NBA Swing: The Forgotten Veteran Guard Drawing Trade Interest?

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The 2026 offseason has seen numerous veterans across the league find new homes through trades and free agency. LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, Norman Powell, DeMar DeRozan, and more have all found new homes, but a forgotten guard could finally be in legitimate trade talks after several years.

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is expected to return for the 2026-27 season after missing the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his ACL in March 2025. Irving would play 50 games during the 2024-25 season before tearing his ACL, and would average 24.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 4.6 APG. Reports have noted the desire of new Dallas Mavericks President Masai Ujiri to see Irving play alongside 2025 #1 draft pick Cooper Flagg, and Irving himself has shown no desire to leave Dallas, but other moves have suggested the Mavericks may be shifting their focus to the future around Flagg.

Since Irving’s injury, the Mavericks have traded Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards, let Khris Middleton walk and go back to the Wizards, waived Klay Thompson before he signed with the Miami Heat, and parted ways with former head coach Jason Kidd, who Irving reportedly had a good relationship with. Dallas has shifted towards a younger roster, with Irving being the oldest player on the roster at 34 and one of two players over 30. At 34, Irving does not fit the current timeline of the Mavericks, especially as they are not championship contenders in a loaded Western Conference.

Irving is currently in the middle of a three-year, $118 million deal, and has a $42 million player option for the 2027-28 season. Given his return from injury and his age, it’s likely Irving will opt into his player option for next season. With his return imminent and his fit on the Mavericks in question, Irving has been linked to several teams showing interest in the one-time champion.

In ESPN’s NBA Summer Forecast, insiders predict Irving as the second star most likely to request a trade behind former teammate Anthony Davis. Front offices anticipate both parties could see parting ways as the best course of action to take given where the team is at. One notable team that has been rumored to be interested in Irving is the Miami Heat. A Play-In team last season, Miami has had one of the best offseasons this summer. The biggest acquisition would be Giannis Antetokounmpo, a top-five player in the league when healthy. Other additions would include Bobby Portis, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Klay Thompson. Irving would make sense as an addition for Miami, but given their limited resources post-Giannis trade, a trade may be difficult to complete.

Other teams that reportedly had interest in Irving or were linked to Irving this offseason include the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and the Toronto Raptors. Minnesota has already traded for LaMelo Ball and recently signed Jonathan Kuminga; Detroit likely lacks the assets Masai Ujiri would want in a Kyrie trade, and Toronto, despite having some, potentially does not know how their immediate future looks with the Kawhi Leonard investigation still not complete.

It is likely that Irving will start the 2026-27 season in a Dallas Mavericks uniform so Masai Ujiri can see how the 34-year-old guard looks next to Cooper Flagg. With Dallas having a younger roster around Flagg, Irving a year away from a contract year, and it being unknown how he will look post-ACL injury, there is the possibility the two sides could discuss parting ways if the fit does not make sense. With the 2027 NBA trade deadline set for February 11th, Irving will be one of the top names to keep an eye on when trade rumors start picking up.