The Dallas Mavericks are under new management after parting ways with Nico Harrison last season. Harrison’s decision to trade away superstar Luka Doncic marked a turning point for the franchise, and things were never quite the same afterward.
Former head coach Jason Kidd hoped to remain with the organization after Harrison’s departure, but the Mavericks ultimately decided to move in a different direction.
“Jason Kidd is out as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks after five seasons in what the team described as a mutual decision Tuesday evening. Kidd has four years and more than $40 million remaining on his contract, sources told ESPN. But Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont, who extended Kidd’s contract during Dallas’ NBA Finals run in 2024 and again before last season after they declined the New York Knicks‘ request to interview him, gave new president Masai Ujiri full authorization to determine the coach’s future with the franchise,” ESPN’s Tim MacMahon wrote.
The next major decision for Dallas is whether to keep Kyrie Irving. For now, all indications suggest the organization is leaning toward retaining the veteran guard.
“Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz have both stated they foresee Irving staying, as they think he and Cooper Flagg can be good fits alongside each other. However, Irving is 34 years old and is coming off an ACL injury. By the time he takes the floor in October, it will have been 19 months since he played in an NBA game,” SI’s Austin Veazey wrote.
However, there may be greater long-term value in trading Irving. CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn believes moving on from the veteran guard could make sense for Dallas.
“He’s 34, he’s expensive and he’s coming off a torn ACL, but if you need a playoff bucket, there aren’t many players out there better equipped to get you one than Irving. With Dallas operating on the Cooper Flagg timeline and short several draft picks, sending Irving to a win-now team makes plenty of sense,” Quinn wrote.
Irving remains a proven veteran capable of helping a contender, which could allow the Mavericks to receive valuable assets in return. In addition, injuries have limited his availability during his time in Dallas, making his long-term future with the franchise uncertain.
Irving is currently playing on a $118 million contract, so moving that salary could also provide Dallas with additional financial flexibility. While trading a player of Irving’s caliber would be a difficult decision, it could make sense from both a roster-building and financial standpoint.
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