Mavericks’ Strong Start Makes Irving Trade Less Likely
The Dallas Mavericks appear increasingly reluctant to trade Kyrie Irving as they start the season 4-2 and build a promising partnership with Cooper Flagg. The team’s early-season play was the focus on November 2.
On November 2, the Dallas Mavericks’ 4-2 start was making a trade of guard Kyrie Irving seem less likely. Since Masai Ujiri became team president, the team has shown little interest in moving the star, though other clubs have remained interested and watched to see how Dallas would perform.
Irving has been an important partner for rookie Cooper Flagg when available. Their age gap had raised questions about how they would fit, but they both took over stretches of the fourth quarter in a recent win over Houston, showing how their contrasting roles can work together.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said the more he saw the team, the harder it became to imagine Dallas trading Irving. He noted that interest from other teams could be substantial, but said an opportunity to vie for a play-in or playoff place, as well as Irving’s importance in the locker room and his work with Flagg, would make a deal difficult.
The Mavericks have a chance to climb the Western Conference standings over the next week and a half. If they keep winning and look capable of making the playoffs, the case for keeping Irving grows stronger. Trading him could bring back some of the draft capital Dallas has lost, but the team’s immediate opportunity to contend may weigh more heavily.