Kyrie Irving is back on the trade market, whether or not the Mavericks want to admit it. According to multiple reports, four teams have made serious inquiries about the nine-time All-Star this offseason, and Dallas should be paying attention.
The four reportedly interested teams are the Detroit Pistons, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Houston Rockets, and the Los Angeles Lakers. That is a strong mix of contenders and rising threats. It also tells you that Irving’s value is higher than the Mavericks have been admitting publicly.
The Mavericks have been telling teams that Irving is not available. That is the kind of message a front office sends when it has not decided how committed it is to its current direction. It is the kind of message that gets revisited as soon as a real offer comes in.
Here is the reality. Irving is 33. He is signed for $39.5 million next year and has a $42.4 million player option for 2027-28. He missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering from a torn ACL. He has not played a competitive game in over a year.
The Mavericks need to think clearly. They built around Luka Doncic and traded him away. They lost their identity. They have spent the last year trying to rebuild a roster around an aging core. Holding onto Irving for sentimental reasons is the kind of decision that costs franchises seasons.
Detroit makes the most sense as a destination. The Pistons have a young core in Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey that needs a veteran scorer who can create shots in late-game situations. Irving fits. They also have the matching contracts to make a deal work.
The Timberwolves are a fascinating option. They have struggled to find a real second creator next to Anthony Edwards. Irving’s playmaking and shot-making would solve a lot of those problems. The financial fit is trickier given Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid’s deals.
The Rockets need a star. Houston has been building through the draft for three years. They have the assets and the cap flexibility to swing a big deal. Adding Irving would not necessarily put them over the top, but it would accelerate the timeline.
The Lakers are the wild card. They have Luka Doncic, who has played with Irving before. There is real history there. The fit is awkward financially, but a creative front office could find a path.
For Dallas, the question is what kind of return they can get. A package of two first-round picks and a young player should be the starting point. If a contender wants to get aggressive, the Mavericks should push for three picks and a young rotation player.
The risk of holding Irving is real. Another injury, even a minor one, tanks his trade value entirely. The window to maximize his return is now.
The Mavericks need to be honest about where they are as a franchise. They are not a contender. Pretending otherwise costs them assets they cannot afford to lose.
Pick up the phone. Take the best offer. Move on.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
