New NBA Trade Rumors on Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson After LeBron’s Decision on 76ers Contract

After star forward LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, teams around the NBA are searching for alternatives, and the Dallas Mavericks have a pair of veterans who are garnering interest in point guard Kyrie Irving and shooting guard Klay Thompson.

However, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Mavs “have continued to rebuff trade feelers” for Irving. They also reportedly “have indicated that they prefer to trade” Thompson, despite other teams like the Miami Heat “certainly hoping” that he becomes a free agent via a contract buyout.

Irving missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL, but the Mavs have maintained their commitment to the nine-time All-Star.

“The working expectation since our report last month is that Irving should begin next season in Dallas alongside Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg to at last launch his long-awaited comeback from knee surgery in late March 2025,” Stein stated.

First-year head coach Dusty May declared during his introductory press conference last month that he expects to rely on Irving’s veteran presence to lead a young Mavs team.

“Kyrie knows what it takes to win a championship, so as a first-time NBA coach, I’m gonna lean on him in a lot of areas,” May told reporters.

Thompson’s case is different, as he has one season and $17.5 million left on his original three-year contract with Dallas. The 36-year-old averaged a career-low 11.7 points in 69 games last season, and he’s unlikely to see much playing time as the Mavs try to develop their young players. The Mavs would undoubtedly prefer to recoup assets rather than lose him for nothing.

Still, there’s a chance that Irving is uninterested in being part of a rebuild at this stage in his career. The Mavs may have to open themselves up to the possibility of also trading the 34-year-old if he decides he wants to play for a title contender.