The Dallas Mavericks have experienced a tumultuous season. They executed a trade involving Luka Doncic, faced consistent scrutiny for this decision, did not qualify for the playoffs after reaching the NBA Finals the previous year, and subsequently secured the first overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, holding the rights to highly-rated prospect Cooper Flagg. Adding to these events, the team`s All-Star guard Kyrie Irving suffered an ACL tear in early March, which effectively ended their current season and poses a setback for a considerable part of the upcoming one.
Healing from an ACL tear after surgery typically spans 10 to 12 months. Nevertheless, reports suggest optimism within the Mavericks organization that Irving could potentially return by January next season, marking a recovery period of 10 months from the date of injury. Mavs head coach Jason Kidd corroborated this outlook during a recent appearance on the DLLS Mavericks podcast.
“We know [Kyrie] won`t be back until January, February, March,” Kidd stated. “I didn`t want to put a time limit on it, because I don`t want to be held to, `Well you said January,` so we got to give me some leeway there. But knowing [Kyrie], he`s going to try to come back soon… As you know he documents everything, so just talking to him, his spirit, he`s in the right frame of mind. I wouldn`t be surprised if he`s back early.”
An early return in January would undeniably provide a significant boost for Dallas. However, Irving will be 34 years old by next March, and a player of that age attempting to rush back from a severe injury like an ACL tear involves considerable risk. Dallas will need to prioritize preventing him from pushing himself too hard purely to accelerate his return to the court. The team`s performance in his absence at the start of next season might also influence the All-Star guard`s urgency to get back into action.
Regardless of the precise timing of Irving`s comeback, the Mavericks are guaranteed to be without him for at least the initial two months of the season. Given the lack of an obvious internal candidate capable of stepping into his shoes, Dallas will need to explore external options to find a temporary replacement.
“Being able to build the roster, maybe looking for a player that can fill that void until he can get back, also a player that can play with [Kyrie], also a player that might not play as much when [Kyrie] comes back,” Kidd explained regarding the team`s approach to free agency and roster building. “But again, next man up mentality. If you look at the roster today, understanding Dante [Exum] and Spencer [Dinwiddie], those guys did an incredible job.”
Both Dante Exum and Spencer Dinwiddie are slated to become free agents this summer. While they have each had positive contributions with the Mavericks at different times, neither appears to be a substantial long-term solution for the void created by Irving`s expected absence for potentially half the regular season. Reports confirm that acquiring a point guard to temporarily fill in for Irving is a high priority for the team, exploring both the trade market and free agency. The challenge lies in identifying viable candidates.
Could they pursue Collin Sexton from the Utah Jazz? Another possibility, albeit potentially controversial, might involve re-engaging with the Lakers to discuss acquiring Austin Reaves in a trade package, perhaps centered around Daniel Gafford. This scenario could benefit both sides by addressing roster needs, but the Lakers might prefer Dereck Lively II, the younger, more athletic center with greater upside to pair with Doncic. Dallas would need to carefully consider whether such a trade is worth pursuing. Conducting business with the Lakers again so soon after the divisive trade involving Doncic could further alienate the fanbase, potentially making L.A. an undesirable trade partner.
Although Coach Kidd and the Mavericks are hopeful about Irving`s potential early return, this optimism doesn`t solve the immediate issue of not having a starting-caliber point guard currently on the roster. This remains a pressing concern, especially if Irving`s recovery is delayed or if he struggles to regain his pre-injury performance level upon his eventual return.
Jasper Hawthorne