DALLAS — Leave it to Kyrie Irving to spark drama less than a week before the NBA’s Feb. 9 trade deadline.
Irving on Friday requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, multiple outlets reported, instantly making him — again — the most-discussed and noteworthy trade candidate as an Eastern Conference All-Star starting guard who’s playing on the final year of his contract.
Should the Mavericks — in need of a significant boost around Luka Doncic to contend deep into the Western Conference playoffs — try to add Irving, whose reputation as a sensational scorer is often overshadowed by self-inflicted controversy?
After Irving reportedly included the Mavericks on his list of preferred trade destinations last summer, the Mavericks again plan to explore a deal with the Nets, according to multiple reports.
Let’s debate whether or not Dallas should push to acquire Irving.
Trade for Kyrie Irving
The Mavericks’ near-meltdown against the Pelicans on Thursday night offered the latest example of Doncic’s supporting cast failing to establish a rhythm and consistency without him on the court.
When Doncic suffered the right heel contusion in the third quarter that will cost him at least one game, Dallas led by 27 points and showed little signs of allowing the travel-weary Pelicans to end their nine-game losing streak.
After Doncic limped to the locker room: New Orleans outscored the Mavericks 49-27 and the Mavericks escaped a potential overtime nightmare after officials admitted to blowing a call and nixing a Dallas turnover in the final five seconds.
The Mavericks are 0-6 in full games without Doncic this season, and though Spencer Dinwiddie has shined as a lead point guard, Irving’s instant scoring boost could settle the offense and provide Doncic with the co-star support often necessary for deep playoff contention.
Irving is one of eight players in the NBA averaging at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists per game this season. He’s shooting 48.6% from the floor and 37.4% from three in 37 minutes a game.
An eight-time All-Star and NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Irving has thrived alongside other elite players, winning the 2016 title with LeBron James and dominating with Kevin Durant for more than a month this season between the Nets’ poor start and Durant’s Jan. 8 knee injury.
Since the Mavericks have failed to replace their three-ball-handler lineup in Jalen Brunson’s free-agent absence, Irving’s potential arrival would improve on the Mavericks’ offensive strategy from last year’s upset playoff run and satisfy the all-in approach around Doncic, for which they’ve explored options but not completed since moving on from Kristaps Porzingis.
Before Irving’s bombshell request Friday, Dallas had explored avenues to offload Tim Hardaway Jr.’s $19.6 million salary and long-term contract at the deadline. Christian Wood ($14.3 million) is also set to be a free agent this offseason, and if the Mavericks don’t offer an extension — or Wood doesn’t accept one — they risk losing another key Doncic supporter with no compensation like Brunson to the Knicks last summer.
If Dallas views Irving as a long-term fit next to Doncic and he signals a willingness to stay in free agency, the Mavericks have several player options to help match Irving’s contract math within the NBA’s luxury-tax limits — if Brooklyn sees value in Dallas’ high-paid assets in return.
Don’t trade for Kyrie Irving
We’ll call this the ‘everything else except basketball’ side of the debate.
Though Irving has garnered many accolades and appears well-liked among players around the league, his frequent bouts of controversy and drama have harmed team chemistry, underwhelmed expectations and made national and international headlines.
This season: The Nets suspended Irving eight games after he shared a film on social media with dangerous anti-semitic conspiracy theories. Irving fueled the drama with several combative news conferences, the Anti-Defamation League turned down Irving’s proposed donation as part of his return-to-play reparations and Nike dropped him as a custom-shoe sponsor.
The issue marred the Nets’ start to a championship-hopeful season and contributed to the firing of coach Steve Nash in early November.
Last season: Irving missed the first half of the season and then played just 29 games after refusing to take a COVID-19 vaccine to comply with New York City’s local ordinances and sparked anti-vaccination mandate protests outside Nets games
He has also taken weeks-long, unexplained personal breaks from the Nets, shared conspiracy theories from InfoWars host Alex Jones, tarnished the Celtics’ chemistry during his 2017-19 tenure and now twice requested trades despite Brooklyn’s hope to contend among the Eastern Conference elite this season.
Doncic has appeared to be friendly with Irving before and after games and during All-Star events, but would he be happy long-term with a co-star whose availability and unpredictability has often overshadowed winning objectives?
The Mavericks likely have one true chance to go all-in on a trade that adds a co-star and championship expectations around Doncic, and Irving would likely cost first-round draft picks and sap Dallas’ surrounding depth while remaining one of the riskiest short- and long-term options Dallas could pursue.
