The season is falling apart for the Dallas Mavericks before December even arrives. Dallas fired General Manager Nico Harrison amid fan frustration over the team’s poor play this year. Anthony Davis and other veterans are rumored to be on the trade block as the Mavericks look to acquire assets and rebuild around rookie Cooper Flagg.
One major talking point surrounding the Mavericks is how they’ll handle Kyrie Irving. The injured point guard is expected to return this season from his torn ACL. However, Dallas’ losing streak and looming roster changes have brought Irving’s name into trade speculation.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Mavericks are not looking to trade Irving and are “not encouraging” any teams interested in him to send offers. Dallas plans to keep Irving for the rest of this season and beyond as part of its core. Any speculation about potential Irving trade packages carries far less weight after this report.
Kyrie Irving’s Future With Dallas Mavericks
The controversy that has followed Irving throughout his career has seen him clash with every NBA franchise he played for before joining Dallas. Irving had messy exits with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets to tarnish his reputation around the league. The Mavericks feel like the first fan base with which he has maintained a genuinely strong relationship, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
Dallas originally hoped to contend with Davis and Irving leading a veteran core. But the emergence of Flagg and the team’s poor start this season have made it clear the Mavericks will likely punt on those plans. Even so, Irving remains a key part of the equation as a popular star who sells tickets and draws fans to games.
Flagg can also benefit from learning alongside Irving, especially since they share a similar background as former Duke players who became No. 1 draft picks. Stein reported that the Mavericks hope to keep Irving on the roster for the foreseeable future, even as they explore potential moves involving Davis and D’Angelo Russell.
Should Kyrie Irving Return This Season?
The belief has been that Irving will return to the court this season, with his recovery reportedly progressing well. He was expected to come back in the early months of 2026, with early March viewed as a safe timetable. However, Dallas’ continued slide into the bottom tier of the league could make tanking for a high draft pick a realistic priority.
Irving’s return would only make it easier for the Mavericks to win games and hurt their draft lottery odds. Beyond getting Irving comfortable in game action again, there are few real benefits to playing him this season. Another injury could jeopardize his career or negatively affect future seasons if he’s rushed back too soon.
Logic also suggests Dallas could reconsider its stance next season and explore trading him if the team’s timeline for success drifts even further away during a rebuild. Nothing Irving does this season would meaningfully help that scenario. If the Mavericks remain in position for a high draft pick, it’s entirely possible he sits out the rest of the year.
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