The Dallas Mavericks just fired their head coach. That alone was shocking. But what it signals for the rest of the roster? That could be the real story.
Jason Kidd is out after five seasons. The move came more than a month after the Mavericks missed the playoffs for the second straight year. This is a franchise that was in the NBA Finals just two years ago. Now they’re starting over.
And when a team starts over with a new coach, they often start over with a new roster.
Enter Kyrie Irving.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there is “an anticipation leaguewide that the Mavericks are likely to receive trade interest in Irving this offseason, whether they want it or not.” Even after the 34-year-old missed the entire 2025-26 season with a torn ACL.
The Miami Heat have been searching for a star since Jimmy Butler left. They’ve chased Damian Lillard. They’ve chased Donovan Mitchell. They’ve chased Giannis Antetokounmpo. They’ve been linked to Ja Morant.
Now, a new name should be on Pat Riley’s list: Kyrie Irving.
Let me break down why the Heat make sense, what Irving would bring to Miami, and why this could be the most fascinating — and risky — move of the offseason.
The Kidd Firing: What It Means for Dallas
Let me start with the news that broke Tuesday night.
The Mavericks fired Jason Kidd. Not after a first-round exit. Not after a play-in loss. More than a month after the season ended. The timing was bizarre. The move was shocking.
But here’s what it signals: the Mavericks are ready for a reset.
Kidd was hired in 2021. He led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals in 2024. But the last two seasons have been a disaster. They missed the playoffs in 2025 and 2026. Luka Dončić is gone (traded to the Lakers). Kyrie Irving missed an entire season with a torn ACL.
The franchise is adrift.
When a team fires a coach this late in the offseason, it usually means they’re cleaning house. Not just the coaching staff — the roster too.
The Mavericks have veterans they could move. Irving is the most obvious name. He’s 34. He’s coming off a major injury. He’s in the final year of his contract (or close to it). And according to Stein, teams are already expected to call.
The Stein Report: ‘Anticipation Leaguewide’
Let me bring in the expert perspective.
Marc Stein is one of the most trusted NBA insiders. When he reports something, you can take it to the bank.
Here’s what he wrote Tuesday night:
*“There is an anticipation leaguewide that the Mavericks are likely to receive trade interest in Irving this offseason, whether they want it or not. Even after the 34-year-old’s full season of inactivity.”*
Let me translate that: Teams are going to call about Kyrie Irving. Not maybe. Not if the Mavericks put him on the block. They’re going to call regardless.
Irving’s name is going to be in trade rumors all summer. The only question is whether the Mavericks are willing to listen.
The Heat’s Star Hunt: Why Miami Makes Sense
Let me talk about the other side of this equation.
The Miami Heat have been searching for a star ever since Jimmy Butler left. They’ve been linked to every big name on the market. But they’ve come up empty.
They chased Damian Lillard. He went to Milwaukee.
They chased Donovan Mitchell. He stayed in Cleveland.
They chased Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s still in Milwaukee (for now).
They were lukewarm on Ja Morant.
Pat Riley is 81 years old. He doesn’t have time for a rebuild. He wants to win now. And he’s not afraid to take risks.
Kyrie Irving is a risk. A massive one. But he’s also a star. And the Heat need stars.
What Irving Was Before the Injury
Let me remind you what Kyrie Irving looked like the last time he played.
In the 2024-25 season, Irving appeared in 50 games for the Mavericks. He averaged:
24.7 points per game
4.8 rebounds
4.6 assists
47.3% from the field
40.1% from three
Those are All-Star numbers. He was named an All-Star for the ninth time before tearing his ACL and missing the entire 2025-26 season.
At 34 years old, with 14 years of playing experience, Irving is a veteran. He’s been to the mountaintop. He’s hit one of the biggest shots in NBA history (Game 7 of the 2016 Finals). He knows what it takes to win.
The question is: what does he have left after the ACL tear?
The ACL Question: What to Expect from Irving
Let me be honest about the injury.
An ACL tear at 34 is not the same as an ACL tear at 24. The recovery is slower. The risk of re-injury is higher. The explosiveness might never fully return.
But here’s the counterargument: Irving’s game isn’t built solely on athleticism. He’s a craftsman. He’s a magician with the ball. He scores with finesse, footwork, and touch — not just raw speed.
Even if he loses a half-step, he could still be an elite scorer. And a full year off might actually be a blessing for a 34-year-old with 14 years of mileage on his body.
