Wild Kyrie Irving trade proposal sends Mavs superstar to Raptors in package deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kyrie Irving is one of the most exceptional basketball players in the NBA. The nine-time All-Star and 2016 NBA champion is still widely regarded as one of the best players in the league despite his advanced age.
Currently playing for the Dallas Mavericks, there are various trade rumors surrounding him in the offseason. Ahead of the next season, it looks like he could play for a new team though the Mavericks don’t seem to be entertaining it. However, one hypothetical trade has been making the rounds on social media.
Hypothetical Raptors trade for Kyrie Irving
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley recently outlined a hypothetical trade on August 17, 2026, in which the Toronto Raptors would acquire Kyrie Irving from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Immanuel Quickley, Ja’Kobe Walter and a 2028 first-round pick that is top-five protected.
Irving missed the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025. Buckley’s proposal assumes the Raptors complete their pending acquisition of Kawhi Leonard and pairs the returning Irving with Leonard and Scottie Barnes. Toronto ranked fifth in defensive efficiency during the 2025-26 regular season but only 15th offensively, with notable weaknesses in isolation (25th) and pick-and-roll ball-handler efficiency (23rd).
Buckley argued a healthy Irving would supply elite handle, isolation scoring, off-ball shooting and passing, citing Irving’s career plus-4.9 net rating per 100 possessions over nine seasons. If the Raptors wish to seriously challenge for the championship, an impact player like Irving could be crucial.
The benefit for Dallas would be rebuilding the roster with 19-year-old Cooper Flagg. Quickley, 27, averaged 16.4 points and 5.9 assists last season while shooting 37.5 percent from three for his career and posting a 5.9-to-1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio; he is owed $32.5 million in each of the next three seasons. Walter, 21, averaged 7.5 points and 2.6 rebounds.
Buckley described the package as long-term assets and draft capital that better match Flagg’s timeline than a 34-year-old Irving coming off major knee surgery, while noting the risk that Irving’s value could decline if his post-ACL performance falters. He also noted that there are risks to this deal, and that it will be very hard to pull off for all sides involved.
Mavericks plan to keep Kyrie Irving for next season
Despite all the rumors about a trade, the Mavericks are not looking to let go of their star player. Franchise executives have already said that they wish to keep him in Dallas.This puts a serious hurdle towards rival teams looking to trade for the player. According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, the situation is that both player and franchise are in agreement.
One front office executive reportedly said, “He keeps getting put in all kinds of rumors, but we’re not looking to move Kyrie and Kyrie isn’t looking to be moved either. We didn’t get to see him with Cooper (Flagg) last year, but we’re very excited to see that pairing this year.”
It remains to be seen whether Kyrie Irving will stay and play for the Dallas Mavericks next season or switch sides.
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