The Toronto Raptors are still stuck and can’t forecast what will happen with Kawhi Leonard, whose involvement in multiple investigations continues to hold up business.
In June, the Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers agreed to a trade revolving around Kawhi Leonard, sending the two-time NBA Finals MVP back to the franchise he won his second championship with in 2019. The trade has yet to finalize, and there seems to be no end in sight as of now.
At this point, the Raptors might want to prepare for a plan B in case the trade for Leonard gets nixed. Last season’s playoffs showed Toronto might have been a superstar away from climbing to the Eastern Conference finals. If Leonard gets sent back to Los Angeles, the Raptors should explore a trade for Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving.
A Trade Idea That Lands Kyrie Irving With Raptors
GettyOAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks and Shaq’s OGs warms up during 2025 NBA All-Star Practice & Media Availability at Oakland Arena on February 15, 2025 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
In this hypothetical scenario, the Raptors pick up the phone and call the Mavs about a trade for Irving, a nine-time All-Star. Irving may be aging and coming off major injury, but the guard-needy Raptors could be an Irving-level playmaker away from joining the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers as the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference. Here’s a proposed framework that lands Irving in Toronto.
Raptors receive: Kyrie Irving,
Mavericks receive: RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick, Ja’Kobe Walter, a 2028 first round pick and a 2029 second round pick.
It is important to reiterate this trade is hypothetical and intended as a fun (and legal) suggestion. So, why might both teams agree to this trade?
Why Toronto and Dallas Do the Deal
For Dallas, it is officially Cooper Flagg time. With the Mavs angling to compete with the best in the Western Conference in the coming years, moving Irving while his trade value is relatively high could be a strong business opportunity.
In return, the Mavs would secure a first and second round pick, two valuable assets for a team looking to build around a generational talent in Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year.
Although it has been reported the Mavs aren’t interested in dealing Irving right now, that could change after the 2026-27 season starts.
For Toronto, with the 24-year-old star forward Scottie Barnes ascending into superstardom, and with other young stars like Jamal Shead and Collin Murray-Boyles quickly coming into their own, the team already has a highly-promising roster. Irving’s elite scoring and superstar gravity might be all it takes to get Toronto back to the Finals after eight years.
The last season Irving, a one-time NBA champion, was on the court, he averaged a tickunder 25 points per game and shot 40 percent from the 3-point. He hasn’t played in 17 months, so it may be easy to forget what he brings to the table.
Less than 30 days before he went down with a season-ending ACL tear in Dallas, Irving scored 42 points and sank seven of his 10 3-pointers in a win over the Golden State Warriors.
Would a lineup featuring Irving, Barnes, Brandon Ingram and multiple rising young stars make Toronto one of top teams in the Eastern Conference next season?
Raptors Proposed to Land Kyrie Irving in Major 2-Team Trade for RJ Barrett, Picks