The Dallas Mavericks have made it clear throughout the offseason that they do not intend to move Kyrie Irving, the 34-year-old former All-Star who is set to come back healthy next season after missing the 2025-26 season with a torn ACL. Irving is still one of the best in the world, and the Mavs, who welcomed a new general manager and head coach this offseason, just spent the summer building a roster around the idea of seeing what he can do next to Cooper Flagg.
Irving is coming back from an ACL tear, and his trade value may never be higher than it is right now if Dallas can convince another team that Irving is healthy and ready to return to his old form. If the Mavs are willing to ship him out of town, this proposed three-team trade with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets could eventually give them a serious collection of assets to work with.
Mavs receive: Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, a 2027 second round pick and a 2033 first round pick
Knicks receive: Kyrie Irving and Clint Capela
Rockets receive: Caleb Martin
Why the Mavs Could Actually Consider Trading Kyrie Irving to Knicks
GettyDALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 05: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks runs up court in the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 05, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Dallas has been extremely reluctant to entertain the idea of trading Irving this offseason because it wants to see what the Irving-Flagg duo is capable of achieving. Plus, Irving’s veteran presence can be a major guiding hand in Flagg’s development.
For the Mavs, trading Irving, however, could open up many doors and opportunities to improve the roster even faster.
Bridges averaged 17.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 39.4 percent from 3 for New York last season. Hart, meanwhile, averaged 10.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists as an elite utility player.
But the Mavs shouldn’t look at this trade as simply trading Irving for Bridges and Hart. Dallas would add a 2033 first round pick and a 2027 second round pick. But more importantly, the Mavs would have a serious path to turn around and flip Bridges and Hart for serious assets. They could, in effect, turn Irving into multiple young stars and picks.
Why the N.Y. Would Take the Risk
The Knicks are trying to defend their championship, and adding Irving would give them, perhaps, the best Big Three — and a heck of a fourth option in OG Anunoby — in the Association. That core of Irving, Jalen Brunson, Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns would be scary good.
Even better for New York, the trade actually improves the team’s position under the apron. The Knicks would send out $54.4 million and take back $46.5 million, reducing their payroll by roughly $7.9 million. They would also sit roughly $13.1 million below the second apron.
Essentially, moving Bridges and Hart not only lands a superstar but substantially reduces the franchise’s financial burden. After all, that new CBA isn’t nice.
That’s not to leave out Capela, the 31-year-old athletic big man (maybe not like before) who would give the Knicks another option at center after losing Mitchell Robinson.
Of course, this trade is purely hypothetical. The Mavs have real potential with Irving and Flagg leading the way next season. Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year, already has superstar written all over him.
And who knows. If Flagg takes the kind of second year leap that the NBA has rarely seen, and Irving comes back with that shot and handle sweeter than ever, Dallas could make some loud noise in the West.
Mavs Proposed to Trade Kyrie Irving to Knicks in 3-Team Blockbuster NBA Trade