Mavs Reveal Major Kyrie Irving Trade Decision; Controversial Move?

DALLAS - The trade noise has been loud.

The trade denial, though, just overpowered it.

As July 1 approaches and the offseason officially opens, the trade buzz around Kyrie Irving has been everywhere.

And there is sense to it all, of course.

Is a 34-year-old rehabbing from a major injury best used as an asset on a Dallas Mavs team that in 2026-27 doesn't figure to be a winner? Or given that Dallas should focus on a long-range future centered on 19-year-old star Cooper Flagg, should Kyrie be used in trade?

The Mavs are seemingly giving their answer to inquiring teams.

While teams have expressed interest in Kyrie, reporting from Marc Stein says the Mavericks aren't interested in trading Irving. 

"Sources tell The Stein Line that the Mavericks, thus far this offseason, have been messaging to teams that Irving is not available," Stein reported. 

Now, "thus far this season'' is a tricky phrasing on the situation as it opens up the possibility of a change in policy. Hey, maybe Dallas is just playing hardball/playing possum here.

But "not available'' - controversial as that stance might be - is the word.

Meanwhile ...

On Tuesday in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Irving stepped onto the floor at the NBPA Top 100 Camp ... and for a few minutes, none of the denates mattered.

Swish Cultures posted a video of Irving running a “Can You Guard Kyrie” challenge against some of the top high school prospects in the country and the footage spread quickly. What stood out was not simply that he showed up, but how he moved.

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His first step looked sharp, his change of direction was crisp and he finished at the rim with both hands while shooting off the dribble with the same ease that made him one of the most unguardable guards in the league before his knee became an issue.

Irving tore his left ACL in March 2025 and spent the entire 2025-26 season away from competitive basketball. That is a long time for any player and it is especially significant for someone who relies as heavily on feel, balance and footwork as Irving does. The skill set he has built over 15 years is not something that can be fully replicated in a weight room or on a treadmill. At some point, a player has to get back on a court with real defenders and find out whether the rhythm is still there.

The NBPA Top 100 Camp is one of the most prestigious high school development events in the country, filled with elite teenagers who grew up watching Irving and know the moves in his arsenal.

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They came ready to compete and he still made it look effortless despite a couple of prospects making a stop against him. That offers a different kind of validation than an empty gym workout or a personal update on a livestream.

The Mavericks’ offseason has been defined by what happens around Irving. The coaching search, the draft, free agency decisions and trade proposals all exist in the context of a franchise trying to build around Cooper Flagg while figuring out what role Irving plays in that picture.

But now, it seems, we have our answer. Dallas intends on seeing the Flagg-Irving pairing on the floor this year, for the very first time.