Draft Day Trade Idea Sees Mavs Move On From Kyrie for New Star Guard

The Dallas Mavericks already find themselves at a crossroads less than a year after landing franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg. With the No. 9 overall selection in a loaded 2026 NBA Draft and limited future first-round flexibility, every move matters.

One new mock has them making quite the move, and it involves trading that ninth pick for a young star guard.

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In the latest mock draft by Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley, he has the Mavericks making a blockbuster move and trading away Kyrie Irving and the ninth pick to the Charlotte Hornets for LaMelo Ball, as well as the 14th and 18th picks.

"Now, think about the possibilities on the board: Use the No. 9 pick and keep the 34-year-old Irving for another season or two, OR acquire a hyper-productive 24-year-old in Ball and two top-20 picks," Buckley writes.

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Trading Irving would effectively signal the end of the Mavericks’ current competitive timeline and the beginning of a younger era centered around Flagg. Irving remains one of the NBA’s most gifted offensive guards and was instrumental in helping Dallas return to championship contention in recent seasons alongside Luka Doncic.

Even with injuries and age becoming larger factors, moving on from a player of his caliber would be difficult — both on the court and inside the locker room.

At the same time, Dallas would have to consider long-term sustainability. Irving would be entering his mid-30s, while Flagg is only beginning his NBA career. Pairing Flagg with another young ball-dominant guard like Ball could create a foundation designed to compete for years instead of chasing a shrinking window.

Ball remains one of the league’s most polarizing young guards. The talent has never been questioned — elite passing vision, pace control, and the ability to generate offense almost instantly. The concern has always been availability and whether his style consistently translates to winning basketball. Charlotte has yet to reach the postseason with Ball leading the way, which is part of why the mock imagines the Hornets considering a reset.

From Dallas’ perspective, though, the attraction is obvious. Ball is only 24 years old, aligning far better with Flagg’s developmental timeline than Irving. The trade would also hand the Mavericks two additional first-round picks.

In the mock, Dallas uses those selections on Baylor wing Cameron Carr at No. 14 and Houston big man Chris Cenac Jr. at No. 18. The idea: surround Flagg and Ball with length, athleticism, and upside while building a younger foundation.

Surrendering the ninth pick and moving on from Irving is not a decision you make lightly, but it could be one that the Mavericks at least consider making.