Dallas rebuilds around Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg. The Mavs see a dynamic future, but proof of this pairing's potential is still needed.
DALLAS - The much-anticipated Dallas Mavericks decision to trade Anthony Davis is done. ... and now comes a re-set of sorts.
And it is in part apparently about what the club views as "long-term potential in pairing Kyrie Irving with Cooper Flagg once Irving returns to the court.''
That's the word from our man Grant Afseth at DallasHoopsJournal.com ... that the Mavericks believe that Irving remains a core building block along 19-year-old rookie sensation Flagg.
That re-set saw Dallas sending Davis, along with Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Danté Exum, to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, and a package of draft assets.
That compensation includes a 2026 first-round pick via Oklahoma City, a 2030 first-round pick via Golden State protected 1–20, a 2026 second-round pick via Phoenix, a 2027 second-round pick via Chicago, and a 2029 second-round pick via Houston.
If we tie this with the Luka Doncic trade of a year ago? It's still not enough. It'll never be enough.
But we move on ... with Afseth writing that "Irving is viewed as a natural complement (to Flagg) rather than a conflicting presence.''
There is one fact that stands in the way of that claim: Irving and Flagg have never played together.
Irving tore his ACL in March of last season, months before Dallas drafted Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick.
We have seen Irving do some special things here, of course. During the 2024–25 season, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists across 50 games while playing 36.1 minutes per night. ... earning selection to his ninth All-Star team.
And as the "Luka replacement,'' we've seen "special'' from the rookie, too. Flagg has averaged 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He is a 6-9 do-it-all offense force and a two-way performer as well.
Dallas obviously thinks that Irving (a brilliant ball-handler) and Flagg (being developed as someone who can also initiate offense) is a foundational pairing.
And now we just need one more thing: Proof.
Irving’s rehab recovery is continuing to progress; he could start playing sometime after the All-Star Break. ... Or Dallas could in theory opt to keep him in mothballs as the Mavs "Organically Tank'' © their way to another premium draft pick.
And what does Flagg think about all of this?
“I’d love to,” Flagg said of wishing he and Davis and Irving could've played together. “I got to play with AD when he was healthy, and I loved it. He’s a really special player and a really good person.
"I love sharing the court with guys like that, and hopefully once everyone’s healthy we’ll see what that looks like.”