Trade rumors around former Duke Blue Devils star Kyrie Irving have started up again.
Former Duke Blue Devils star point guard Kyrie Irving is looking to make a return to the court this season following his missing all of the 2025-26 season.
Irving is coming off a torn ACL that saw him miss the last season, and he has been working hard to get back on the court. The star guard, now with the Dallas Mavericks, will try to reestablish himself as a top player in the NBA.
The former Duke star has been one of the better guards in the league since being drafted back in 2011, and the league is better off when he is healthy. Irving will have a lot to prove this year, and all of Blue Devils nation will be watching his season closely.
But before the NBA season gets going, trade rumors around Irving have started back up. NBA insider Tim MacMahon of ESPN has reported that teams around the league could be monitoring the star guard this year.
Due to the Mavericks building around forward Cooper Flagg, another former Duke star, the need for Irving may not be there. Flagg is 19 years old, and with Irving being 34, the timelines may not match up anymore.
Irving has enjoyed his time with the Mavericks, and Dallas has liked having Irving around. But given where the franchise is, a trade could help set this team up much better for the future.
Especially if the Mavericks were to start off the new season slowly, the chances of Irving being moved would likely rise. Dallas has to be thinking about the future of the franchise, and while Irving could be a good mentor for Flagg, the team may be able to get some strong assets for him.
Before the injury in the 2024-25 NBA season, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. Irving also shot 40.1 percent from beyond the three-point line that year, appearing in 50 games for Dallas.
Since Irving is now older and coming off the major injury, it remains to be seen how impactful he will be right away. It could take him some time to get back to the speed of the NBA game, but the Mavericks will likely ease him into everything.
If Irving can get back to being himself, multiple teams could be interested in his services, giving them a legitimate star in the backcourt. But for now, Irving will focus on getting back to his normal self, while helping Dallas win as many games as possible.
