The future of Kyrie Irving with the Dallas Mavericks is facing renewed scrutiny after NBA insider Jake Fischer said he is not convinced the veteran guard will still be on the roster by opening night.
Speaking about Dallas’ offseason outlook, Fischer said: “I don’t necessarily believe that Kyrie Irving will be on the Mavericks roster on opening night.” The comment arrives during a period of major organizational change for a franchise attempting to redefine its direction after a disappointing 26-56 season.
The Mavericks missed the playoffs for a second straight year and enter the offseason under new leadership. Team president Masai Ujiri now oversees basketball operations following sweeping changes that included the departures of former general manager Nico Harrison and head coach Jason Kidd.
Dallas also continues to absorb the aftermath of the Luka Doncic trade, leaving Irving as one of the few remaining stars connected to the franchise’s previous competitive timeline. That context has fueled questions about whether the organization should reshape the roster around rookie forward Cooper Flagg.
The No. 1 pick is viewed internally as a foundational piece, but Irving’s situation complicates the timeline. The 34-year-old guard is recovering from a torn ACL and missed the entire 2025-26 season despite signing a three-year, $118 million contract.
Even with the injury, rival executives are expected to monitor Irving’s availability. NBA insider Marc Stein previously reported that teams around the league are likely to explore trade possibilities involving the former All-Star, regardless of Dallas’ public stance.
The Mavericks have not signaled that they are actively shopping Irving. Ujiri recently emphasized the need for organizational clarity while discussing how Dallas intends to move forward with both Flagg and Irving in mind.
“We’re trying to get clarity in where we’re going,” Ujiri said, while also describing Irving as part of conversations about the team’s future direction. He added that the organization will “really dig into the philosophies” around “Cooper Flagg and a dynamic player in Kyrie Irving.”