We’re under two months away from opening night, and there’s plenty of chatter surrounding the new-look Dallas Mavericks. From draft night in June to trade splashes in July to personnel moves in August, the Mavericks have had a busy summer. They’ll begin the 2026 season with a new president, new coach, and a flurry of new faces. However, one familiar face we’re ready to see on the court again is Kyrie Irving. Several trade rumors have surrounded the nine-time All-Star, but are any true? Here are three reasons why Irving will stay a Maverick this season.
No sample size with Flagg
Arguably the most exciting part of the upcoming season will be watching the Cooper Flagg-Kyrie Irving duo materialize. Coming into the league as an 18-year-old rookie with expectations similar to names like Victor Wembanyama, Zion Williamson, and LeBron James, Cooper Flagg had a lot to carry on his shoulders last season. Despite the heavy load, Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, on 46.8% shooting. Among rookies, Flagg had the highest usage rate at 26.9% and played more minutes than any rookie, averaging 33.5 per game — 2,344 total for the season.
Advertisement
Having another on-ball threat will make a huge difference for the Mavericks. The majority of the 2025-2026 season was spent experimenting with guards like D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Williams, and Ryan Nembhard, all of whom have found different teams this summer. Adding in a bona fide star like Irving, even as he comes off an ACL injury, will take some pressure off Flagg. Before the ACL injury, Irving was having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on 47.3% shooting. Even Irving at 70% will have a huge impact. Coming into his second season next to Irving, Flagg will be able to move more without the ball, enjoy better floor spacing, and play to his strengths. Teams won’t be able to double-team and swarm the 19-year-old as easily if Irving is on the floor too. This duo will be an exciting watch.
Slim pickings at guard
Currently, Dallas has 19 players listed on its roster, which will be reduced to 15 by opening night. Of those 19, only six are guards — Irving, Max Christie, Marcus Sasser, Jett Howard, John Poulakidas, and Vsevolod Ishchenko. There’s a significant drop-off after Kyrie Irving in both shooting and playmaking. The Mavericks need Irving if they want to make any noise in the Western Conference. For the first time since the pre-dynasty Golden State Warriors, the West took a step back this summer. With no incentive to lose, since the Mavericks do not own their first-round picks until 2031, Dallas is looking for a major bounce-back year.
While putting too many eggs in Irving’s basket is risky, trading him doesn’t make sense if the Mavericks want to start winning. The only way he gets moved is if the Mavericks find themselves in the midst of a disastrous season. Even then, the mentorship and skills Irving could impart to Flagg are invaluable. It would likely take an Irving trade request to get this ball rolling.
Advertisement
Cents on the dollar return
The reality of Irving currently is that for all his talent and wizardry on the court, he’s 34 and coming off an ACL tear. With that, the offers for Irving would likely be less than ideal. Until other teams see him on the court, playing like the Irving we know and love, it’s hard to imagine Dallas would get an offer it couldn’t refuse. At bare minimum, Dallas would want a high first-round pick plus a good young piece or two late first-round picks with a salary dump or something similar.
Weighing the pros vs cons, there are more pros to keeping Irving and seeing what the fit looks like before even considering trading him. If Dallas isn’t in the playoff hunt by the trade deadline in February, or if he wants out, then a new destination could be an option. But for now, it makes more sense to keep him and, at bare minimum, see if he can increase his trade value before moving him.
Looking ahead
There will be loads of excitement to see number eleven back on the court opening night on October 21st. Plugging him into a lineup with Flagg is a recipe for basketball poetry. Irving has become the co-face of the Mavericks over the past 18 months, and his presence on the court will be felt from tipoff. Before even thinking about moving him, the Mavericks will want to see what he looks like, how he fits, and if he can bring them back into the playoff picture. Get your popcorn ready. It will be absolute cinema.
Read the full article here