The Dallas Mavericks have been included in trade rumors, mostly surrounding Anthony Davis, although in an effort to clean house, they should also look at parting ways with Kyrie Irving.
The Dallas Mavericks might just be the hottest team to watch as the NBA trade deadline draws closer.
Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Daniel Gafford have all been included in rumors, and all for good reason. After the Mavericks went all-in on their aging core, injuries and lackluster play piled up, and it's clear that the team is about to enter a youth movement.
Their young assets are limited to Cooper Flagg, Dereck Lively II, their 2026 first-round pick, and whatever assets they can get on the trade market for their aging veterans.
PJ Washington somewhat fits Flagg's timeline, so between those two and Lively II, all they really need is a point guard.
D'Angelo Russell is not the answer, Kyrie Irving might not be a top-end talent once he returns from his ACL injury, and Ryan Nembhard has shown some promise, but a second-round pick becoming a franchise center piece is a long shot.
Still, not everyone thinks Irving should be traded.
"Even though he’s yet to play this season due to a torn ACL, Irving remains a central figure in the Mavericks’ long-term plans," wrote Fan Recap's Dan Waterstone. "His clutch shot-making and chemistry with the fan base have only grown since the Luka Doncic trade, and he’s become a symbol of stability in a franchise that’s been anything but over the past few seasons. The idea of trading Kyrie would be a seismic shift, and unless something dramatic happens between now and the February 5 trade deadline, the expectation is that he’ll be part of the Mavericks’ core alongside Flagg moving forward."
The Mavericks will likely land a top pick in the 2026 draft, although, unless they can snag Darryn Peterson first overall, the chances of getting a superstar guard are slim. The 2026 class is filled with wings and forwards, not facilitators.
So why trade Irving? First of all, it would open up playing time for a nameless and faceless young guard, but it would also give the Mavericks the assets to target that player.
Dallas fans have fond memories of a disgruntled Irving coming to the Mavericks from the Brooklyn Nets and buying into being the second star behind Luka Doncic. In many ways, Irving's role in Dallas fixed his negative reputation around the league.
Docnic, the player who helped make all of that possible and Irving's "hermano," is long gone. Those fond memories are lost in the rearview mirror.
Irving, in many ways, is the last piece of the Luka-led Mavericks. However, that's a bygone era, and everything needs to be done to maximize Flagg, his prime, and the eventual title window he could open up.