Pistons’ rumored Kyrie Irving intrigue is something Mavericks should monitor

The Dallas Mavericks have been adamant that they aren't fielding offers for Kyrie Irving at the moment, but they should keep a keen eye on the Detroit Pistons' interest in Irving as the season goes along.

ESPN writer Vincent Goodwill recently suggested the Pistons could go after Irving this season, as Detroit could definitely use another organizer and shot creator of Irving's caliber to take their squad to the next level. According to Goodwill, some Detroit staffers are fond of Irving's ability to thrive next to ball-dominant superstars, illustrating the team's intrigue with the nine-time All-Star.

This report from Goodwill isn't suggesting that the Pistons are actively pursuing a trade for Irving, but the fact that several people from within the organization admire his game is worth noting.

Dallas need to keep tabs on Detroit's view of Kyrie Irving

From Dallas' perspective, there's no reason to jump the gun on this interest, but it certainly is something to keep tabs on. The Mavericks and their fans are excited to see Irving and Cooper Flagg actually play basketball together in a regular-season game, as the ceiling of this duo could be far greater than many people are projecting, given that Irving is fully healthy and fans have every reason to believe Flagg will take another leap in year two.

However, whether it's due to injuries, the Mavericks being overcrowded on the wing, or not having enough supplementary ball-handling and shot creation around Irving and Flagg, there's also a world in which the Mavericks are hard-pressed to even be in the playoff race.

If this scenario presents itself, and the Mavericks aren't sniffing .500 by the time the trade deadline is approaching, there's definitely credence to the possibility that Irving would want to seek a trade from the Mavericks. Irving has been a true professional and leader since he got to Dallas, but he's 34 years old and knows he won't be playing at an All-Star caliber level forever, so if he wants to play for a contender, Dallas owes it to him.

There are things the Mavs need to see play out before trading Irving

If the Mavericks are ahead of schedule, then there's no reason to rush an Irving trade, but if things do go haywire, they could get a solid return from the Pistons. They could get multiple solid pieces back in an Irving-to-Detroit swap, such as Ron Holland II and Isaiah Joe, and they could also get one or two unprotected first-round picks.

Even though it was preseason action, Irving looked like he hadn't lost a step in his first game back against the Houston Rockets in Macao, China, and he's completely healthy now. That being said, the better he plays and the more available he is this season, the more Dallas could ask for in a potential swap with a team like Detroit.

The season hasn't even taken off yet, so there are still plenty of variables to consider before Dallas trades Irving, as the Mavericks have enough talent to turn heads, which would subsequently halt Irving trade speculation. However, the ability to jumpstart the Flagg era by getting some picks and young guards back from the Pistons would be a worthy proposition if the Mavericks can't perform to their standards through the start of the season.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow