Dallas has to weigh cashing in on Kyrie Irving’s trade value against the potential of pairing the veteran star with generational prospect Cooper Flagg following a season-ending injury.
The Dallas Mavericks find themselves in an interesting position this offseason as they attempt to build around Cooper Flagg while also evaluating the future of their veteran core.
Flagg is expected to be the centerpiece of the franchise for years to come, but Dallas still has important decisions to make regarding the players around him. Among the most significant is what to do with Kyrie Irving, whose future remains one of the organization's biggest questions following his torn ACL.
In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes, he lists what he thinks is every NBA team's biggest concern for this coming offseason. For the Mavs, he thinks they should be scared of moving on from Irving too late.
"If he appears hobbled or otherwise lessened by age and injury during the year, return packages will only get worse," Hughes writes. "The element of uncertainty, of Irving's expected production, is a positive for his trade value right now. It may not be that way for long."
It's a reasonable concern.
However, there's also a strong argument that Dallas should resist the temptation to make a move before seeing what Irving and Flagg can accomplish together.
For all the excitement surrounding Flagg, expecting a rookie to immediately carry an NBA offense is a difficult ask. Even elite prospects benefit from having experienced stars around them, especially players capable of creating offense at the level Irving has throughout his career.
Before his injury, Kyrie remained one of the league's most dangerous offensive weapons. His ball-handling, shot creation, and ability to generate offense in crucial moments are skills that don't suddenly become easy to replace. If he can return close to the player he was before the injury, he could provide the perfect complement to Flagg during the early stages of his career.
That possibility is what makes this situation so complicated.
The Mavericks could likely find interested trade partners this summer. Teams looking for another high-level creator may be willing to bet on Irving's recovery and championship pedigree. But moving him now would also mean giving up the opportunity to evaluate a partnership that could be highly beneficial for Dallas.
Flagg would have the luxury of learning alongside one of the most skilled offensive players of all time. Irving, meanwhile, would get an opportunity to help guide the franchise's next superstar while competing in a role that may be better suited for this stage of his career.
The chance to pair a healthy Irving with Flagg is simply too intriguing to ignore. Before worrying about maximizing trade value, Dallas should focus on discovering whether it already has the ideal veteran running mate for its franchise cornerstone.
