Kyrie Irving is set to start the season with the Dallas Mavericks after missing last season entirely due to a torn ACL suffered in 2025.
While many expect Irving to return close to his pre-injury form, the 34-year-old is slated to play alongside a rebuilding roster led by 19-year-old Cooper Flagg.
This situation has sparked trade rumors surrounding Irving, provided he can prove he is still capable of performing at an elite level.
Expectations remain low for Dallas. After struggling last season, the Mavericks have added several fresh, unproven talents to a roster already in transition.
The addition of first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Zaccharie Risacher, is a perfect example of this.
He is a player who still has a lot of potential, but fell out of the rotation with the Atlanta Hawks and is expected to regain his confidence with the Mavs.
Dallas also acquired standout EuroLeague prospects Sergio DeLarrea and Tarik Biberovic, both of whom have yet to prove themselves in the NBA.
This proposed trade would resolve Dallas' timeline mismatch with Irving while allowing the San Antonio Spurs to retool a squad that was just one step away from winning the title.
Potential Kyrie Irving trade framework
San Antonio Spurs receive:
Kyrie Irving
Daniel Gafford
Dallas Mavericks receive:
De'Aaron Fox
Luke Kornet
Why the Spurs do it
Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix
The San Antonio Spurs had a great season last year, returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014, but they ultimately fell short to the more experienced New York Knicks.
In this hypothetical trade, San Antonio would address their two most glaring problems that emerged during the playoffs and especially the Finals.
De'Aaron Fox, one of San Antonio's most experienced veterans and the highest-paid player on the roster, performed below expectations.
His numbers did not drop drastically – his scoring dipped from 18.5 points per game in the regular season to 15.6 in the playoffs, while his field goal percentage fell from 48.6% to 41.4% with other metrics remaining steady.
However, rookie Dylan Harper consistently outplayed him in crucial moments by elevating his own postseason production.
Replacing Fox with Irving would give the Spurs a proven playoff performer who can provide valuable postseason experience to San Antonio's young backcourt.
While there is risk given Kyrie's injury history, his shorter and less expensive contract provides more flexibility for the future.
San Antonio also struggled whenever Victor Wembanyama went to the bench and Luke Kornet took the court.
While Kornet was a solid backup during the regular season, he was often hunted on defense during the playoffs, which sometimes led to San Antonio having to overplay Wembanyama.
Adding Daniel Gafford solves this issue by providing reliable rim protection when the Spurs' superstar center is off the court.
Gafford doesn't have the offensive versatility of Kornet, but he offers solid vertical spacing and serves as an ideal pick-and-roll partner for their guards.
Why the Mavericks do it
Daniel Gafford and Kyrie Irving have been central figures in Dallas trade conversations, as both veterans fit better with contenders than on a rebuilding roster.
Adding Fox instead of Irving gives the Mavericks a younger player who could serve as the secondary option alongside Flagg while still having solid experience to share with younger players.
While Fox has struggled in the playoffs recently, he would raise Dallas' floor during the regular season and provide veteran leadership.
Meanwhile, swapping Gafford for Luke Kornet opens up a larger role for Dereck Lively. After missing most of last season due to injury, Lively could be poised for a breakout campaign with increased playing time.