ESPN's Kyrie Irving trade idea would break Mavericks fans' hearts all over again

One of the most pressing questions regarding the Dallas Mavericks roster is what the franchise will do with Kyrie Irving. The nine-time All-Star was brought in to be Robin to Luka Doncic's Batman, but… we know how that went. Thus, fan speculation regarding Irving's future is at an all-time high, and according to ESPN, the Mavericks could be faced with a scenario that would reopen a wound many fans are still trying to forget.

ESPN proposes Kyrie Irving trade to Detroit in offseason idea

In ESPN's "Six star trade ideas to shake up the summer," the Worldwide Leader in Sports proposed a deal that would send Irving to the Detroit Pistons for a surprisingly modest return. While Irving isn't on Doncic's level (he's 34 years old and coming off a torn ACL), the package is underwhelming enough to remind Mavericks fans of the franchise-altering Doncic trade.

The hypothetical trade would send Irving to the Pistons in exchange for Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert, Ron Holland, and the No. 21 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. It's a package many Mavericks fans would likely view as underwhelming.

On top of not getting a favorable trade return, parting ways with one of the most beloved players on the team would be gut-wrenching for fans. Doncic was ruthlessly taken away from them less than a year and a half ago. Losing Irving, too, would break fans' hearts to the core...Again.

Especially since they haven't gotten to watch him play with Cooper Flagg yet.

Breaking down the proposed Mavericks return for Irving

While there's some intrigue in Stewart and Holland, as well as the No. 21 overall pick, it's certainly not enough to sway Mavericks fans. Stewart likely would've earned an All-Defensive Team nod this past season had he met the 65-game requirement, but he'd be joining an already crowded center rotation with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford set to return. If either of those bigs were moved elsewhere, Stewart would become a far more welcome addition.

Moreover, Holland is a former top-five draft pick who was selected ahead of players such as Matas Buzelis and Donovan Clingan, but he has yet to take a significant step forward through his first two NBA seasons. In his sophomore campaign, Holland averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 19.9 minutes per game while shooting just 43.2 percent from the field and 25.3 percent from beyond the arc.

He was also largely a non-factor during Detroit's postseason run, appearing in nine of the team's 14 playoff games and averaging only 6.4 minutes per contest. While Holland possesses intriguing upside (still just 20 years old), he hardly projects as the centerpiece of a return package for a player of Irving's caliber.

First-round draft picks always seem to carry plenty of weight in trade discussions, but just how valuable is the No. 21 pick? Recent No. 21 selections include Will Riley, Yves Missi, and Noah Clowney. While there's some talent in that group, it's nothing to write home about. More often than not, the 21st pick produces a solid rotation player rather than a future star.

Lastly, LeVert appears to be included in this hypothetical deal primarily as a salary-matching piece. While he's still a quality shot-maker and playmaker at 31, he's coming off a career-worst season. LeVert didn't start a game for the first time in his career and averaged just 7.4 points and 2.7 assists per contest, making him far from a centerpiece in this trade package.

Why the Mavericks should think twice before moving on from Irving

Sure, shipping Irving out as Dallas transitions into a new era is highly plausible. After all, he's one of just three players on the roster under contract beyond this season who is 30 years old or older. But if the Mavericks are going to move Irving, they'd better do a lot better than this.

In 50 games before tearing his ACL in 2025, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from beyond the arc. It's been more than a year since Irving last stepped on the hardwood, and a torn ACL at 33 years old undoubtedly raises concerns. Even so, he's still an All-Star-level talent whose skill set has always projected to age well.

Rather than dumping Irving in exchange for rotation-level players while his value is low, it would be far wiser for Dallas to hold onto the nine-time All-Star and at least see him suit up alongside the franchise’s newest building block, Cooper Flagg. If the Mavericks were to ship Irving off prematurely, it would certainly break Mavs fans' hearts all over again.

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