A new trade idea would send former Duke star Kyrie Irving to a new team.
Former Duke Blue Devils star guard Kyrie Irving has been one of the better players in the NBA since being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers back in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Irving's career has seen all sorts of ups and downs, but he remains an effective player, even at his advanced age. The star is now with the Dallas Mavericks, getting ready for the upcoming 2026-2027 NBA season.
Irving missed all of last year due to a torn ACL, but he is back, ready to help Dallas. However, there have been rumors that the Mavericks could look to trade the guard, breaking up the pairing of Irving and second-year forward Cooper Flagg, also of Duke.
And in a new trade proposal from Sai Mohan of Heavy.com, Irving is sent to the San Antonio Spurs in a blockbuster deal. Here is how the trade would look according to Mohan:
Spurs receive: Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Caleb Martin
Mavericks receive: De’Aaron Fox, Keldon Johnson, Luke Kornet (via NTMLE), Carter Bryant (via TPE), 2027 1st-round pick (via ATL), 2028 1st-round pick (via SAS), 2027 2nd-round pick (via SAS), and a 2028 2nd-round pick (via NOP)
Moving this many players would make this trade a complicated one, but the math checks out. For the Spurs, this move would help solidify them as true NBA title contenders.
Adding Irving, Washington, and Gafford could be huge, giving San Antonio more firepower. Each of the three players played a big role in helping Dallas reach the NBA Finals a few years ago.
But on the Mavericks' side of things, they would be building more for the future. Adding Fox would allow them to go younger from Irving, while landing a nice role player in Johnson.
Kornet could help man the middle, taking over for Gafford. But the draft picks in this deal would be the kicker, especially for taking on Fox's large contract.
Fox still has four years left on his deal, with him making more than $49 million a season. The star guard will be making $49 million this year, followed by $53.4 million next year, then $57.4 million in 2028-29, and finally $61.3 million in 2029-30.
The Spurs guard was subject to criticism during the 2026 NBA Finals due to his poor play at times. So, moving Irving for Fox, even with the picks, could be risky,
But overall, this deal could end up being a win-win on each side. Irving would have another legitimate chance to win a title, providing the Spurs with a proven veteran star who has gotten the job done in the past.
