Mavericks' potential Kyrie Irving trade war will reveal what they really value

The Dallas Mavericks have a Kyrie Irving trade decision to make next season that will have major implications on what their future looks like.

There are convincing cases for both sides

The veteran guard is under contract through the end of the 2027-28 season, but with a $42.4 million player option looming after the 2026-27 season, he could become a free agent after next season. Irving is also 34 years old — 15 years older than Dallas' new franchise cornerstone, Cooper Flagg.

There is certainly a case for why the Mavs should trade Irving before the February trade deadline, but there are plenty of reasons to keep him as well. He's an incredible leader, brings a skill set that Dallas needs, and has been an outstanding No. 2 star for a championship team in the past. Irving and Flagg project to form an elite duo, but once again, it's not a long-term pairing due to Irving's age.

Kyrie Irving would be a hot commodity on the trade market

If the Mavs were to shop Irving on the trade market, contenders would line up to have a shot at acquiring him. He only has two years remaining on his contract, meaning it would be a low-risk move that could result in a high reward. Playoff teams are always looking for ways to get better before the postseason push in February, March, and April, and Irving could be the best player on the open market if Dallas listens to the trade calls that will inevitably come in.

The Mavericks could find themselves in the middle of an all-out trade war for Kyrie Irving if he plays well and stays healthy ahead of the trade deadline, and Dallas' decision to trade him or keep him will come down to what they value most. Do they want to compile draft assets and young players while trading the oldest player on the team? Or do they want to keep Irving and make another NBA Finals push with him as one of their stars?

Dallas can't get stuck in the middle

They can't prioritize both of these things, and trading Irving remains one of the best ways for the team to fully flip the page from the Luka Doncic era and embrace the Cooper Flagg era. Irving was brought in to play with Doncic, and even though he and Flagg can be dominant together, the fact of the matter is that Flagg needs players on the same timeline as him.

The best chance for the Mavericks to bring in better talent around Flagg is to trade Irving, as they could hypothetically acquire multiple first-round picks for him and/or a high-level young player. Teams that teeter between two timelines typically don't succeed, and Dallas could avoid this potential headache by trading Irving to the highest bidder.

The other side of the coin is that Irving already has one Finals appearance as a Maverick, and if Dallas' young core grows significantly over the next few years, he could have another one before he hangs up his sneakers. He is one of the most beloved Mavericks of this era, and seeing him help bring the city of Dallas an NBA title would be unforgettable.

The stance that the Mavericks take here could define their future, and it'll likely be one of the biggest storylines of the season. The trade calls are going to come in. The question is whether Dallas will listen.

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