The trade deadline is still over three months away, but that doesn't matter. We're still already hearing about Kyrie Irving. If he eventually does hit the market, the Detroit Pistons would (should) be interested in trading for him. And, even better for the star guard, he'd get to compete for a championship—something he won't be able to do in Dallas in the foreseeable future.
But what if Irving doesn't care much about that?
Based on what Tim MacMahon said on the latest episode of the 'Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective' podcast, it doesn't sound like the guard will be on the move.
"You know, going into the season, I would have said more likely than not, [Irving] gets moved by the deadline, but I didn't feel super strong about it. The more I see the team, the more I'm around the team, the more I think it's going to be awfully hard to trade him."
The Mavericks' 4-2 start to the season factors into Irving's future. As genuinely impressive as that is for Dallas, you have to wonder how long the good vibes will last once the team gets deeper into the season.
If they slip down the standings, will Irving be content staying where he is? And will the front office be fine with keeping him in Texas through the end of the season, even with his $42.4 million player option for 2027-28?
Kyrie Irving can compete for a title with the Pistons
Detroit is 5-1 entering the third week of the NBA season, second in the East, behind the 6-1 Sixers. And three of the Pistons' five wins came against Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
Not to take away from what the Mavericks have done to start the season, as they are coming off a win over the previously unbeaten Rockets, what the Pistons are doing is no fluke. Detroit finished with the best record in the East last season, and it's positioned to be right back up there again this season.
But what about the playoffs? Do they have what it takes to make a deep run? Or to even win a championship?
You know, they would boost their chances if they had Irving. His playmaking and shot-making would give the Pistons another much-needed offensive threat to take pressure off Cade Cunningham. The only real concern is that he's 34 and missed all of last season with a torn ACL.
Irving has looked pretty good to start the season, though, averaging 21.4 points and 4.8 assists on 52.7 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent shooting from three in 28.6 minutes per game. He hasn't looked like a player coming off that kind of injury in the latter half of his career. Dallas couldn't have asked for more than he's given.
That could be why the Mavericks choose to keep him, since he's a great fit alongside Cooper Flagg, their priority. Their two-timeline approach could continue. A lot can change between now and February, though, and if Dallas puts the ball in Irving's court and lets him have a role in what's next, who knows what will happen? He could decide to chase another championship.
And if that's the path Irving wants to go down, the Pistons should be the first team to pick up the phone.
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