Overview
- Cooper Flagg has emerged as the Mavericks’ clear young cornerstone after winning the 2025–26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year and posting strong rookie-season numbers.
- Kyrie Irving missed the 2025–26 season while recovering from an ACL reconstruction performed in March 2025, and Flagg said this summer that Irving is "back healthy" after they worked out together.
- Analysts have floated specific trade ideas to move Irving for younger players and a future first-round pick, including a Bleacher Report proposal that would send Irving to Toronto for Immanuel Quickley, Ja’Kobe Walter and a 2028 pick.
- Multiple reports say the Mavericks have told other teams they are not actively looking to trade Irving, even as Dallas explores moving veterans such as Klay Thompson and navigates P.J. Washington’s newly expired trade restriction.
- Front-office moves including Masai Ujiri’s hiring and a coaching change after the Luka Doncic trade frame this decision because they shift Dallas toward either building around Flagg now or accelerating a longer youth-and-picks rebuild.