Cooper Flagg is the centerpiece in Dallas now, and that reality has pushed Kyrie Irving’s place with the Mavericks into the spotlight. Irving is 34, he missed last season, and after a major injury, there’s obvious uncertainty about what he’ll look like when he gets back on the floor. Even around the league, some executives are questioning whether Flagg and Irving can really line up as a backcourt pairing over time.
That’s why a three-team trade idea has surfaced involving Dallas, Boston and Golden State.
Under the proposal, the Mavericks would get Jimmy Butler, Baylor Schierman, a 2028 first-round pick via Golden State, and first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 via Boston. The Celtics would land Kyrie Irving, while the Warriors would receive Derrick White and P.J. Washington.
For Dallas, the appeal is tied to future value. The team would be loading up on picks, and Butler could even be moved again at next year’s trade deadline for another young player or more draft capital. Schierman is viewed as a player who can bring toughness and shooting.
Golden State’s part of the deal is straightforward enough: the Warriors have long wanted a player like Derrick White, and there’s already some familiarity there because White and Stephen Curry were teammates at the Paris Olympics. Washington also enters the conversation as a player who is more productive than Draymond Green at this point.
Boston’s angle is the one that makes the idea stand out. With Jaylen Brown already shipped out of town, the Celtics would be looking for more playmaking, and Irving would give them that.
The thought is that Jayson Tatum still can’t carry the entire offensive load by himself if Boston wants to stay in title contention next season. Irving would be able to be himself again and start at point guard.
It would also mark a return to Boston for Irving, whose previous run there ended badly. He was in a difficult place personally at the time, and he was younger, with the pride and ego to match. Now, nearly in his mid-30s, his image with fans has improved again, which is why a reunion is even being discussed.
In Other News...
Payton Pritchard Now Faces A Celtics Role That Changes Everything
The Celtics backcourt has taken on a different shape with the addition of veteran guard Mike Conley, a move that gives Boston another steady hand behind the point while also nudging Payton Pritchard into a far larger spotlight. Conley is expected to handle backup point guard duties in limited minutes, and that reshuffle leaves Pritchard positioned to step out of his familiar sixth man role and into the starting five.
For Pritchard, the change is more than a lineup tweak. His minutes should rise, and so should the offensive burden that comes with playing alongside the first unit, where Boston will lean on him differently than it did off the bench. The Celtics have seen him work in both roles before, but this is the sort of assignment that changes how the rest of the rotation flows around him, and it will be one of the more interesting subplots as the roster settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Curry Just Gave Celtics Fans A Reason To Keep Dreaming
Stephen Currys contract situation just added another layer to the long-running daydreams that tend to follow a superstar of his stature. Beginning Aug. 29, he becomes eligible to sign an extension with the Warriors, and under the NBAs Over-38 rule the most he can get is a two-year deal. His current contract already runs through the 2026-27 season, so there is no immediate urgency, but the calendar now opens a new window for Golden State to decide how it wants to handle the final stretch of Currys career.
For Celtics fans, the appeal is obvious even if the reality remains a lot murkier. Rumors about a possible trade to Boston have floated around, but there has been no credible reporting to give them real weight, and Curry would still be headed toward unrestricted free agency after his current deal expires. Still, once a player of his magnitude is eligible for a new extension, every team with a championship-sized imagination has reason to pay attention, even if the path to actually landing him remains distant. [Read more 🡒]
Paul George Might Be Exactly What Tatum Still Needs
Paul Georges resume still carries real weight. A six-time All-NBA selection and nine-time All-Star, he has spent much of his career as a primary scorer on teams good enough to reach the conference finals, and even at 36 he has continued to produce at a level that keeps him in the conversation as more than just a name on paper. Over the past two seasons, he has averaged 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 made 3s per game, a reminder that his game still travels well even as the role around him changes.
For the Celtics, the appeal is obvious: George brings shooting, size and the kind of two-way versatility that can ease pressure on Jayson Tatum without asking for the spotlight to shift. Boston has plenty of reasons to value players who can score without needing every possession, and Georges ability to complement elite talent makes him an intriguing fit on paper. The bigger question is whether that fit becomes real, and if so, how much of his best version is still available for a contender trying to squeeze every edge from its roster. [Read more 🡒]