The Dallas Mavericks are rumored to be shopping some veteran talent on the trade market, and one of the league's biggest stars wants to pair up with Kyrie Irving.
The Dallas Mavericks, through pure NBA Draft Lottery luck, don't have a totally bleak future. Cooper Flagg is an elite rookie, and Ryan Nembhard offers quality point guard play.
On top of that, they own their own 2026 draft pick, so Flagg and Dereck Lively II should be able to get a boost with another first-round pick entering the fray.
However, the Mavericks' current roster still has stains of Nico Harrison. The team was built with Luka Doncic in mind, and then Anthony Davis. Neither of those players has the same skill set or needs as Flagg, so moves need to be made to put him in the right spot.
Dallas is expected to shop its veterans, namely Davis.
Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson, and Kyrie Irving should all have value, as well.
As Mike Conley ages and Rob Dillingham lags behind, the Minnesota Timberwolves need a point guard if they are to compete in the West. Anthony Edwards can keep them afloat in the regular season, but once the playoffs start, they need an upgrade.
Irving seems to be a perfect fit, and he has been linked to the Wolves with Edwards' stamp of approval.
"A name that has been quietly floated to me is one that brings with it the pedigree of an NBA Champion and an elite shot-creator: Kyrie Irving," reported Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson. "A well-placed and respected NBA fixture shared a belief that Irving, when healthy, would be the missing piece for Minnesota. The fixture told me that “Irving in Minnesota makes the Timberwolves a contender” and that the combination of Anthony Edwards and Kyrie Irving is potent enough for the team to legitimately contend in the West. Crucially, they also shared that Anthony Edwards himself is advocating for the move."
Getting Irving to Minnesota would be a challenge, and the Wolves would likely have to give up Naz Reid. Pairing Flagg with a floor-spacing center sounds ideal, and Irving simply doesn't fit the Mavericks' timeline anymore.
Of course, the Timberwolves are already hampered by the salary cap. Perhaps getting a third team involved would make the job easier? Or both teams could swap undesirable contracts to balance the books.
Either way, it sounds like Ant has spoken, and he isn't wrong. The Wolves need a point guard, and Irving should return in time for a playoff push. Plus, he has experience playing next to a ball-dominant player in Doincic, and found great success.