The Dallas Mavericks don’t plan to trade All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal.
Several NBA contenders are interested in trading for Irving this offseason, but the Mavericks have made it known to interested teams that they want to keep Irving next to Cooper Flagg, sources said.
Irving and Flagg have a strong relationship, sources said. Flagg, who won the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year Award, received consistent, valuable mentorship from Irving this season, sources said, even though Irving sat out the season recovering from his left ACL tear.
Irving will make $39.5 million next season. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
New Mavericks president Masai Ujiri spoke highly of Irving while addressing reporters following the parting of ways with head coach Jason Kidd. There has never been an indication that Dallas was looking to move Irving this offseason, sources said.
“Kevin Durant once told me that there’s only one Kyrie walking around in the world,” Ujiri said. “I think we have to figure out a way, how Kyrie fits with our program. And I’ve had those conversations with Kyrie. And I think Kyrie will fit. As I said it before, there’s a huge curiosity in our minds to see how Kyrie fits playing with Cooper Flagg.”
The Mavericks acquired Irving from the Brooklyn Nets during the 2022-23 season. Irving and Luka Dončić led Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024. The Boston Celtics beat the Mavericks in five games and Nico Harrison stunningly traded Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025.
The Mavericks have the ninth overall pick in this year’s draft. Ujiri hired Mike Schmitz as Dallas’ new general manager. Ujiri and Schmitz still need to hire a head coach.
Schmitz, like Ujiri, had strong praise for Irving after getting hired by the Mavericks.
“I think it’s the body of work. I think it’s his approach to the game. Seeing him almost daily around the facility, completely locked in to everything we’re doing, it’s been really impressive to see,” Schmitz said. “Being around that every day combined with everything he’s done to get to this point gives us a ton of optimism alongside his fit with Cooper.”
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 Duke product turns 35 in March 2027.
Dallas Hoops Journal senior reporter Grant Afseth contributed to this report.
