The Mavericks may be holding Kyrie Irving now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re locked into that position for the whole season.
Dallas is reportedly planning to let Irving play through January after his return from a torn ACL, then reassess whether a trade makes sense as the deadline draws closer. Sean Devaney of Heavy Sports reported that the Mavericks want to see how the veteran guard looks before deciding what comes next.
That wait-and-see approach comes with obvious upside for Dallas. Irving has not played since his ACL injury in March 2025, and his current deal carries roughly $40 million this season, plus a player option for around $42 million in 2027-28. That kind of money makes the timing of his comeback a major factor in any possible deal.
A Western Conference executive told Devaney that Irving could draw strong interest if he shows he can still produce at a high level.
“If you have some sense that, OK, we pay him $40 million this year, and next year he opts out and we can do a two-year deal or a three year deal at a lesser number, then I think you can do something. If he comes back and he is scoring 24, 25 points (per game), then you will have teams willing to give up a first-round pick for him.
Maybe more, maybe a young player, too. But with his injury history, I don’t think you give up more than one first.”
That’s the basic math Dallas is working with. If Irving comes back looking like himself, the market changes fast. If he doesn’t, the return could be a lot thinner.
For now, though, the Mavericks have not seriously entered the trade conversation. Rival teams are watching closely as February approaches, and Marc Stein previously reported that other organizations are still unsure how firm Dallas will stay once the season gets going.
Cooper Flagg is a big reason the situation feels different now. The 19-year-old has become the centerpiece in Dallas, while Irving is 34. The Mavericks still believe Irving can help Flagg grow, but they’re clearly on different clocks.
There’s also no reason to forget what Irving looked like when he was healthy last season. He averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.3% from the field and 41.1% from three.
If he gets anywhere near that level again, Dallas will have a much better asset on its hands in January than it does right now.
The contract structure matters just as much as the production. Devaney noted that a contender trading for Irving would likely want some assurance that he would pass on his 2027-28 option and work out a new two-year or three-year deal at a lower annual number.
Without that kind of setup, taking on more than $40 million for one season could scare teams off.
So the Mavericks’ logic is pretty straightforward: keep Irving, get him healthy, see what he can still do, and let the market build around him. Trading him before he proves he’s back would probably mean settling for less. Playing him alongside Flagg gives Dallas a chance to evaluate the fit while also giving Irving a shot to raise his value.
There’s interest waiting if he looks right. There’s just no active market yet, and Irving hasn’t asked out.
For now, Dallas appears content to let the season do the talking. If Irving is back to putting up 25 points a night, the Mavericks could be staring at a much more valuable deadline piece than the one they have today.
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Jason Kidds Viral Mavs Comment Sounds Worse Than It Was
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Mavericks Already Face Doubts About A Move That Could Affect Flagg
The Mavericks made one of their more notable summer commitments when they gave Naji Marshall a three-year extension last month, a move that signals confidence in a player who carved out a useful role and was heading into the final year of his previous deal. The new contract begins next season, giving Dallas a clearer long-term payroll picture around a roster that remains under plenty of scrutiny as the franchise keeps trying to balance present-day wins with the bigger future.
Not everyone sees the extension as an obvious win, though. Nate Duncan and John Hollinger flagged both the timing and the price, wondering whether the deal matches Marshall's fit on the roster and whether it could make him harder to move later if Dallas needs flexibility. For a team with eyes on the next step of its roster build, even a solid supporting-player extension can carry more weight than it first appears. [Read more 🡒]