Kyrie Irving’s future in Dallas keeps drawing attention, even as the Mavericks insist they want him as part of their next core.
The team has spent the offseason remaking itself, and that reset picked up even more steam when Dallas used the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft on generational prospect Cooper Flagg. On paper, the Mavericks have a clear direction: build around Flagg and keep Irving in the mix as a veteran presence.
But the trade chatter around Irving hasn’t gone away. The latest buzz came from former NFL star Chad Johnson, who floated the idea of Irving leaving Dallas for a reunion with LeBron James in Miami.
“What about the opportunity of Kyrie going to Miami. I’m telling y’all again ahead of time.
I get a chance to throw these hints out but nobody is really picking up what I’m putting down. What are the chances of Kyrie going down to Miami?”
Johnson said.
Former NBA guard Joe Johnson backed the concept, too, saying he’d like to see Irving and James team up again after what they accomplished together in Cleveland.
“I love it bro - I’m a big fan of Kyrie. I wouldn’t mind seeing him and Bron get back together,” Joe said.
James is currently an unrestricted free agent after his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers expired, and he has already told the organization he does not intend to return. The Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors have been the teams most commonly linked to him.
For now, Dallas continues to say Irving is part of its plans, with the franchise viewing him as an important veteran leader next to Flagg. Still, Miami’s aggressive approach this offseason keeps the rumor mill spinning. If James decides the Heat are his destination, Pat Riley could look at every route available to try to put the former championship duo back together.
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Mavericks Fans Wont Love Where Frank Vogel Is Headed
Frank Vogels next stop is taking shape after a season in Dallas, where the veteran coach served as an associate head coach and brought a rsum that already includes a championship run with the Lakers. His track record as a head coach and his experience working alongside star players have made him a familiar and respected name around the league, and he remains one of the more proven voices available for a staff looking to bolster its bench.
For Mavericks fans, the part that stings is less about Vogels credentials than where his career path is headed now. Golden State already locked in Steve Kerr with a multiyear extension in May, and the Warriors have also been active in reshaping the roster this offseason, so Vogel is stepping into a situation with both stability and expectations. For Dallas, it is another reminder that a coach who just helped fill an important role here will be part of a rivals plans instead. [Read more 🡒]
Masai Ujiri May Not Be Finished Reshaping The Mavericks Yet
The Mavericks have already spent the offseason remaking themselves from the top down, bringing in Masai Ujiri as president of basketball operations and Dusty May as head coach, then following with a sprawling six-team sign-and-trade that sent AJ Johnson and Khris Middleton out and added Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser and the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic. It has been a busy stretch for a team that clearly is not interested in treating this as a minor reset.
Even after that flurry of activity, NBA insider Chris Haynes says Ujiri is still open to another roster move if the right opportunity comes along, which is the sort of note that tends to keep the rest of the league watching. For Dallas, it suggests the reshaping may not be finished yet, and that there could still be something left up its sleeve before the roster is finally set. [Read more 🡒]