The Dallas Mavericks have chosen to keep Kyrie Irving on their roster following their trade of Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, according to Christian Clark of The Athletic. Despite the significant roster move, the team has no plans to trade Irving ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline on Thursday.
Details of the Anthony Davis Trade and Its Impact
Dallas sent Anthony Davis to Washington as part of an eight-player exchange, receiving Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks, and three second-round draft selections in return, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. This transaction reshapes the Mavericks’ roster composition significantly ahead of the upcoming season.
Irving, whose season debut remains pending due to recovery from a torn left ACL suffered late in the 2024–25 campaign, will remain a cornerstone for Dallas. Although Irving is set to turn 34 on March 24, the Mavericks appear willing to assess his role alongside rookie Cooper Flagg before making any potential roster decisions.
Evaluating Kyrie Irving’s Role and Team Dynamics
Irving first joined Dallas as a complementary player alongside Luka Dončić, forming a potent duo that helped lead the team to the 2024 NBA Finals. Over his three seasons with the Mavericks, Irving has averaged 25.5 points and 5.1 assists per game, shooting 49.0% from the field, 40.4% from three-point range, and 91.7% from the free-throw line. This consistent production adds important value as the team builds around key players like Flagg, Dereck Lively II, Christie, and Naji Marshall.
Dallas can go into next season with a core of Flagg, Irving — whom the Mavericks don’t plan on trading before Thursday’s deadline, a team source said — Dereck Lively II, Christie, Naji Marshall and whoever Dallas adds with its first-round pick in June,
Christian Clark reported Wednesday.
That is a potentially fun nucleus that isn’t so old and expensive that it will keep hindering the Mavericks’ team-building efforts around Flagg.
Outlook Ahead of the Trade Deadline and Season
As the 2026 trade deadline approaches at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, the Mavericks’ choice to maintain Irving rather than pursue a trade underlines a cautious, measured approach. The team aims to carefully evaluate how Irving recovers and fits with emerging talents, particularly Flagg, before making any dramatic moves.
Dallas could choose to see how he looks alongside standout rookie Cooper Flagg before making a decision regarding his future.
Tim MacMahon noted in November 2025, emphasizing Dallas’s reluctance to trade Irving (h/t Kurt Helin, NBC Sports).
Given Irving’s proven ability to succeed in a complementary role and the fresh influx of draft picks and players through the Davis trade, the Mavericks appear poised to develop a well-balanced squad, preserving flexibility while integrating new talent for upcoming seasons.
