Mavericks might make a predictable Kyrie Irving decision

The Dallas Mavericks know a thing or two about parting ways with their All-Stars.

They've done so with Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis in the past couple of years, and with new decision-maker Masai Ujiri calling the shots, they might not be done offloading big names.

While Cooper Flagg looks like a superstar in the making, the Mavs aren't a championship contender right now.

As such, and given his injury status, NBA insider Sean Deveney predicted Kyrie Irving might be the next Mavericks star to find a new home, even if it's right ahead of the trade deadline.

The Dallas Mavericks are unlikely to keep Kyrie Irving

"Irving does not likely have a long-term future in Dallas, and the fact that he is returning from injury was always going to make it smarter for the Mavericks to wait until he gets back on the floor and can rebuild trade value to put him on the market," Deveney wrote. 

Irving has said and done all the right things about wanting to stay in Dallas, but the fact is they're not on the same level as other contenders.

Flagg is a work in progress, and with coach Jason Kidd no longer in town, Irving may have fewer incentives to stay.

Irving idolized Kidd growing up and had a close relationship with him, and with so many teams looking for an elite three-level scorer like him, the Mavs have a rather easy decision to make.

They would offload his salary while potentially adding more draft capital to their war chest.

As for teams looking for Irving, he has a history of volatility and burning bridges, and he's aging and coming off a major injury.

That said, he's one of the best scorers and ball-handlers in the game, so there should be a strong market for him if the price makes sense.