The Dallas Mavericks are likely looking forward to their April 12 contest against the Chicago Bulls. Why? Because it’s the franchise’s final game of the season before they begin identifying offseason moves that could help them succeed in 2026-27.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley believes that trading Kyrie Irving to the Milwaukee Bucks for a former Los Angeles Lakers NBA champion forward would be a wise offseason move for the franchise.
“For as much as the Mavericks might want to see how Cooper Flagg would look with a healthy Irving, they should be more eager for the opportunity to add potential long-term building blocks,” Buckley wrote Sunday.
“Adding a second top-10 pick in a class as celebrated as this could be enormous, and that's before factoring in what the future might hold for (Ryan) Rollins, a 23-year-old in the thick of the Most Improved Player race.”
“Remember, after this summer, Dallas won't control its own first-round pick again until 2031. The time to chase high-end young talent is right now, especially if they could potentially gain two keepers in exchange for a 34-year-old with a long injury history and the money owed to (Kyle) Kuzma and (Bobby) Portis.”
For clarity, Buckley’s trade idea would send Irving to the Bucks for the No. 10 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, Rollins, Portis, and Kuzma.
Losing Irving would be disappointing, but it could allow the Mavericks to set themselves up for future success by surrounding Flagg with competent role players and a draft pick that could turn out to be a special player in the big leagues.
Kuzma is the contributor who stands out from the rest of the pack, as he has valuable championship experience as a 30-year-old veteran and has been an above-average player his whole career.
At the end of the day, Buckley’s offseason trade proposal makes perfect sense.
Why This Trade Makes Sense for Dallas
The Mavericks are at a crossroads. They have a generational talent in Cooper Flagg (projected No. 1 pick) on the way, but their current roster is built around an aging Kyrie Irving (34) who has missed significant time due to injuries. Buckley argues that trading Irving now — while he still has value — allows Dallas to reload with young, controllable talent instead of chasing one more short-term run.
The proposed return (No. 10 pick + Ryan Rollins + Bobby Portis + Kyle Kuzma) gives the Mavericks:
- A high-upside lottery pick to pair with Flagg
- A young guard in Rollins who is having a breakout season
- Veteran frontcourt pieces in Portis and Kuzma who bring championship experience and immediate spacing/scoring
After this summer, Dallas will not control its own first-round pick again until 2031, making this the perfect window to acquire high-end young talent.
The Bucks Perspective
Milwaukee would be getting a proven playoff performer in Irving to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Even with Irving’s injury history, his creation ability and clutch gene could give the Bucks a different dimension in the postseason.
The Bigger Picture for 2026-27
If the Mavericks pull off a move like this, they would shift from a win-now team built around Irving to a young, versatile roster built around Flagg and the incoming assets. Kuzma’s championship pedigree (2020 with the Lakers) and Portis’ toughness would provide veteran leadership while the young pieces develop.
This proposal highlights a key strategic choice facing many teams this summer: chase one more year with aging stars or pivot toward the future. For Dallas, Buckley believes the latter is the smarter long-term path.
For your international audience on ph-ballgm.blogspot.com, this kind of high-stakes trade talk feels very familiar — one blockbuster move can completely reshape a franchise’s trajectory, much like a major PBA trade that instantly changes championship hopes for years to come.
Add your sidebar poll gadget right now: “Would you trade Kyrie Irving for the No. 10 pick + Rollins + Portis + Kuzma?” Cross-post to Facebook with the caption above and watch the comments explode. End the post with: “Filipino fans know how one smart trade can change everything — drop your take below!”
The 2026 offseason is shaping up to be one of the most important in years, and the Mavericks could be right in the middle of it.
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