A new trade proposal has Dallas moving Kyrie Irving, though the suggested return could leave Mavericks fans unconvinced.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz published a bold offseason trade piece Monday that included a scenario sending Kyrie Irving to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dallas would receive Derrick Jones Jr., Bogdan Bogdanovic, Joan Beringer, and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick from the Clippers. The Clippers would also receive Minnesota's Rudy Gobert in this 3-team trade
The concept of moving Irving is not unreasonable given his age, salary, and the direction the franchise is heading. The return Swartz proposed absolutely is.
Two aging veterans and a first-round pick five years from now is not enough compensation for one of the NBA’s best point guards when healthy. Jones is a 29-year-old role player, and Bogdanovic is 32 and declining.
Neither fits Cooper Flagg’s timeline, and neither meaningfully accelerates a rebuild that needs premium assets much sooner than 2029. Dallas does not fully control its own first-round picks again until 2031, making a distant selection far less valuable than it sounds.
The bigger reality, though, is that the Mavericks’ best path this offseason does not involve trading Irving at all.
Irving will have had roughly a year and a half to recover by the time training camp opens in September. Before tearing his ACL in March 2025, he earned another All-Star selection while averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. His game is built on craft, footwork, and feel rather than raw athleticism, which gives some reason for optimism about his recovery. But ACL outcomes at 34 are never guaranteed.
More importantly, Irving remains the most accomplished offensive creator on Dallas’ roster and the player best equipped to ease pressure on Flagg as both a shot creator and closer.
A healthy Irving next to Flagg has the potential to become one of the Western Conference’s most dynamic pairings. Flagg can thrive both on and off the ball, while Irving has spent his career elevating teammates in late-game situations.
The duo has not shared the floor together yet, but before the Mavericks make any long-term decision on Irving’s future, that partnership deserves a legitimate opportunity.
If Irving returns healthy and looks like the same player he was before the injury, the argument for trading him becomes much weaker. Dallas is not in a position to move elite talent for role players and a far-off draft pick. The franchise is trying to build a contender around Flagg, and a fully healthy Irving could be a major part of that vision.
If the pairing eventually proves to be a poor fit, or if Irving’s return does not go as planned, then the Mavericks can revisit the market. But even then, the return should begin with premium draft capital much sooner than 2029, ideally unprotected first-round picks in the 2027 or 2028 range.
Masai Ujiri did not arrive in Dallas to make safe or uninspired moves. The Mavericks should not approach Irving’s future that way either.