyrie Irving, who remains out indefinitely after undergoing knee surgery in late March. Already vibing nicely with prized rookie Cooper Flagg in practice settings, Irving is a player they hope to keep,” Stein wrote.
“Yet Dallas, as has been well-chronicled, does not possess control of its first-round pick for four consecutive Junes (2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030) after the 2026 draft and thus have limited optionality to reshape their roster around Flagg unless they trade veterans for future assets.”
Article Continues Below
Irving last played in February of this year and was productive before tearing his ACL. Through 50 games last season, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds while shooting roughly 47 percent from the field and around 40 percent from distance.
While the 33-year-old is certainly a player who could make an impact, the Mavericks may not be healthy enough to compete this season. Anthony Davis has been dealing with a calf strain that has forced him to miss time, and the team has sputtered to a 4-12 record to start the campaign.
Dallas has struggled to mold the right situation since trading Luka Doncic last season, but it does not seem like they will completely start over ahead of this winter’s trade deadline.