DHJ Quick Take: Edwards’ Push for Irving
- Star Recruitment: Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is reportedly pushing for his organization to trade for Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving this summer to help elevate the team into a championship-caliber roster.
- Missing Piece: After reaching the Western Conference Finals twice in the Edwards era, league insiders widely believe that pairing an elite, veteran point guard alongside Edwards is what Minnesota needs to reach the NBA Finals.
- Trade Dynamics: Irving, who missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering from a left ACL tear, is set to make $39.5 million next season and lacks a no-trade clause, making him an accessible target for interested contenders.
Anthony Edwards wants the Minnesota Timberwolves to trade for Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving this summer, according to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson.
Several NBA contenders are interested in trading for Irving this offseason.
“Anthony Edwards is reportedly privately sharing that he would love teaming up with Irving in Minnesota, advocating heavily for the move behind the scenes. ‘Ant has a mutual respect for Kyrie and for what he’s done in this league,’ a Timberwolves source with knowledge of the situation noted. ‘If Kyrie came, it would be sweet.’ The logistics are incredibly dense,” Robinson wrote.
“Both Dallas and Minnesota are operating over the first salary apron, meaning a blockbuster deal would require massive financial gymnastics, significant draft capital from an asset-depleted Wolves team, and likely a third team to facilitate.”
Irving, who didn’t play this season due to the left ACL tear he suffered last campaign against the Sacramento Kings, doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. The nine-time All-Star will make $39.5 million next season.
The Timberwolves have reached the Western Conference Finals twice in the Edwards era. Many people who cover the NBA believe Minnesota needs an elite point guard next to Edwards to reach the promised land.
A one-time NBA champion, Irving is one of the best point guards in league history. The last time we saw the Duke product on the court, he was averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game for the Mavericks during the 2024-25 season.
Dallas traded 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards at this year’s trade deadline, but the franchise chose to keep Irving despite being a rebuilding team. Why? Because the organization believes Cooper Flagg needs to play with a talented floor general to develop the right way, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal.
New Mavericks president Masai Ujiri spoke highly of Irving while addressing reporters following the parting of ways with head coach Jason Kidd. There is no indication that Dallas is looking to move Irving this offseason, sources said.
“Kevin Durant once told me that there’s only one Kyrie walking around in the world,” Ujiri said. “I think we have to figure out a way, how Kyrie fits with our program. And I’ve had those conversations with Kyrie. And I think Kyrie will fit. As I said it before, there’s a huge curiosity in our minds to see how Kyrie fits playing with Cooper Flagg.”
Irving holds career averages of 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and Mavericks. The 2011-12 Rookie of the Year has a very close relationship with Flagg, sources said. Flagg won the Rookie of the Year Award this season and Irving was a key mentor to him behind the scenes, sources said.
It will be fascinating to see if Irving remains with the Mavericks or gets traded this summer. It’s worth mentioning that Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said the organization will pursue an aggressive offseason after a third consecutive playoff elimination by a championship-caliber opponent.
Dallas Hoops Journal senior reporter Grant Afseth contributed to this report.
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