How Masai Ujiri sees Kyrie Irving’s partnership with Cooper Flagg

Masai Ujiri is not treating Kyrie Irving as an automatic casualty of the Dallas Mavericks’ reset around Cooper Flagg.

The Mavericks’ new President of Basketball Operations has already made major changes, including parting ways with Jason Kidd.

Irving’s future naturally became a question after that move, but Ujiri sounds more interested in exploring the fit than rushing toward another blockbuster decision.

Masai Ujiri wants to see Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg’s partnership with Dallas Mavericks

Masai Ujiri explained why the Dallas Mavericks are curious about Kyrie Irving playing next to Cooper Flagg.

“I’ve said it before, there’s a huge curiosity in our minds to see how Kyrie fits playing with Cooper Flagg,” Ujiri said.

“He’s just [an] incredible, talented player, and I think we owe this organization that. … My goal is to put him in a place where he’s successful here,” the Mavs executive added,

The message was important because Ujiri is building a new Mavericks structure, but he did not speak as if Irving is simply an old-era piece to move away from.

That matters after a chaotic stretch in Dallas. The Luka Doncic trade changed the franchise’s direction, Flagg became the long-term centerpiece, and Ujiri arrived to restore order after years of instability.

Kyrie Irving gives Cooper Flagg a Dallas Mavericks partner Masai Ujiri still wants to test

The basketball logic behind Ujiri’s stance is easy to understand because Irving can make Flagg’s transition easier if he is healthy.

Ujiri previously said he wanted to see the pairing, adding that Irving’s ability to play off the ball could help Flagg. That is the main reason Dallas has not closed the door. Flagg needs structure, spacing, and experienced late-game creation around him, and Irving still offers all three when available.

The concern is availability. Irving missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL, and NBA.com reported that his three-year Mavericks extension can run through 2027-28 if he activates the final-year player option.

That contract gives Dallas time, but also makes the decision more complicated. Ujiri has to decide whether Irving is a bridge, a core veteran, or eventually a trade asset.

For now, his public stance is clear. The Mavericks owe themselves a real look at Irving with Flagg before making the next franchise-altering call.

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