The talk has begun, it continues, and it’s not going away. Kyrie Irving is an excellent player, but ever since the Dallas Mavericks effectively shelved the Luka Doncic–Anthony Davis project, many are left wondering whether the veteran guard really fits a new setup built around Cooper Flagg.
The No. 1 pick of the 2025 draft is just starting his professional journey, while the 2016 champion — yes, it has already been a decade — is ready to offer his best years on the court. Should they mesh? Perhaps, but the only thing that truly matters is what the Texas franchise thinks, a club well aware of the interest from several teams.
According to Jake Fischer for Bleacher Report, the latest entrants into the behind-the-scenes chase for Irving have been the Miami Heat. In Florida they understand that luring Giannis Antetokounmpo should be paired with other moves that place them at the top of the contenders list; and naturally, signing Kyrie would point in that direction.
With no public negotiations — at least not to our knowledge — for now Pat Riley’s team has only displayed a certain level of interest, since in Dallas they do not plan to press the trigger at the first sign of an opportunity. The plan in Texas is to test just how good Flagg and Irving can be together. If it works, they’ll celebrate. If not, they’ll have to make decisions.
The Other Suitors for Kyrie Irving
Not long ago — a little more than a month — we described Irving as “the big prize.” Obviously he isn’t the best player in the NBA, but in terms of value for money he could end up being a steal, in addition to being a perfect fit for teams that want to upgrade the point guard position with a bona fide starter.
Thus, even before the Heat materialized, we already had the Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons on the radar. The former have reassembled the injured Fred VanVleet, yet they would view a swap as highly favorable. As for the Michigan squad, they’re seeking a piece to relieve Cade Cunningham of some of the playmaking burden, since at times they see him looking fatigued.
Will he eventually depart? It’s impossible to know. We’re talking about a 34-year-old player who still has two years remaining on an $82 million contract (player option for 2027-28) whose talent remains undeniable. It doesn’t depend on him alone, but on where teams truly want him to be.
