Overview
- The Mavericks have publicly rebuffed summer offers for Kyrie Irving but plan to play him through January to rebuild or assess his trade value before potentially moving him at the Feb. 11 deadline.
- Irving missed the entire 2025–26 season after a left ACL tear and has taken part in workouts that team insiders say show him moving without restrictions, making early-season production the key barometer.
- Contract structure complicates any deal because Irving is owed about $39.5 million for 2026–27 and holds a roughly $42.4 million player option for 2027–28, which limits some teams’ willingness to acquire him without clarity on the option year.
- Multiple teams, including the Miami Heat and other contenders, remain interested but would likely demand proof Irving can return to near–All‑Star scoring to offer meaningful assets such as a first-round pick.
- The Mavericks have retooled around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg and a youth-and-assets timeline, so a strong Irving showing could turn him into a valuable midseason trade chip while a weak showing would keep Dallas focused on its long-term rebuild.