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Mavericks Pivot to Cooper Flagg as Kyrie Irving Becomes Trade Asset

Masai Ujiri and GM Mike Schmitz are weighing whether Irving should mentor Flagg or be moved to acquire young players plus draft capital to speed a rebuild.

Overview

  • The Mavericks have publicly shifted to a youth-first rebuild built around 19-year-old rookie Cooper Flagg under new president Masai Ujiri and GM Mike Schmitz.
  • Dallas dismissed coach Jason Kidd and has begun roster realignment to match Flagg’s timeline, leaving multiple veterans on the block for possible trades.
  • Kyrie Irving, who missed 2025–26 recovering from an ACL, says his knee is nearly fully recovered and carries a $39.5 million salary with no no-trade clause, which has increased league trade interest.
  • Concrete trade concepts are circulating, including an ESPN-proposed package sending Irving to Detroit for Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert, Ron Holland and a first-round pick, while analysts suggest Dallas could demand additional future picks.
  • The Mavs enter the offseason with picks Nos. 9, 30 and 48 and face a clear choice between keeping Irving as a short-term mentor or converting his contract and other veterans like Daniel Gafford into draft assets to accelerate long-term rebuilding.