NBA trade rumor: Dallas Mavericks could bid farewell to $118.5 million 3x All-NBA Star to build new roster around Cooper Flagg

Kyrie Irving hasn't played an NBA game in over a year, and he's already at the center of trade speculation. The Dallas Mavericks insist he's part of their plans heading into the 2026-27 season, but the front office overhaul around him tells a more complicated story.New president Masai Ujiri and new head coach Dusty May inherited a roster stripped of familiar faces, with Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson already traded away. Irving, one of the last links to the Luka Doncic era, is now recovering from a torn ACL and walking into a franchise explicitly building around a 19-year-old. That combination is enough to keep his name in circulation before the trade deadline, even without a formal shopping effort.CategoryDetailPlayerKyrie IrvingCurrent TeamDallas MavericksContract Status3-year, $118.5 million extension (signed July 2025); includes 2027-28 player optionSalary Cap Hit$39,491,282 (2026-27)Trade LikelihoodNot imminent — Mavericks maintain they intend to keep himLatest Insider UpdateESPN's Tim MacMahon reports rival teams are monitoring his fitDallas Mavericks could move Kyrie Irving ahead of the trade deadlineKyrie Irving posted 25.5 points and 5.1 assists per game across his Mavericks tenure before tearing his ACL in the 2024-25 season, and he's set to make his return in the season opener on October 21 against the Houston Rockets. MacMahon reported that Irving "could be a prime target for contenders before the trade deadline" if Ujiri opens that door.As of now, however, Dallas has held firm. The front office has publicly committed to keeping Irving, even as the roster around him gets rebuilt from the ground up. Coach Dusty May, who takes over a team he didn't build, said flatly, "I couldn't be more excited to be on his team," pointing to Irving's preparation and shot-making as tools he wants to lean on early in the season.Dallas Mavericks looking to build around Cooper FlaggThe bigger story in Dallas isn't Irving's trade value; it's Flagg's development. The 2026 Rookie of the Year is the organizing principle for everything the Mavericks do now, and Irving has already taken on a mentorship role with him despite missing the entire season on the sidelines.Flagg credited Irving's guidance through a difficult rookie transition, saying, "I never lost that much in my life," about the adjustment to NBA-level competition. Dallas wants that relationship to continue, not end in a trade.Kyrie Irving's market could be a bit coldEven if Dallas struggles early and decides to explore the market, moving Irving won't be simple. He's 34, coming off a major knee injury, and there's no clear wave of teams with an urgent need at his position right now. Front offices are increasingly cautious about surrendering draft capital for older guards under the current cap rules, and Irving still has to prove he can perform at his previous level post-injury. Any deal Dallas makes is more likely to net a discounted return than a strong one.Irving's actual trade value won't be clear until he's back on the floor. The Mavericks' record over the season's opening stretch and how his body responds to game speed will shape whether Ujiri engages with the calls that are reportedly already coming in.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.