The Dallas Mavericks may want Kyrie Irving to stay put, but that hasn’t stopped other teams from watching closely.
That’s the backdrop around a situation that has taken on extra weight this offseason, with Dallas shifting toward a rebuild while still trying to hold onto a 34-year-old guard whose timeline doesn’t exactly match the franchise’s new direction. Kyrie Irving remains one of the league’s most gifted players, but the fit is complicated, especially with the Mavericks now centered around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg.
NBA Insider Marc Stein reported that rival teams have not let go of the idea that Irving could eventually become available. As Stein wrote:
“The Mavericks, as we’ve been writing since mid-June, have consistently swatted away trade interest this offseason in nine-times-an-All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. Rival teams, however, continue to wonder aloud about how firmly Dallas will stick to that stance once the season begins and the next in-season trade deadline on Feb. 11 gradually approaches.”
“The primary factor fueling that curiosity, of course, is the fact that Irving is 34 and Mavericks star forward Cooper Flagg is 19. Not your average age gap between the team’s two best players,” Stein added.
That age gap is the whole issue. Dallas is building around Flagg’s future, and the idea is that Irving can help accelerate that process by serving as a veteran guide. But with the roster now lacking the look of a true contender, the arrangement feels uneasy on paper even if the Mavericks keep insisting they want to keep the nine-time All-Star.
There’s also a basketball reason Dallas is holding firm. Irving was outstanding in the 2024-25 season, especially after Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers.
In the 11 games before his ACL injury in March 2025, he averaged 26.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 45.2% from the field and 35.4% from three. The Mavericks went 5-6 in that stretch, but Irving’s production was undeniable.
Even with that injury in the picture, there’s optimism about what comes next. His work in training has reportedly stood out, and Mavericks head coach Dusty May was particularly impressed with Irving’s workouts. That has given Dallas reason to believe the veteran can still supply the scoring punch the team needs.
Still, the broader outlook around the Mavericks is shaky. ESPN projected Dallas to finish the 2026-27 season 12th with a 32-50 record, a forecast that only adds to the sense that other teams will keep circling Irving’s status as the season unfolds.
For now, Irving is not being discussed in trade talks. But if the Flagg-Irving pairing doesn’t take hold by the February trade deadline, that position could change.
And because Irving is also in the final year of his contract and still wants another shot at contending, a trade request would not come as a surprise. If Dallas decides the experiment has run its course, the Mavericks could also look to use that contract to maximize the return.
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