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Masai Ujiri should carefully consider Kyrie Irving decision

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (left) and guard Kyrie Irving (right). Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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Mavericks' Masai Ujiri curious to see Kyrie Irving-Cooper Flagg duo, but must also consider long-term future

By Clark Dalton | Last updated May 20, 2026 5:07 PM ET

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Is new Dallas Mavericks president Masai Ujiri serious about keeping Kyrie Irving or trying to jack up the trade price for the high-scoring guard?

Ujiri spoke to the media on Wednesday about the firing of head coach Jason Kidd and the franchise's future. Irving's status was one of the topics discussed.

The one-time NBA champion has been a frequent subject of trade rumors. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is rumored to be making a push for Irving. Ujiri, however, said he has "huge curiosity" in seeing the ankle-breaking guard play with forward Cooper Flagg, 2025-26 Rookie of the Year.

Masai Ujiri hints Mavericks haven't ruled out retaining Kyrie Irving

"[Houston Rockets forward] 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, you know, like to know how Kyrie fits with our program. And I've had those conversations with Kyrie up till yesterday."

"There's only one Kyrie walking around in the world" - Masai Ujiri speaks on Kyrie. #MFFL // @ATT pic.twitter.com/k6hHtqo78r
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 20, 2026

The Mavericks don't know if Irving and Flagg jell. The guard missed last season because of an ACL tear in his left knee, suffered in March 2025. When healthy, he's the playmaking guard Dallas needs to take the offensive burden off Flagg (21 points per game this past season, No. 1 on the team).

Irving, a nine-time All-Star, ranks 11th among active players in scoring (18,433 points) and 14th in three-pointers made (1,876), per Basketball Reference. Flagg's three-point shooting needs improvement. He shot 29.5 percent from downtown last season, considered poor.

Throughout this news conference, however, Ujiri emphasized that the Mavericks are prioritizing the future.

"Every decision we make here is going to be future-based. We are looking at the future," he said (h/t DLLS Sports' Abby Jones). "We have a 19-year-old [Flagg] on this team that can take us somewhere great. We have to think that way."

Masai Ujiri states that the Dallas Mavericks are looking at the future of organization, building around Cooper Flagg.

“Every decision we are going to make here is going to be future based. We are looking at the future. We have a 19-year-old on this team that can take us…
— Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) May 20, 2026

Would keeping Irving be a future-based decision? Reinserting the guard into the lineup won't make the Mavericks a surefire championship contender.

Dallas clearly has roster holes after going 26-56 in its first full season without guard Luka Doncic (now with the Los Angeles Lakers). The Mavericks lack the draft picks needed to plug them.

Dallas owns pick No. 9 and the Oklahoma City Thunder's first-round selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. (The Thunder are facing the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.)

In 2027, Dallas' first-round selection goes to the Charlotte Hornets if it falls between picks Nos. 3-30. The Mavericks have a first-round pick in 2028, but the Thunder have the right to swap it. They obtained those rights when Dallas acquired forward Daniel Gafford in February 2024.

Trading Irving could afford Dallas more draft capital. Ujiri must remember that, even if the idea of a Flagg-Irving-led squad is alluring.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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