Although we're still far from serious conversations about the 2026 NBA trade deadline, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving has already emerged as a top name to monitor. To be clear, there's no indication the Mavericks are willing or interested in moving Irving, who's returned from injury and hit the ground running at the start of the 2026-27 season. Regardless of where the Mavericks stand on that front, teams will almost certainly call about Irving's trade availability.
That said, we'll break down a few of the best fits if the Mavs opt to listen to offers and offer a general framework for potential deals with the three best suitors. Rumors have already surfaced about potential interest from a few teams, and we'll start with one mentioned by Sports
Illustrated's Chris Mannix: the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons make a lot of sense for Irving, especially since the veteran guard has shown he can thrive alongside Luka Doncic and Cooper Flagg at different times. He's been willing and able to adapt his style to what the Mavericks have needed, making him a great fit alongside Cade Cunningham in the backcourt.
Dallas and Detroit could get creative in several ways if they discussed a trade, but one outline could include Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Joe, along with potential draft capital for Irving. The Pistons may need to shed a bit more salary cap to make that work, but could either include a third team or add another player to do so.
Houston Rockets
There's been buzz that the Houston Rockets could be a suitor for Irving if he's available, reuniting him with former teammate Kevin Durant. The Rockets already have an impressive roster, but they also have the pieces to make a deal for Irving if they believe it puts the team in a better position to contend for a championship.
The most interesting part of a potential Rockets-Mavericks trade for Irving is the draft capital currently at Houston's expense. They have three first-round picks in the 2027 NBA Draft, one in 2028 and two in 2029. Overall, any deal would likely focus on draft picks, but several players are under restrictions until at least December 13, which would only affect those names if talks of a deal increase before the February 11 deadline.
My biggest questions are about Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard, specifically their availability in trade talks. Either player alongside someone like Clint Capela could work from a financial standpoint. So, maybe that could be the starting point, but that's purely speculation.
Miami Heat
As we've all learned, the Miami Heat are more than happy to be at the center of trade talks around a star. However, this time is different: after acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, the Heat are pretty strapped for assets. Any deal to get Irving would almost certainly need to include either Andrew Wiggins and/or Nikola Jovic, plus another player, at least if it's just one of the two.
Draft capital is another topic of conversation, because right now the Heat have only one first-round pick they can include in a deal for Irving. Ultimately, the million-dollar question is whether the assets available to move for Irving are enough to move the needle for the Mavericks and top any other offers, which feels unlikely.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Kyrie Irving trade proposals: 3 best fits for Mavericks guard
