The Dallas Mavericks made the blockbuster deal for Kyrie Irving last season, so they will be hell-bent on keeping him alongside Luka Doncic. There is no way Dallas would have traded for Irving if there wasn’t a “handshake agreement” with Irving that the player would be offered the maximum amount of money to stay with the team. Luka led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals in the 2021-22 season, so a player of Irving’s caliber could be the difference in getting the Mavericks to the NBA Finals for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
Irving averaged 27.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 5.5 APG on 49.4% FG, 37.9% 3-PT FG, and 90.5% FT last season, so clearly, he is still a superstar player at 31 years old. The Dallas Mavericks cannot afford to let a top free agent leave unless they can bring back another star player and most importantly, return the ball into Luka Doncic’s hands. To do so, the Mavericks will likely target center Deandre Ayton in a trade for their superstar point guard.
Luckily for the Mavericks (and possibly the Suns), Kyrie Irving will meet with the Phoenix Suns and will be interested in joining the team led by Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. As crazy as that lineup is already, adding another top-10 scorer in the NBA would make a laughably dominant offensive team devoid of any defensive talent. Still, the modern NBA is all about offense, and there is no doubt Kyrie provides more of that for the Suns. On the other end, the Mavericks will make Luka Doncic the primary ball-handler and offensive player while improving their depth at the center position with this blockbuster trade.
Trade Details
Phoenix Suns Acquire: Kyrie Irving
Dallas Mavericks: Deandre Ayton
No doubt, this straight swap would give both teams what they need in terms of offensive firepower and two-way play at the center spot. Here is how this deal works for both sides and why it might be the biggest deal of the summer.
Phoenix Suns Create A Dominant Big Four
Kyrie Irving is a highly skilled and talented point guard known for his scoring ability and playmaking skills. Joining the Phoenix Suns would mean fitting into a team that already has a talented core of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. The Suns had a successful season two years ago in 2021, reaching the NBA Finals, but they have completely revamped their roster after failing in the postseason a year later.
The Phoenix Suns have established a strong offensive system built on ball movement, team play, and efficient shot selection with superstars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker turning up in the playoffs. Irving’s playing style, while undoubtedly effective, tends to be more individualistic and reliant on isolation plays. Integrating Irving into the Suns’ offensive system would require adjustments to maintain the team’s overall identity and balance. However, considering the players in question and their basketball IQs, there is no doubt they will try and compete at a high level.
Ultimately, if Kyrie Irving were to leave the Dallas Mavericks and join the Phoenix Suns via a blockbuster deal, it would be a significant move that would impact both teams and the league as a whole. Kyrie’s fit with the Suns would be amazing to watch because having four guys capable of scoring 30 points in a single game is more than a luxury. Phoenix ranked 17th in PPG and 14th in offensive rating last year, and the additions of Beal and Irving would make them a top-5 offensive team in the league without a doubt.
Losing Deandre Ayton means the Suns have zero size, but having four All-Stars in their prime means the rest of the roster can be built around free agency with players such as Mason Plumlee, Jakob Poeltl, Dario Saric, Mo Bamba, and Dwight Powell, who can all play major minutes as big men. In terms of the bench, Phoenix still has Cameron Payne under contract for 2023-24 for over $6 million, and he can play backup point guard as needed. Other players such as Torrey Craig, Jock Landale, Josh Okogie, and Terrence Ross can all be retained on mid-level and minimum deals as required.
Dallas Mavericks Put The Ball Back In Luka Doncic’s Hands
Meanwhile, for the Dallas Mavericks, the basketball goes back into the hands of Luka Doncic, the player who is easily the best at his age right now. The Mavericks had great success with Doncic as the primary ball-handler two seasons ago, making the Western Conference Finals with Luka posting 28.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 8.7 APG in the regular season and 31.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 6.4 APG in the playoffs. The Slovenian had another great season this year, posting 32.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 8.0 APG in the regular season, even if he did not lead the team into the playoffs.
The Dallas Mavericks did not benefit from Kyrie Irving’s presence on the court. Rather, the team fell from a playoff team to a play-in seed. Dallas already got rid of Davis Bertans and his albatross contract on Draft Night, and the team is looking to surround Luka Doncic with as much talent as possible. The team needs Doncic happy, and the player even admitted how unhappy he was at times sharing the ball with a ball-dominant player of Irving’s caliber this season. Dallas was at their best, with Luka handling the rock while being surrounded by two-way players and defensive-minded bigs.
By trading Kyrie Irving and bringing back Deandre Ayton, the Mavericks add the best available center on the market and improve their bench play. Ayton averaged 18.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 0.8 BPG this season, which are solid numbers, but he might have worn out his welcome in Phoenix after his inconsistent showing in the playoffs (13.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG). Ayton is better off with another team which is why Dallas can give Luka an excellent pick-n-roll target with a big man who can finish inside.
With Chris Paul feeding him the rock, Ayton shot 58.9% from the field, and he will have a similar percentage with Doncic giving him good looks. Luka is at his best creating everything on offense, and because he is not an elite shooter from three (33.8% career 3-PT FG), playing off the ball is not the best situation. Doncic can back down his defender, dribble past him, and demand double teams. With Ayton inside, Dallas looks more formidable going forward.
A Blockbuster Deal That Is A Win-Win
Acquiring Kyrie Irving would significantly bolster the Phoenix Suns’ offensive firepower. Irving is a highly skilled point guard known for his scoring ability, ball-handling, and clutch performances. He would provide the Suns with another dynamic scoring option alongside Devin Booker and would help share some of the scoring burdens from Durant’s, Booker’s, and Beal’s shoulders, as crazy as that sounds. Irving’s shot creation and playmaking ability could enhance the Suns’ offensive versatility and make them a more potent team.
Trading Deandre Ayton, a talented center at 24 years old, would be a significant loss for the Phoenix Suns. Ayton has shown tremendous potential as a dominant inside presence, with his rebounding, shot-blocking, and scoring ability in the paint. Losing Ayton would create a void in the Suns’ frontcourt and potentially impact their defensive presence and rim protection. The Suns would need to consider how they would address this loss and whether they have adequate depth or assets to fill the void left by Ayton’s departure.
However, the Suns can fill out the roster with a host of free-agent guards, forwards, and centers, including a mix of Mason Plumlee, Jakob Poeltl, Dario Saric, Mo Bamba, Dwight Powell, Torrey Craig, Jock Landale, Josh Okogie, and Terrence Ross. Meanwhile, for the Mavericks, the team goes back to its best in terms of Luka Doncic controlling the offense.
Dallas will not have to worry about Kyrie Irving’s dedication to basketball and instead absorb Ayton’s contract, which runs until the 2025-26 season at under $35 million per year. The Mavericks’ depth chart will include Luka Doncic, Reggie Bullock, Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr, Maxi Kleber, rookie Dereck Lively II, and Deandre Ayton. This roster won’t be enough to make the NBA Finals, but it is a start because both Doncic and Ayton are under 25 years old and have the potential to be NBA All-Stars together.
