Stein: Mavericks plan to keep Irving as rivals monitor availability

The in-season trade deadline is set for Feb. 11.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 251 min read

What happened: Dallas wants to evaluate Kyrie Irving’s fit with Cooper Flagg when the 2026-27 season opens. Rival teams believe the club could reconsider its position later, with young players or draft picks expected to drive any return.

Why it matters: Irving provides needed playmaking, but his age places him on a different timeline from Flagg. His salary could also narrow the field of viable trade partners.

By the numbers: Irving, 34, is 14 years older than Flagg and is due $39.5 million in 2026-27. His contract includes a $42.4 million player option for 2027-28.

What to watch: Training camp will give Dallas its first opportunity to evaluate Irving and Flagg within the same offense.

Sources

Yahoo NBA 2026-08-25T18:09:55.898602+00:00

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NBAAnalysisDallas MavericksKyrie IrvingCooper Flagg

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