Mavs can win big in potential Kyrie Irving to Detroit Pistons trade

Kyrie Irving is the last remaining player from the Mark Cuban era with the Dallas Mavericks, and his time with the franchise may be running out, as he is very much subject to a trade sooner or later.

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Since the team replaced Jason Kidd with Masai Ujiri in the front office, rival teams have monitored Irving’s availability every single day. There is an understanding across the league that a 34-year-old point guard earning $39.5 million does not fit a rebuild centered around 19-year-old Copper Flagg.

As more time passes, his name has become very hot on the trade market. ESPN recently included Irving in a list of six offseason trade ideas, suggesting a deal with the Detroit Pistons. In the proposed trade, Dallas would receive Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert, Ron Holland and a 2026 first-round draft pick (No. 21 overall).

Analyst Bobby Marks called the move a bit risky for Detroit. However, he also noted that trading a late first-round pick and three rotational players is excellent value for a contending team.

This package received mixed reviews from Dallas fans and analysts, but a counterproposal by SportDFW’s Cem Yolbulan improves the deal. Yolbulan’s framework keeps the core package of Stewart, LeVert, Holland and the 2026 first-round pick, but adds an uncovered 2028 first-round pick. This extra draft asset makes the trade much more valuable for the Mavericks.

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Under the ESPN proposal, Dallas takes on $38.8 million in salary and adds the 21st pick to their existing 9th and 30th selections in the 2026 draft. Adding a 2028 first-round pick, as Cem Yolbulan suggested, turns a basic salary dump into a strong asset return. 

Mavericks executive Masai Ujiri has not committed to trading his point guard yet. He noted per NBC Sports that Kevin Durant once told him, «There is only one Kyrie walking around in the world,» and said the front office needs to see how Irving fits the system. Still, this phrasing sounds more like standard due diligence than a long-term commitment. 

Irving has yet to share the floor with Flagg and is returning from an 18-month injury absence. Dallas has plenty of logical reasons to make a move now and a sweetened Pistons package gives them a clear incentive to do it.

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