Kyrie Irving is a tremendous offensive player. Or, at least he was before tearing his ACL and missing his entire age-33 season. The Dallas Mavericks may be right in assuming he’ll retain that status upon his return, and they should like the idea of him lightening Cooper Flagg’s offensive load.
But what if the Mavs are wrong about Irving? What if trading him this summer, when there are questions about his value, is actually a much better decision than waiting until he returns and proves he’s not the same guy?
Think about it. Several teams that exited the playoffs earlier than they wanted to could use a title-tested, high-end creator. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and a host of others should be willing to swing a deal for Irving this offseason.
If he appears hobbled or otherwise lessened by age and injury during the year, return packages will only get worse. The element of uncertainty, of Irving’s expected production, is a positive for his trade value right now. It may not be that way for long.