Not long ago, Dallas looked like the Thunder’s biggest obstacle in the West. The Mavericks were the team that knocked Oklahoma City out in the 2024 postseason, then went on to represent the conference in that year’s NBA Finals.
Fast forward two seasons, and the picture around the Mavericks has changed fast. They’ve slipped from contender status into the draft lottery more often than not, and Luka Doncic is gone too, now with the Los Angeles Lakers.
That’s why the latest chatter around Kyrie Irving matters. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon recently called Irving a “prime target for contenders” in the months leading up to February’s trade deadline, and said rival teams are expected to monitor his availability.
Even after missing all of last season because of a torn ACL, Irving still fits the profile teams chase when they think they can win now. He’s a nine-time All-Star, an NBA champion, and at 34, he’s still the kind of player who can change a contender’s ceiling in a hurry. He also looks like someone who may still want one more ring before the end of his career.
Dallas, though, does not look like the kind of place built to hand him that chance.
Yes, the Mavericks have Cooper Flagg, last season’s Rookie of the Year, and they brought in Masai Ujiri this summer to run the front office. But the results have not followed. Dallas has won just 65 games combined over the last two seasons and hasn’t been back to the playoffs since that 2024 Finals trip.
The road ahead in the West looks brutal, too. With the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets and Timberwolves sitting atop the conference, the Mavericks are staring at a fight just to get into the top eight.
ESPN currently has Dallas pegged as a bottom-five team in the conference, with a projected 32-50 record.
The offseason already hinted at a reset when Dallas moved on from Klay Thompson, the four-time champion and five-time All-Star. And now MacMahon’s read suggests Irving could be the next big name to follow him out the door sometime in the next five months.
In Other News...
Thunder Title Hopes Still Rest On One Risky 2026-27 Bet
The Thunder have already built a title-caliber foundation around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, but the path to another real championship run still leans heavily on the players around them holding up and taking another step. Oklahoma Citys next window is being framed by the health and development of a few key pieces, with the front office betting that its depth can keep pace even after a busy offseason that changed the look of the rotation.
Jalen Williams remains the biggest swing in that equation, since his availability and growth could shape how high this group can climb, and the pressure does not stop there. The Thunder also need Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell to help absorb the minutes and production left behind by offseason moves involving Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, which makes the 2026-27 picture feel both promising and a little fragile at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
Former Thunder Pick Gets Another NBA Shot After Winning Two Titles
Dillon Jones keeps finding his way back into NBA conversations, even if the path has been anything but straightforward. The former Thunder first-round pick is already a two-time champion, having collected title rings with Oklahoma City and the New York Knicks after being drafted by the Thunder in 2024 and later moving on from the organization.
Jones journey since then has included a trade to the Wizards in 2025, a waiver, and then a return to the league on a two-way deal with New York in 2026. He was part of the Knicks postseason run but was not eligible for the playoffs because of that contract status, and now he is set for another opportunity to prove he belongs as he heads into training camp with Philadelphia. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Face A Costly Cason Wallace Decision At The Worst Time
Cason Wallace has put the Thunder in a tricky spot as the October 19 deadline nears, with the restricted free agent still without a contract extension. Oklahoma City has plenty to weigh here: Wallace is already carrying the rsum of a young player teams value highly, with an NBA championship and All-Defensive recognition helping set the tone for his next payday.
The market may be even richer than the Thunder would prefer. NBA analyst Zach Lowe reported that rival front-office voices viewed Wallace as the best of a small group of 2023 draft players, and leaguewide estimates for his next deal have landed in the $25 million to $33 million range annually. For a team trying to manage its future while keeping its core intact, the clock is forcing an uncomfortable decision. [Read more 🡒]