Mavericks Reportedly Make Kyrie Irving Unavailable

Kyrie Irving’s strong return has helped Dallas start 4-2, including a 35-point win over Houston, prompting outside speculation that Houston, Detroit or Miami could pursue him. Former coach Sam Mitchell has urged Houston to make a move, while observers have questioned how Irving’s age and contract timeline fit with Dallas’s plans around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg. However, NBA insider Marc Stein reports that Dallas has told teams Irving is unavailable and that much of the trade buzz is coming from outside the Mavericks. Irving and Flagg’s early success has also led to arguments that their partnership is working, making a trade far from an obvious necessity.