3 Pistons the Mavericks should target if Kyrie Irving trade talks heat up

While the Dallas Mavericks want to keep Kyrie Irving for the time being, things could change ahead of the trade deadline. Kyrie is 15 years older than the Mavericks' franchise cornerstone, Cooper Flagg, and contenders around the league are bound to need a player like Irving to help give them better odds of going on a deep playoff run.

While rumors of teams being interested in the star guard have been fairly limited, likely due to Dallas' preference to keep him, the Detroit Pistons have several members within the organization who admire Kyrie's ability to fit alongside superstars who are ball-dominant. Irving fit great next to LeBron James and Luka Doncic at different points in his career.

Could the Pistons already be thinking about what Irving's fit would look like alongside Cade Cunningham? They definitely need more shooting and shot creation around Cade, and a player like Kyrie would give them a major boost.

Dallas would likely command first-round draft capital in any trade that involves Irving, but Detroit has a few players that the Mavericks should target if they were to send Kai to Motor City.

3. Ronald Holland II

Masai Ujiri loves wings with size and length, and bringing in Ronald Holland II during the middle of his third season would be a swing that the Mavericks should be all over if they trade Irving to the Pistons.

Holland averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 43.2 percent from the field last season, and he would give Dallas another wing who brings energy, plays good defense, and has great physical tools.

His offensive game still has a ways to go, as he shot 25.3 percent from three on over two attempts per game last season, but the Mavs should bet on his upside. He's good off-ball, finishes well in transition, and is an elite stopper at the point of attack.

Dallas needs to surround Cooper Flagg with more strong perimeter defenders, and Holland would be a good pickup.

2. Daniss Jenkins

You can never have too much shooting, right?

The Mavericks were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA last season, and targeting Daniss Jenkins, a Dallas native who averaged 9.3 points per game while shooting 37.4 percent from three on 2.7 attempts, would make sense.

Jenkins would give the Mavericks another young player who can play either guard spot, shoots well from three, and can bring secondary playmaking. He averaged 3.9 assists per game last season, which was second on the Pistons behind only Cade Cunningham.

Dallas needs more strength in their backcourt, especially if they trade Kyrie, and Jenkins would give them a player who can light it up from downtown, run the offense when needed, and play with an edge.

1. Ebuka Okorie

Many Mavs fans were high on Ebuka Okorie's game ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft, and Dallas should certainly have his name near the top of their list when it comes to players they'd want in an Irving trade with the Pistons.

The former Stanford guard averaged 23.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from 3-point range as a freshman, and he ended up getting drafted with the 17th pick earlier this summer.

His quickness, self-creation, and potential as a three-level scorer make him an intriguing potential fit for the Mavs, as they need more guard depth for the young core. Sergio De Larrea and Marcus Sasser are the only two true point guards under contract outside of Irving, and Okorie would be a great addition to this group.

His score-first mentality would help balance De Larrea's playmaking-focused game, giving Dallas a young guard who can get hot in a hurry.

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