Kyrie Irving Addresses Trade Rumors And Brutal Truth On 'Chaotic' Mavs 'Rebuild'

Kyrie Irving has a speaking-style knack for being both brutally frank and smoothly positive ... sometimes all at the same time.

So it is when the Dallas Mavs veteran leader is asked about this team's future - and the possibility that he might not end up being a part of it.

Irving, 34, is not shying away from "the R-Word'' ("rebuilding'') and he's not shying away from acknowledging the possibility that as much as he loves Dallas, his presence in what he calls "the trade mill'' might be a daily deal around here.

On that latter subject?

“I’m not trying to bring any BS into the locker room or any rumors,'' he said. "My name in the trade mill and other guys in the trade mill as well. There’s too much of that in this league now. There’s way too much of that. It affects people’s mental health, little do we know. It affects people’s day-to-day jobs. ...

“I feel like I’m going to be asked that (trade) question a few times throughout the year. I wish a lot of that was under my control, but I think it’s a collaborative effort here, and I’m mature enough to understand that experience I have in the league.''

In other words, Irving recognizes that at some point, he might be a sought-after commodity for a contending team ... and that maybe Dallas won't itself be that.

And on that subject?

“We’re building something. And I’m not sure what exactly that looks like. Again, I’m just going to be honest about it,” Irving said, adding, "the next phase of my career is just still being written.”

Irving is making it clear that he hopes this next (final?) phase keeps him in Dallas.

Irving, who has not played since tearing the ACL in his left knee 18 months ago, is healthy and ready to go as a sidekick to 19-year-old Cooper Flagg, who Irving calls a "young, budding superstar.''

Dallas acquired Irving from Brooklyn in February 2023. A year later, the Mavericks reached the 2024 NBA Finals and lost to Boston in five games.

So the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, a nine-time All-Star, has seen the heights here. And he wants to see them again as the club continues to put behind it the February 2025 trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers.

"I’m not going to shy away from saying it’s been a little chaotic at times inside the locker room as well as outside the locker room,'' Irving said, reflecting on that trade with - yup! - both brutal frankness and smooth positivity.

Mavs fans, the organization hopes, would love to embrace a team that is replacing "chaos'' with "promise.'' And Kyrie is all about that "love.''

“I’m in love with this place (Dallas) just because of how welcoming it was, not just from the franchise aspect, but also the fans, a lot of support around the city. And I just feel confident that whatever we’re putting on the floor this year will (come with) the best of our ability.''