A blockbuster NBA trade idea sending Kyrie Irving from the Dallas Mavericks to the Detroit Pistons was created by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report.
Buckley proposed the following trade idea between the Mavericks, Pistons and Golden State Warriors:
Detroit Pistons receive: Kyrie Irving and Naji Marshall
Golden State Warriors receive: P.J. Washington, Taurean Prince*, 2027 second-round pick (from MIL, via DET) and 2028 second-round pick (from CHO or LAC, via DET)
Dallas Mavericks receive: Ron Holland II, Brandin Podziemski, Daniss Jenkins, Moses Moody, Duncan Robinson and 2028 first-round pick (via DET)
*Eligible to be aggregated in a trade after Sept. 8
Why The Pistons Should Trade For Irving
The Pistons had the best record in the East last season but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs in seven games.
Buckley believes Detroit needs another dynamic scorer and playmaker like Irving next to Cade Cunningham to become a legitimate championship contender.
“The long-term costs are hardly insignificant here, but Cunningham’s emergence as an All-NBA first-teamer and MVP candidate can justify prioritizing the short term, especially if it means acquiring a proven commodity like Irving without depleting Detroit’s draft assets,” Buckley wrote.
Irving tore his left ACL on March 3, 2025. He missed last season but is ready to go for next season.
A nine-time All-Star, Irving will make $39.5 million next season. The Mavericks acquired the future Hall of Famer from the Brooklyn Nets during the 2022-23 season.
The 2011-12 Rookie of the Year, Irving enters next season with career averages of 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in the regular season and 23.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in the playoffs. The 2016 NBA champion averaged 24.7 points and 4.6 assists per game during the 2024-25 season before tearing his ACL.
Why The Warriors Should Trade For Washington
The Warriors missed the playoffs last season. They haven’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2022.
To make matters worse, Golden State didn’t get superstars LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers despite Stephen Curry and Draymond Green heavily recruiting him to Golden State, while the Milwaukee Bucks traded Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat.
Since Jimmy Butler is expected to miss most of next season recovering from his ACL tear, the Warriors could benefit from adding Washington, a proven 3-and-D swingman.
“Washington would be a rotation regular (if not a nightly starter, at least until Jimmy Butler returns), while Prince’s role could hinge on the readiness of first-round rookie Yaxel Lendeborg,” Buckley wrote. “Neither newcomer would change the Warriors’ fate, but they could beef up the rotation a bit without subtracting any draft assets (and, in fact, adding a couple of seconds to perhaps sweeten a future trade offer).”
Washington will make $19.8 million next season. He averaged 14.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting 32.5% from beyond the arc for the Mavericks last season.
The 28-year-old Washington has played for the Charlotte Hornets and Mavericks. He has career averages of 13.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in the regular season and 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in the playoffs.
Why The Mavericks Should Trade Kyrie
Many people in the NBA believe Irving, 34, is better suited to play for a contender at this stage of his career.
The Mavericks, who traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024-25 season, missed the playoffs in 2025 and 2026.
Despite having Cooper Flagg, who won the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year award, Dallas isn’t guaranteed to make the playoffs next season, which is why Buckley thinks the franchise should trade Irving sooner rather than later and get value in return for the veteran guard.
“That is, without question, a healthy haul for a 34-year-old returning from a season-long absence and a couple of veteran role players,” Buckley wrote. “More importantly, it is a clear and complete commitment to prioritizing Flagg’s future, which became (or at least should have become) the organization’s first priority the second it collected the jackpot prize of the 2025 draft lottery.”
This Trade Won’t Happen
Several contenders are interested in trading for Irving, but the Mavericks have made it known to interested teams that they intend to keep Irving next to Flagg, sources told Dallas Sports Journal.
Irving and Flagg have a strong relationship, sources said.
Flagg received consistent, valuable mentorship from Irving last season even though Kyrie didn’t play, sources said.
The Mavericks added nine new players to the roster this offseason. They acquired Santi Aldama from the Memphis Grizzlies, Zaccharie Risacher from the Atlanta Hawks and Marcus Sasser from the Pistons; got Morez Johnson Jr., Sergio de Larrea, Tobi Lawal and Vsevolod Ishchenko in the 2026 draft; signed Jett Howard and Tarik Biberovic in free agency.
Dallas also re-signed Moussa Cisse and parted ways with Klay Thompson, who was bought out and quickly signed with the Heat.
