Following a blockbuster summer, reports say Pat Riley may target the Mavericks’ star guard to bolster a thin backcourt, potentially pairing a recovered Irving with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Miami Heat just wrapped up one of their biggest offseasons as a franchise. They added one of the best players in the NBA in Giannis Antetokounmpo while surrounding him with a plethora of veteran talent such as Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bobby Portis. The only other offseason where the Heat made a move for one of the top players in the league is when they added LeBron James in 2010, who, along with the "Big Three", led the team to three straight NBA Finals appearances. While the Heat's offseason was very successful, apparently they may not be done quite yet.
Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported on Wednesday afternoon that Miami has expressed some level of interest in Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving.
Irving has been included in trade discussions throughout the entire offseason and the Heat could be a destination even after all of their offseason acquisitions. A trade for Irving would most likely include Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic as the two main outgoing pieces. It may not make too much sense at the moment for Miami to make a move for Irving but if the Mavericks are off to a poor start this campaign, Irving will more likely than not be added to the trade block and will be moved prior to February's deadline. The Mavericks are a rebuilding franchise after having dealt Luka Doncic in 2025 and selecting Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 draft pick they were awarded. Irving doesn't exactly fit that timeline.
For the Heat, adding a veteran like Irving could go a long way in securing the strength of the backcourt. Davion Mitchell has turned into a very dependable player but can he be the starting point guard of a true contending team? That's a question Pat Riley and the front office may need to consider. The Heat's backcourt has been out of sorts for the past few seasons and despite Irving recovering from his ACL injury, he would immediately become the best guard this team has had in quite some time. He is under contract through this season with a player option for the 2027-28 season.
However, while all this sounds exciting, should the Heat really make a big move after building this team? Sure, the guard position isn't as strong as the frontcourt but the Heat should see how this roster and rotation gels together before making another drastic move. If the Heat are in a rut a couple of months into the season then a trade for Irving can be considered. I do think it would be slightly ill-advised for Riley and this front office to make another big move before the season begins after such a big offseason.
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