The Mavericks may be saying all the right things about Kyrie Irving right now, but the real test could come once he gets back on the floor.
Dallas has spent the offseason with Irving at the center of the conversation. He’s in the final year of his contract, yet the word out of the organization is that the team wants him to play out the season. Irving, meanwhile, has made it clear he feels at home in Dallas even after an injury wiped out all of last season for him.
“I'm not gonna shy away from saying it's been a little chaotic at times, inside the locker room as well as outside…I'm in love with this place just because of how welcoming it was, not just from the franchise aspect but also the fans, lot of support around the city…We're building something…Having that championship mindset that whatever we face we can deal with," Irving said.
For now, there’s no sign the Mavericks are planning to move him. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the franchise is committed to keeping Irving alongside Flagg, who is 15 years younger than the star point guard. But Windhorst also noted that rival teams are skeptical Dallas can stay on that path given the holes elsewhere on the roster and the fact that the two players are at very different stages of their careers.
That’s where the trade talk starts to get more complicated. NBA insider Jake Fischer said Irving’s value could become too hard for Dallas to ignore if he returns healthy and looks like the same kind of impact player he’s been in the past.
“If he comes back healthy for a significant sample size that shows every other team around the NBA that he is still capable of being an All-Star talent and a playoff game-changer especially as a halfcourt ball-handling creator, the Mavs, I believe, are going to get trade offers that ultimately they are not going to be able to refuse," Fischer said."They can keep saying right now and projecting publicly and saying it behind the scenes that they are not interested in moving him, but things do change very very quickly in the NBA."
That leaves Dallas in a familiar spot: publicly committed, but potentially vulnerable if Irving plays well and the team doesn’t. A strong comeback from the injured guard would help the Mavericks immediately, yet it could also make him one of the most appealing names on the trade market.
Nothing is settled yet. Irving’s return could stabilize Dallas, or it could start the clock on the end of his run there.
In Other News...
Mavericks Make Another Early Camp Cut As Roster Decisions Begin
Roster trimming has started around the league, and the Mavericks have already made one of their first camp decisions by requesting waivers on Jorge Diaz Graham after his recent preseason appearance. It is the kind of early move that signals how quickly these spots can disappear once exhibition play begins, especially for players trying to turn a short look into something longer.
Around the rest of the league, similar camp churn has been underway, with the Pelicans bringing back Hunter Dickinson on a non-guaranteed training camp deal with Exhibit 10 language after waiving him from a two-way contract in August, while the Spurs signed Kendall Brown and the Kings added David Muoka on training camp contracts. For Dallas, the broader picture is clear enough: these early cuts are part of the first round of roster sorting, even if the final shape of the group is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Make A Twin-Linked Roster Move Fans Will Notice
The Mavericks made a roster move on the margins that still stands out because of the family tie involved, signing Guillermo Diaz Graham and waiving his twin brother, Jorge Diaz Graham. It was part of a broader round of camp business around the league, with Philadelphia also making two waiver moves and bringing in Cris Carroll and Taye Fields on Exhibit 10 contracts, while Miami added Ezra Ausar and let go of Ian Schieffelin.
For Dallas, the Diaz Graham name is the eye-catcher, even if the transaction itself fits the usual late-summer churn of roster trimming and G League planning. With camps and affiliate assignments taking shape, the Mavericks now have one half of the twin connection in their system, while the other moves elsewhere in the NBA underline how quickly these back-end roster spots can shift. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Rookies Are Forcing A Tough Decision Before Final Cuts
After the Mavericks preseason home opener loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, Dusty May came away with more than just a fresh look at the rotation. The head coach singled out rookies Sergio de Larrea and Tobi Lawal for the way they handled the moment, a promising sign for a team still sorting through its early roster picture. With preseason games now doubling as auditions, every solid shift matters a little more, especially for younger players trying to carve out a place before the calendar turns.
Morez Johnson Jr. sat out with shin splints, which only adds another layer to a group that is still being evaluated from top to bottom. May said the Mavericks are continuing to assess their options and are hoping to get more players back for the final preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. For a team approaching final cuts, the minutes left on the clock are getting scarce, and the rookies recent play has made the decision tree more interesting than it looked a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]