"They're building around a 19-year-old prodigy in Cooper Flagg. So could there come a time when it makes sense for both Via @ESPNNBA on X

What happened: MacMahon raised the possibility Dallas and Irving eventually pursue a contender destination together. Flagg, 19, stands as the Mavericks' building block while Irving works back from a 2025 ACL injury.

Why it matters: Dallas rejected trade inquiries for Irving and plans to keep him entering camp. Rival monitoring ahead of the 2027 deadline keeps the timeline fit with Flagg as the open question.

What to watch: Watch Irving's recovery progress and Dallas' early direction in 2026-27 for signs of timeline pressure.

Sources

  • @ESPNNBA