Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving has requested to be traded ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, and the Mavericks are “expected to explore the idea” of trading for the point guard.
Irving’s contract expires after this season, and he has been unable to agree with the Nets on an extension. The team’s latest offer to the 30-year-old guard was “not well received,” according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
In the offseason, Irving was the subject of trade rumors. He reportedly provided the Nets with a list of teams he wanted to be traded to, including the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Dallas Mavericks.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Mavericks have been interested in Irving and will “explore” the idea of acquiring him from the Nets before the trade deadline. Dallas has been rumored for some time to be looking to add a star-caliber player next to Luka Doncic.
But Dallas is one of many teams interested in the 6-2 guard averaging 27.1 points and 5.3 assists per game. The Lakers and Clippers have also been rumored to be looking for an upgrade at the point guard position.
The Mavericks have the third-highest odds of acquiring Irving, behind the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves, according to bookies.com.
However, all teams interested in Irving will have to weigh how much they would give up to acquire a player that may only be a three-month rental unless they dole out an expensive long-term contract.
The Mavericks are reportedly unwilling to give up significant assets for Irving to the Nets, who are in playoff position in fourth place in the East at 31-20. It is unknown if Brooklyn, which also has superstar Kevin Durant on the team, may want to acquire players that can help it win now or younger long-term prospects and draft picks.
Dallas does have multiple combinations of contracts that can match the $36.5 million salary Irving is being paid in the last year of his contract. But for now, it will be up to the Nets to decide what it would take for them to make the midseason trade.