The Dallas Mavericks are going to be one of the most interesting teams to monitor this season. After trading away their franchise superstar in the middle of his prime, the franchise is trying to establish a new defensive-minded identity. Players like Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and PJ Washington fit that mould to a tee.
Add in the excitement of drafting a truly generational prospect in Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick, and you have the makings of a roster that is going to draw a ton of interest. However, the team has one major hurdle to overcome, at least for the 2025-26 NBA season. With Kyrie Irving slated to miss most of, if not the entire year, with a torn ACL, the team is severely lacking in playmaking. But for one analyst, that presents the opportunity for the team to make a shrewd trade for an upgrade.
How Can the Dallas Mavericks Fix the Kyrie Irving Absence?
Before the season got underway, the question of the starting point guard for Dallas drew a ton of interest. After signing D’Angelo Russell in the offseason, it seemed like a given that he would assume the role, especially with the established chemistry with Davis.
However, head coach Jason Kidd did not guarantee it at the time, going so far as to tease running Flagg at the point guard spot to aid his growth as an all-around talent. But the returns from the preseason with Flagg as the PG haven’t been the greatest.
As a result, the team may need to explore other avenues. A career 5.6 assists per game average from Irving is a massive chunk of playmaking that Dallas is going to be missing. As a result, Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report has an idea that fits the Mavericks’ identity.
In his list of trade candidates for every team in the NBA, he had them going after Kyle Anderson from the Utah Jazz. The rationale is simple: “Kyle Anderson hasn’t been a traditional point guard in the NBA, [but] he was at UCLA, and he’s shown at several stops in the league that he can initiate or boost an offense.”
For his career, Anderson averages just a shade under three assists a game. But he’s shown capability as a passer, like the 2023-24 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, when his assist numbers were up to 4.2 per game.
That year, he signed a three-year, $27,658,536 contract, which has two years left on it, allowing Dallas to bring him in as a rental for this season alone.
“He also brings the added benefit of defensive versatility to whatever team he’s on. And if there’s one thing Dallas general manager Nico Harrison has made clear over the last eight months, it’s that ‘defense wins championships.'”
As a result, the fit should be seamless as the Mavericks get another supersized wing to throw into the mix. In exchange, he believes Dallas may have to part ways with Caleb Martin and attach a second-round pick with him.
But for the Jazz, that might be a better scenario than their current logjam. “For Utah, Anderson doesn’t fit the timeline of their rebuild. And turning him into a second-round pick would be worthwhile.”
The idea of adding a playmaking wing could be a smart move on the Mavericks’ part. Not only would it allow them to have an easier flow to the offense this year, but it could also allow Flagg, the future of their franchise, to learn the playmaking ropes from a true veteran.