The Heat would be buying low on Irving. His value is depressed because of the injury. That’s exactly the kind of move Pat Riley loves.
The Fit Next to Bam Adebayo
Let me talk about the basketball fit.
The Heat’s offense runs through Bam Adebayo. He’s the hub. He sets screens, facilitates from the high post, and anchors the defense.
But the Heat need a guard who can create his own shot, break down defenses, and take pressure off Bam.
That’s Kyrie Irving.
Irving has played alongside ball-dominant stars before. In Cleveland, he played with LeBron James. In Brooklyn, he played with Kevin Durant and James Harden. In Dallas, he played with Luka Dončić.
He knows how to coexist. He can play on the ball or off the ball. He can be the primary creator or the secondary scorer.
In Miami, he would be the primary perimeter scorer. He would handle the ball in crunch time. He would take the big shots.
And with Bam setting screens and rolling to the rim, Irving would have space to operate.
The Tyler Herro Question: What a Trade Could Look Like
Let me get into the hypotheticals.
If the Heat trade for Kyrie Irving, Tyler Herro is almost certainly going to Dallas. Herro has been on the trade block for years. He’s a talented scorer, but he’s not a superstar. The Heat have been trying to upgrade from him.
A potential trade package could look like this:
Miami receives: Kyrie Irving
Dallas receives: Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell (expiring contract), and possibly draft compensation
The money works. Herro makes roughly 30millionperyear.Irvingmakesasimilaramount.TheHeatcouldalsoincludeDavionMitchell,whoisonanexpiring30millionperyear.Irvingmakesasimilaramount.TheHeatcouldalsoincludeDavionMitchell,whoisonanexpiring12 million deal.
Dallas gets a younger scorer (Herro is 26) who can help them rebuild. They get an expiring contract in Mitchell. They get future assets.
Miami gets a proven star — if he’s healthy.
The Risk: Irving’s Health and Unpredictability
Let me be the voice of caution.
Kyrie Irving is not a safe bet. He’s missed significant time in multiple seasons. He’s unpredictable. He’s been a distraction in Cleveland, Boston, Brooklyn, and Dallas.
But here’s the thing: the Heat have a culture that manages difficult personalities. Pat Riley doesn’t back down. Erik Spoelstra has coached LeBron, Wade, Butler, and countless other strong personalities. He knows how to handle stars.
And Irving has said in the past that he respects the Heat’s organization. He’s praised Spoelstra. He’s talked about how much he admires Miami’s professionalism.
If any team can get the best out of Kyrie Irving, it’s the Heat.
The Other Option: Waiting for Giannis
Let me address the elephant in the room.
The Heat have been waiting for Giannis Antetokounmpo. They’ve been saving cap space. They’ve been positioning themselves for a run at the two-time MVP.
But Giannis might not be available. The Bucks are still competing. They have no incentive to trade him.
And even if he is available, the Heat will face competition from every team in the league. The price will be astronomical.
Irving is available now. He’s cheaper. He’s a known quantity. And he fills a need.
The Heat can’t wait forever. Pat Riley is 81. He wants to win now.
What the Experts Are Saying
Let me pull in a few more perspectives.
Marc Stein’s report is the most significant. He’s not a rumor-monger. He reports what he hears from inside the league. And he’s hearing that teams are already preparing to call Dallas about Irving.
Other insiders have noted that the Heat have been “quietly monitoring” Irving’s situation. They’ve done their due diligence. They’ve talked to his representatives. They’re ready to move if the opportunity presents itself.
The Kidd firing might be the catalyst. Dallas is signaling change. And when a team signals change, other teams start calling.
Final Verdict: The Heat Should Make the Call
Here’s my honest take.
The Miami Heat should trade for Kyrie Irving. Not because he’s a sure thing — he’s not. Not because he’s healthy — he might not be.
Because he’s the best available star on the market. Because the Heat need a shot-creator. Because Pat Riley doesn’t play it safe.
Irving is a risk. A big one. But the Heat are not a rebuilding team. They’re a win-now team. And win-now teams take risks.
The price will be reasonable. Tyler Herro, an expiring contract, and a pick. That’s not nothing, but it’s not a franchise-crushing haul.
If Irving is healthy, the Heat have a legitimate Big Two with him and Bam Adebayo. If he’s not, they move on.
The Mavericks are cleaning house. The Heat need a star. Kyrie Irving is available.
This is not complicated.
One thing’s certain: The Kyrie Irving trade market is about to heat up. And the Miami Heat should be right in the middle of it.