The Dallas Mavericks are at a crossroads-and the road ahead looks a lot different than it did just a season ago. As the NBA trade deadline creeps closer, the Mavs are shaping up to be one of the most intriguing teams to watch, not just because of who they might add, but because of who they might be willing to let go.
Names like Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Daniel Gafford have been floated in trade rumors, and while none of those deals are close to the finish line, the chatter says a lot about where Dallas is heading. After doubling down on a veteran core in recent years, the front office is now staring down the reality that injuries and inconsistent play have forced their hand. A youth movement isn’t just on the horizon-it’s already starting.
Right now, the Mavericks’ young foundation is thin but promising. Cooper Flagg is the centerpiece, a future star with the kind of two-way upside you build around.
Dereck Lively II gives them a rim-running big with elite defensive instincts, and they still hold their 2026 first-round pick. Beyond that, the cupboard isn’t exactly stocked.
If Dallas wants to fully pivot to the next era, they’ll need to get creative with how they flip their aging veterans into assets.
PJ Washington fits the Flagg timeline reasonably well, and Lively II continues to develop, but there’s a clear missing piece: a point guard of the future.
D’Angelo Russell doesn’t move the needle. Ryan Nembhard has shown flashes, but expecting a second-round pick to become your franchise floor general is a gamble at best. And then there’s Kyrie Irving-a player who, despite not playing a single game this season due to a torn ACL, remains one of the most polarizing figures in the Mavericks’ long-term equation.
Internally, the Mavericks still see Irving as part of their core. His clutch shot-making, his bond with the fan base, and his steady presence in the post-Luka Doncic era have all helped him become a symbol of continuity in a franchise that’s seen its fair share of turbulence.
Trading Kyrie wouldn’t just be a roster move-it would be a statement. A seismic one.
But here’s the dilemma: if Dallas is serious about building around Flagg, they’ll need to make bold decisions. Trading Irving could unlock minutes for a young guard-whoever that ends up being-and more importantly, it could bring back the kind of assets needed to find that guard in the first place.
It’s easy to forget just how significant Irving’s arrival was when he first came over from Brooklyn. At the time, he was viewed as a risky addition, a volatile star with baggage.
But in Dallas, he bought in. He embraced being the second option behind Doncic, and in doing so, helped reshape his image across the league.
But Luka is gone now. The “hermano” connection that once defined the Mavericks’ backcourt is a memory. And with Doncic’s departure, Irving is the last major link to that previous era-a holdover from a team that had championship dreams but never quite put it all together.
Now, the focus has to shift. Flagg is the future.
Maximizing his development, his prime, and the potential title window he could open has to be the priority. That might mean difficult decisions-starting with Kyrie.
The Mavericks are entering a new chapter. And while the names on the roster might change, the goal remains the same: build a team that can compete at the highest level. Whether that includes Irving or not will say a lot about how bold Dallas is willing to be in pursuit of that vision.