The reason for Irving's absence this season has been revealed! A well-known reporter discloses the Mavericks' strategy: a high likelihood of trading Anthony Davis

On November 28th Beijing time, after Harrison was dismissed from the management, the Mavericks, who are struggling with their record, have become the center of trade rumors. ESPN journalist McMahon mentioned in his recent podcast that point guard Kyrie Irving is not considered a major trade candidate for the 2025-26 season.

“Regarding Irving, what I can tell you is that the Mavericks do not want to trade him,” McMahon said, “...I believe the only scenario where Kyrie Irving would be traded is if he himself requests a trade from the Mavericks. At present, I have no information indicating that this is likely to happen.”

McMahon explained that although the Mavericks plan to build around the top draft pick, Flagler, this does not mean they intend to clear out all veterans and make a teenager the face and core spokesperson of the team. Flagler is currently the youngest player in the NBA, turning 19 only in a few weeks.

McMahon pointed out that since joining from the Brooklyn Nets in February 2023,Irving has been a highly respected leader in the Mavericks' locker room, and he believes the point guard still fits into Dallas' future plans. The team prefers Irving to “stay on the court next season, be part of the starting lineup, and serve as a team leader.”

What this statement means for Irving's playing status this season remains to be seen. In a recent podcast, McMahon mentioned that Irving's recovery from the ACL tear he suffered in March is progressing well, but speculated that the 33-year-old might not play in the 2025-26 season due to “other reasons.” Now, he has clarified this statement further.

“The previous comment was vague, so let me be clear,” McMahon said. “The 'other reasons' refer to the fact that this season is the Mavericks' only chance to tank and benefit. That's it. Because they won’t control their first-round picks in 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030, the 2026 pick is the only first-round pick they can control during Flagler’s rookie contract.”

The Mavericks have started this season with only 5 wins and 14 losses, facing a tough challenge to return to the Western Conference playoffs—especially if they trade away some veterans before the February 5 trade deadline. In other words, the team might secure another lottery pick in the 2026 draft and then aim to make a playoff push in the 2026-27 season.

One reason for the Mavericks' poor performance this season is the absence of big man Anthony Davis, who has missed 14 consecutive games due to a calf strain. Davis is expected to return on Saturday or Sunday, which will boost the team's competitiveness in the short term. However, McMahon previously reported that the Mavericks might explore trading Davis this season, emphasizing that he still strongly believes this trade is likely.

“Trading Anthony Davis this season is a real possibility—even I would say it's highly probable,” McMahon stated, “while trading Irving is not a priority for the Mavericks, or rather, they currently have no interest in doing so.”

Irving signed a three-year, $118.5 million contract with the Mavericks this summer, and this season is the first year of that deal.