Kyrie Irving’s status has been one of the biggest storylines of an otherwise disappointing season for the Dallas Mavericks. With Anthony Davis slowly returning to shape and rookie #1 pick Cooper Flagg bouncing back from a tough start to the season, Irving is the only remaining piece of the puzzle. Now, he has seemingly dropped a hint towards his return.

Before the Mavericks face off against the Utah Jazz, Irving was seen putting in some work on the floor with Mavs assistant Phil Handy. His handle looked tight as usual, and he was swishing jumpers, looking like his pre-injury self. If this version is the one the Mavs get, it would surely propel them into the playoffs, but some reports suggest that his return may be in jeopardy.

According to Mavs insider Tim MacMahon, who made an appearance on Howdy Partners, Irving is unlikely to return before this year’s trade deadline, on February 5th.

He added that he’s not even sure Irving can return this season, which would make this year a transitional season as Davis and Irving return to their pre-injury selves.

About a week ago, veteran insider Marc Stein reported that there was “no firm return date in mind for Irving,” despite his continued improvement on the court.

It has already been communicated via various reports that team owner Patrick Dumont doesn’t wish to make any major trade decisions about the team until Irving, Davis, and Flagg are on the floor together, which, now, is unlikely to happen before the deadline.

One Houston Rockets Trade Scenario That Actually Makes Sense for Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving’s trade value is tough to determine, which is why his trade market is limited. Even at his peak in previous stops, interest has been quieter than expected due to his reputation, positional redundancy as a scoring-focused guard, the addition of a torn ACL, age, and a multi-year contract.

This combination has led to suitors shifting even further away. However, one proposed trade to the Houston Rockets does make sense.

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Mavericks receive: Fred VanVleet, Dorian Finney-Smith, 2029 first-rounder (second most favorable of Mavericks, Suns, and Rockets)

Rockets receive: Kyrie Irving.

The Rockets have draft capital to absorb the potential risk of an Irving trade, and are already succeeding without a traditional starting point guard. They also offer the cleanest basketball and asset logic for both sides.

The Mavs are reunited with Finney-Smith, and VanVleet provides a valuable veteran presence for the other undersized, undrafted guards already on the Mavericks roster.

A Kevin Durant reunion, with whom Irving has a good relationship, is a bonus that adds to the favorability of the exchange. At the same time, the 2029 pick’s structure gives Dallas some control without relying on lottery luck.

For Houston, this is a calculated risk that could elevate them into true contention without mortgaging their future once Irving returns. For Dallas, it’s a rare Irving move that actually makes sense.