Few have noticed, but the Dallas Mavericks have taken strong steps this offseason toward contention in the Western Conference.
The Mavs welcomed a new general manager and head coach, drafted two promising prospects and made a few under-the-radar trades. All that while teenage sensation Cooper Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year, promises to take a massive leap in Year 2 with Kyrie Irving returning from injury.
Dallas may not contend for a championship next season, but surely doesn’t seem long before it does.
One of the bigger pieces of speculation surrounding the franchise this summer is the future of Irving. The former All-Star has been a subject of rampant NBA trade rumors, which makes sense considering the Mavs are building around a 19-year-old.
Would This Trade With the Celtics Make the Mavs Better?
GettyORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 06: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during a game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on November 06, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Perhaps there is a path for Irving to reunite with the Celtics, whom he spent two seasons with after being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a seismic trade in 2017. For the Mavs, there are pieces on the Boston roster that could be appealing.
The Celtics have Jayson Tatum, 28, in his prime. The franchise’s contention window is now. So bringing in a 34-year-old superstar shouldn’t be off the table. As for Dallas, trading Irving to the Mavs could return a strong package of players and draft picks. Here’s a proposed framework that sends Irving back to Boston.
Celtics receive: Kyrie Irving
Mavs receive: Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman a 2031 first round pick and a 2031 second round pick
The Celtics re-acquire Irving and land a superstar co-star for Tatum, just after trading his previous one to the rival Philadelphia 76ers. Gambling on a 34-year-old coming off a major injury is certainly risky, but Irving was a 25-point-per-game scorer just 18 months ago. Even if he returns 80 percent of the player he was before injury, the Celtics would land a significant upgrade.
The Mavs add strong backcourt depth, which they would definitely use, and pick up a couple of draft picks. For Dallas, if Irving doesn’t come back from injury even close to what he was before, this could be a fantastic deal. White is a proven playoff contributor, and the 25-year-old Scheierman has shown promising flashes of future stardom.
Will Dallas Deal Kyrie?
As of right now, the answer to that seems to be hard no. But as ESPN’s Tim MacMahon recently pointed out, the Mavs and Irving may have to reach that point sooner than later.
“Irving is 34 and the Mavs are patiently building around (Cooper) Flagg, so there might come a point where it makes sense for all parties to explore the trade market,” MacMahon wrote. “At the moment, though, there is excitement about Irving’s return in Dallas.”
Irving, a nine-time All-Star, has generated significant trade interest this summer, but the Mavs have resisted inquiries. According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, multiple teams, including the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves called to ask about Irving.
“Teams reached out near the start of free agency to inquire about his availability,” Siegel reported. “ … The teams we know that reached out, the Detroit Pistons were a team that reached out; we know the Minnesota Timberwolves reached out; I’m sure there’s a few other teams mixed in there. … The message to them was Kyrie’s not available, and the Mavericks are not actively looking to trade him. They have not put him on the trade block.”
Beyond what is coming from the reporters, there is also an acknowledgment from within the Mavericks’ own organization.
“He keeps getting put in all kinds of rumors, but we’re not looking to move Kyrie and Kyrie isn’t looking to be moved either,” a Dallas front office executive told NBA insider Keith Smith. “We didn’t get to see him with Cooper last year, but we’re very excited to see that pairing this year.”
For now, the Mavs seem committed to enter the upcoming season with Irving and Flagg captaining the ship. But sometime down the line, Irving could be on the move.
Celtics Proposed to Reunite With Kyrie Irving in 3-Player NBA Trade With Mavs