A proposed blockbuster trade sends Kyrie Irving to Houston, reuniting Dallas with Dorian Finney-Smith while leveraging Fred VanVleet’s contract to balance the books and reshape both rosters.
After previously thinking through the idea of a Kyrie Irving trade on Roundtable, I’m really starting to take interest in it. But what would it actually take? Would either team actually have interest, or is this just a 2K trade?
Most importantly, Fred VanVleet would have to firstly accept his player option for next season. That $25 million is paramount for this deal to happen, considering Irving is scheduled to make nearly $39.5 million himself.
With a difference of just under $14.5 million between the two guards, Dorian Finney-Smith’s $13.35 million nearly fills that gap perfectly, according to Spotrac.
I can see a world where Houston gets a Hall of Fame level talent in exchange for two players who did very little to contribute for the Rockets last season. But would Dallas do it?
Their front office has already showed the willingness to take on veteran contracts in exchange for star players, as they just did it with Anthony Davis. You could even argue they did it with D’Angelo Russell, although I think they just wanted him gone.
Either way, Dallas took on Khris Middleton’s contract and didn’t get much else in return aside from future draft picks. Not even super valuable picks either.
I think they’d be interested in taking on a cheaper contract for their veteran guard, as well as bring back old friend DFS. He played seven out of his ten NBA seasons in Dallas.
Both of them could also be future trade assets as expiring contracts, getting the Mavericks even more draft capital. Definitely a trade I’d keep an eye on.
