Teams around the NBA are monitoring Kyrie Irving’s situation in Dallas as the Mavericks build their roster around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg, according to Tim MacMahon and Marc Spears of ESPN.
“The question that’s being asked around the league is…how long is this fit with Kyrie and the Mavericks,” MacMahon said Monday, September 21, on NBA Today. He emphasized that Dallas still values Irving and that the guard has enjoyed his time with the franchise.
The uncertainty stems primarily from the direction of the Mavericks’ roster. Dallas is building around Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and reigning Rookie of the Year, while Irving is a nine-time All-Star who is 15 years older.
MacMahon noted that there could eventually be a point when it makes sense for both sides to explore a move that would send Irving to a contender, making his situation something teams will monitor ahead of the trade deadline.
Spears added that Masai Ujiri’s relationship with Irving could potentially be relevant if the veteran guard ever decides that Dallas is no longer the right fit.
“Masai also has a really good relationship as you mentioned with Kyrie Irving,” Spears said. “I think it’s the kind of relationship where if Kyrie says, hey, Masai, like, this isn’t for me, I think they could work together to get something done.”
Spears also said he expects there would be interest in Irving if the guard returns healthy.
Irving missed the entire 2025-26 season after suffering a torn ACL. The Mavericks went 26-56 without him, while Flagg immediately emerged as the franchise’s centerpiece.
Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 70 games during his rookie season. He is now entering his second NBA season under new head coach Dusty May and a new front office led by Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz.
Irving, meanwhile, has already demonstrated that he can provide high-level offensive production alongside a young star. He averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 50 games during the 2024-25 season, shooting 47.3% from the field, 40.1% from three-point range and 91.6% from the free-throw line.
Across his first two seasons in Dallas, Irving averaged 25.2 points per game while shooting 40.6% from three-point range. He averaged 25.6 points on 49.7% shooting during the 2023-24 season.
The Mavericks have continued reshaping the roster around Flagg this offseason, acquiring Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser and Zaccharie Risacher while drafting Morez Johnson Jr. ninth overall and Sergio de Larrea 25th.
