The Dallas Mavericks, following former GM Nico Harrison’s firing, are likely to rebuild around #1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. Reports claim that the Mavericks are already considering trading D’Angelo Russell, Daniel Gafford, Anthony Davis, and Klay Thompson, and now Kyrie Irving’s name has also been included in one particularly intriguing trade package.

During an episode of To The Baha, former Mavericks guard Theo Pinson recently introduced the idea of a possible Irving-to-Houston trade. “If Kyrie goes to Houston, oh my God,” he said, and upon being told by a co-host that the Rockets would “have to give back one of their pieces,” Pinson quickly replied, “Bye-bye, Amen.” Raymond Felton also echoed this sentiment.

Since Fred VanVleet went down in the offseason, Houston has struggled to find an elite playmaker at point guard. While Amen Thompson is talented, he has an unrefined handle that can easily be exploited. Swapping him for Kyrie Irving could resolve this issue. However, another question arose: would Alperen Sengun be on the table in such a trade?

Deron Williams quickly took over the conversation, insisting, “There’s no way. Absolutely no way. Kyrie is coming off an ACL injury.” Felton and Pinson attempted to steer the discussion forward, with Felton saying, “I don’t know if I can say no way that quickly,” and Pinson agreeing with him.

Williams reminded them of Irving’s injury history, but Pinson countered, stating, “If he’s not injured, at this point, he’s in championship mode. So, at that point, get me to a team that can win.” He added another layer to the conversation by explaining, “We looked at it… They have a financial issue over there [in Dallas] too.” Currently, Dallas is deep into luxury tax territory and is just $1.2 million under the second apron, which would severely limit their ability to acquire future picks and move players. They are already facing an estimated $31.9 million in tax penalties.

Pinson continued, “They might have to just get rid of these guys to avoid going over that limit. I don’t even know what this apron and all this other stuff is.” He then posed a provocative question to Williams: “Are you tanking if you’re the Mavericks?” Williams’ reply was straightforward: “Yeah, because they’re not going to win this year.”

To emphasize Pinson and Williams’ point, Dallas’ future draft situation is quite dire. They hold their 2026 first-round pick, but the next four years’ picks have been traded in previous deals: the 2027 pick is top-two protected and owed to Charlotte, Oklahoma City has swap rights for 2028, Los Angeles owns the 2029 pick, and San Antonio has swap rights in 2030. Since Dallas doesn’t control their picks, the implication is that they might need to tank this year and pivot financially by trading Irving, the only player with significant value.

What a Kyrie Irving Trade to Houston Could Really Look Like

A Houston Rockets deal would confirm one belief: the Rockets would have to know that they’re ready to go all in. Amen Thompson is already one of the best athletes in the league, and is shaping up to be one of the most versatile guards in the league, and Alperen Sengun has the talent of a franchise-carrying offensive hub. Kyrie Irving, if healthy, would immediately lift Houston’s offense, already the best in the league by Offensive Rating.

From Dallas’ perspective, the motivations are already clear: move off heavy salaries, get draft capital, and build around Cooper Flagg. Especially with a 4-12 record, the Mavericks do not look like a championship-level team, and when management eventually realizes this, trading Irving is a good way to fulfill all three of their goals at once.

A realistic deal would depend on how aggressive Houston is likely to be: moving Thompson would be dramatic, and moving Sengun would alter the franchise’s identity. There’s no clear direct path to make up for the conflicting salaries, but a three-team trade, similar to the blockbuster Doncic-Davis trade from last season, might be the only feasible way forward.