NBA trade proposal sends Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving to Hawks

This one lives in the gray area where logic, timing, and risk all collide. That is usually where the most interesting hypotheticals sit.

The Dallas Mavericks are not shopping Kyrie Irving. At least, not that anyone knows of. But if Dallas ever decides to pivot, the market will be narrow. Big-money point guards are not easy to move, especially midseason, and most contenders already have their backcourts set.

One team that could line things up with an eye toward next season is the Atlanta Hawks. With that in mind, here’s a proposal from James Piercey of Dallas Hoops Journal:

Hawks receive

• Kyrie Irving

Mavericks get

• CJ McCollum
• 2029 first-round pick (top-five protected)

Why Dallas Listens

This is not about McCollum as a centerpiece. It is about flexibility and future value.

McCollum can stabilize a lineup short-term and still gives you 18 points a night, but the real prize is the first-round pick. With Cooper Flagg now central to the franchise’s long-term plan, Dallas needs to restock draft capital wherever it can. Irving’s age, injury history, and contract make an unprotected first unlikely. A lightly protected pick may be the realistic ceiling.

Irving is owed roughly $40 annually through 2027-28. That matters.

Why Atlanta Thinks About It

The Hawks did not move on from Trae Young to tear things down. They did it because they believed the roster functioned better without him. Atlanta’s core is set. What it lacks is a late-clock scorer who can elevate everyone else.

Irving fits that. When healthy, he still bends defenses and creates space without monopolizing possessions. That matters for players like Jalen Johnson.

Bigger Picture

According to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal, Irving is expected to be physically capable of returning after the All-Star break following ACL surgery. That lines him up more with next season than this one.

Dallas already has the hardest piece to find. Now comes patience. Atlanta is closer than its record suggests. This is the kind of swing that reflects that belief.