Cooper Flagg is the centerpiece in Dallas now, and that reality has pushed Kyrie Irving’s place with the Mavericks into the spotlight. Irving is 34, he missed last season, and after a major injury, there’s obvious uncertainty about what he’ll look like when he gets back on the floor. Even around the league, some executives are questioning whether Flagg and Irving can really line up as a backcourt pairing over time.
That’s why a three-team trade idea has surfaced involving Dallas, Boston and Golden State.
Under the proposal, the Mavericks would get Jimmy Butler, Baylor Schierman, a 2028 first-round pick via Golden State, and first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 via Boston. The Celtics would land Kyrie Irving, while the Warriors would receive Derrick White and P.J. Washington.
For Dallas, the appeal is tied to future value. The team would be loading up on picks, and Butler could even be moved again at next year’s trade deadline for another young player or more draft capital. Schierman is viewed as a player who can bring toughness and shooting.
Golden State’s part of the deal is straightforward enough: the Warriors have long wanted a player like Derrick White, and there’s already some familiarity there because White and Stephen Curry were teammates at the Paris Olympics. Washington also enters the conversation as a player who is more productive than Draymond Green at this point.
Boston’s angle is the one that makes the idea stand out. With Jaylen Brown already shipped out of town, the Celtics would be looking for more playmaking, and Irving would give them that.
The thought is that Jayson Tatum still can’t carry the entire offensive load by himself if Boston wants to stay in title contention next season. Irving would be able to be himself again and start at point guard.
It would also mark a return to Boston for Irving, whose previous run there ended badly. He was in a difficult place personally at the time, and he was younger, with the pride and ego to match. Now, nearly in his mid-30s, his image with fans has improved again, which is why a reunion is even being discussed.
In Other News...
Stephen Curry Could Make Warriors Wait On A Massive Decision
Stephen Currys next contract decision is shaping up to be one of the bigger long-view questions around the Warriors, even if the end result still feels obvious to most people around the league. He is eligible to work out an extension with Golden State under the NBAs Over 38 rule, and the expectation in league circles remains that he will finish his career where it started.
Still, there is a real timing element here that could matter for both sides. Multiple sources indicate Curry may choose to wait until next offseason before making his next move, which would give him the chance to become an unrestricted free agent and expand his options before settling on a final path. For now, the strong sense is that he stays attached to the Warriors, but the calendar could make the decision far more interesting than it first appears. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face An Awkward Jonathan Kuminga Decision All Over Again
As the Warriors put the finishing touches on their training camp roster, Cam Whitmore has surfaced as a possible name to watch. The former first-round pick was waived by Cleveland and is now on the market, giving Golden State another wing option to consider as it sorts out the edges of its roster.
Whitmore is still eligible for a two-way deal, and the Warriors have a spot available, but the fit is not simple. His career to this point has looked more like a cautionary comparison than a clean solution, especially for a team already wrestling with the long-running Jonathan Kuminga question and what kind of upside it wants to prioritize at the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors May Have Closed The Door On Seth Currys NBA Return
Seth Currys hopes of landing back with Golden State took another hit when the Warriors finalized their training camp roster without him, choosing to fill those spots with Brandon Williams, Georges Niang and Dalen Terry instead. Curry had made clear he was interested in a return, and the fit was easy to see on paper for a team that knows his shooting profile well, but the offseason has moved on without any reunion taking shape.
Two months into free agency, Curry still has not drawn reported interest from other teams, leaving his NBA future uncomfortably uncertain. Recent injury issues and limited playing time last season have only added to the doubt around where he fits next, and with training camp decisions already made in Golden State, the longer he remains unsigned, the harder it gets to picture a clean path back into the league. [Read more 🡒]