Dallas Mavericks Trade Proposal: Grading A Kyrie Irving Deal With The Minnesota Timberwolves

James PierceyJune 2, 2026 11:17 PM

DHJ Quick Take: Bleacher Report Floats a Kyrie Irving Trade to Minnesota

A new Bleacher Report proposal would send Kyrie Irving to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and three draft assets, a package that intrigues but falls short of a clear win for Dallas.

What’s the proposal? Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes has Dallas sending Kyrie Irving to Minnesota for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, the No. 28 pick, a 2030 first-round swap, and a lottery-protected 2033 first.
What would Dallas get? Donte DiVincenzo fits next to Cooper Flagg as a three-and-D guard with secondary playmaking, and the deal carries a notable volume of draft capital.
Why isn’t it a slam dunk? Julius Randle overlaps positionally with Flagg and is mostly salary filler, and the draft capital skews marginal unless the 2033 protection loosens.
What’s next? Expect Masai Ujiri to push for stronger terms, ideally top-5 protection on the 2033 pick, before Dallas signs off.

The Dallas Mavericks brought in Masai Ujiri to run basketball operations, and the first major change has already landed: Jason Kidd is out as head coach. The move has turned attention to the roster, where Kyrie Irving stands as the most prominent trade candidate.

Any decision likely hinges on the return. The front office has signaled it likes the fit between Irving and Cooper Flagg, but a strong enough package would force Dallas to weigh moving him. A new proposal from Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes reaches that threshold.

Dallas Mavericks Move Kyrie Irving for Assets in New Proposal

Here are the proposed terms:

Minnesota Timberwolves receive:

Kyrie Irving

Dallas Mavericks receive:

Julius Randle
Donte DiVincenzo
2026 first-round pick (No. 28)
2030 first-round swap
2033 first-round pick (lottery protected)

The deal has clear flaws, starting with Randle. He brings far less off-ball value than Irving and plays the same position as Flagg. The positional overlap is easy enough to manage, but the fit is awkward, and Randle is in the framework largely to make the salaries match. Routing him to a third team would be the cleaner outcome.

The draft capital is mostly marginal. The 28th pick is a first-rounder in name, but conveying that late makes it only slightly more valuable than a future unprotected second. The 2030 swap carries the most weight, though projecting which roster will be stronger by then is close to guesswork. A lottery-protected first has a limited ceiling.

There is still plenty to like. DiVincenzo fits cleanly next to Flagg as a three-and-D guard with secondary playmaking. The volume of draft capital also stands out. Dallas would have to consider the deal, then push for more.

Dallas Mavericks Must Get the Best Deal for Kyrie Irving

The clearest improvement would be loosening the protection on the 2033 pick. Making it top-5 protected rather than lottery protected would give the package enough long-term upside to justify moving Irving.

Without that, Dallas risks coming away with little of value. If the swap does not convey, the Mavericks would be trading Irving for DiVincenzo, the 28th pick, and a selection that cannot land inside the top-14. That downside is steep, particularly given the team’s apparent lack of interest in Randle.

Ujiri has a track record of driving a hard bargain, which works in Dallas’ favor.

Grade: B