Overview
- ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reports Dallas does not expect Irving back before the Feb. 5 trade deadline and raises doubt about him playing at all this season.
- Recent pregame video shows Irving working on-court with assistant Phil Handy, signaling progress in his ACL rehab nine months post-injury.
- MacMahon notes any brief return would offer too little data to guide a trade-or-retain decision on Irving.
- Owner Patrick Dumont is prioritizing a look at a healthy core of Irving, Anthony Davis and rookie Cooper Flagg before committing to major roster decisions.
- Dallas sits at 14–23, and Irving’s contract through 2028 factors into whether a 2025–26 return serves the team’s long-term plan.