Feb 21, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) looks on after he makes a three point shot against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Feb 21, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) looks on after he makes a three point shot against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
A lot has changed for the Dallas Mavericks in just a few short years. Going from the Luka Doncic era to the Cooper Flagg era must have felt like whiplash, but the franchise is adjusting however it can, and teams across the league continue to monitor their situation.
Notably, teams are watching for the potential availability of Kyrie Irving, a former NBA champion and nine-time All-Star. While no deal is imminent, recent rumblings indicate that Irving could emerge as a hot target leading up to February’s deadline, putting his name in the mix as a top potential trade candidate.
“Teams are intrigued by how, or if, Irving fits into the Dallas Mavericks’ long-term plans. [Kyrie] could be a prime target for contenders before the trade deadline if Masai Ujiri is willing to engage in those discussions,” reported ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
The Mavericks are in full rebuild mode after going 26-56 last season (12th in the West). At this point, Cooper Flagg has been tapped as the face and leader of the team, but they wanted Irving to serve as his mentor, setting the example and taking the young star under his wing.
As a 14-year veteran with multiple playoff runs under his belt, he brings valuable experience to the locker room and has great respect from his teammates and peers. After tearing his ACL in March of 2025, Irving has yet to suit up for the Mavs, and there is some doubt he can fully restore his peak form. But with career averages of 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game, there is confidence that Kyrie can still play elite basketball, even if he’s not quite what he was.
The question is, if the Mavericks do decide to trade him, where would he end up? Despite being an aging star with two years and $81 million on his deal, many teams would scramble to add Irving, but Dallas still has the ultimate leverage. They would likely want back several picks and/or a young player in a deal, which would somewhat limit the possibilities.
If the Miami Heat are willing to give up their last trade assets, they could pull off a deal and bring in Irving to join Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, and his former teammate Klay Thompson. It would be a borderline dynasty in the East, but Miami would have to gut their supporting cast to make it work.
The Detroit Pistons are another team that could use Kyrie, especially as they risk losing Jalen Duren. Pulling off a deal would be tricky, but Irving could provide the scoring and playmaking they need to maintain their top position in the standings.
There are also the Houston Rockets. Even with the return of Fred VanVleet, they could use more firepower in the backcourt, especially on the perimeter. Irving would give them that and then some, but it’s unclear if they’re willing to pay such a hefty price to tweak a roster they already feel good about.
For now, the situation is still tentative with Irving, and a perfect situation may not appear until halfway through the season. That’s why the Mavericks are taking a patient approach and sitting on Kyrie’s contract until they can at least squeeze out maximum value in a trade.