Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland
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With the Cleveland Cavaliers' underwhelming start to the season, many believe a shake-up may be in order for this team to be able to live up to it's preseason championship expectations. Reuniting with Kyrie Irving could be the perfect move to get this team back on track.
When it comes to NBA trade speculation, few ideas stir emotion and logic quite like a star returning to where it all began. That’s exactly why a hypothetical Darius Garland-for-Kyrie Irving swap has caught real traction after a detailed discussion on the Wine and Gold Talk podcast.
Rather than internet shock bait, the idea was laid out thoughtfully by cleveland.com Cavaliers beat reporter Chris Fedor, who framed the concept around timing, contracts, and roster direction for both franchises.
A Timeline Mismatch in Dallas
From the Dallas Mavericks’ perspective, the argument begins with age and trajectory. Irving, now in his mid-30s and recovering from a torn ACL, no longer cleanly aligns with a franchise pivoting into a youth-driven era built around rookie forward Cooper Flagg.
“The trajectory of Dallas does not align with Kyrie at this point anymore,” Fedor explained. “So if they could flip Kyrie for the next three to five years of Darius to grow alongside Cooper Flagg, then all of a sudden things look a little bit different in Dallas.”
Garland, 25, fits that timeline far better. He’s younger, under long-term control, and still capable of being a high-usage offensive engine. Something Dallas would need to protect Flagg, who thrives more as a finisher than a ball-dominant initiator.
Host Ethan Sands expands this thought experiment, envisioning a broader youth reset that could include Atlanta Hawks former No.1 overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher who has been heavily rumored in trade talks that involve the Mavericks moving on from veterans like Anthony Davis.
“Then you have the youthful years of Zaccharie Risacher, Cooper Flagg and Darius Garland,” Sands said. “We’re talking about a team that would be full of potential… especially when you talk about the size and the skill of both Cooper Flagg and Zaccharie Risacher and then the gravity and the offensive skill set of Darius Garland.”
Cleveland’s Finals-Or-Bust Reality
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the calculus is far simpler: win now. Pairing Irving with Donovan Mitchell would immediately raise Cleveland’s playoff ceiling, even with concerns surrounding Irving’s recovery timeline.
“I do think it’s finals or bust,” Fedor said. “And I do think it’s continue to try and keep Donovan Mitchell happy, engaged and wanting to believe that this team… has a chance to put him in position to compete for championships.”
Irving’s value in Cleveland isn’t nostalgia, it’s fit. Unlike Garland, Irving has repeatedly proven he can thrive next to ball-dominant stars, whether alongside LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, or Luka Doncic. His off-ball scoring gravity and late-game shot creation directly complement Mitchell’s style.
Contracts Make the Math Work
Financially, the deal is surprisingly clean. Irving is on a three-year, $119 million extension averaging roughly $40 million annually, while Garland’s max extension escalates from $39.4 million in 2025-26 to $44.9 million by 2027-28. As Fedor noted, “Kyrie makes right around the same amount as Darius,” a key detail given Cleveland’s second-apron restrictions.
A Rare Trade That Actually Makes Sense
Garland has reportedly been open to separating from Mitchell to reclaim a lead-guard role. Dallas could offer that freedom without overwhelming pressure, while Cleveland would gain a proven playoff closer built for win-now basketball.
It may feel far-fetched emotionally, but structurally, stylistically, and financially, this is the rare blockbuster that checks real boxes on both sides. If either team recalibrates at the deadline, this is no longer a trade idea that deserves dismissal.