Mavericks Eye Major Trade to Acquire All-Star Guard in Offseason Shakeup

The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for an exciting offseason in 2026, marked by significant changes under the leadership of new president Masai Ujiri. Following the dismissal of head coach Jason Kidd, speculation is rife about potential roster moves that could reshape the team’s future.

In a recent analysis, Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz suggested that the Mavericks might look to trade former Duke standout Kyrie Irving for Miami Heat's All-Star guard Tyler Herro, who is just 26 years old. "If the Mavs want a guard who's closer to Cooper Flagg's timeline, swapping out the 34-year-old Irving for the 26-year-old Herro (and 20-year-old Kasparas Jakucionis) would make sense,” Swartz noted. He emphasized that the Mavericks need to bolster their guard lineup and improve their three-point shooting, where they struggled last season.

The Mavericks ranked near the bottom of the league, finishing 29th in three-pointers made per game and 26th in shooting accuracy. Herro, a career 38.2% shooter from beyond the arc, could be a critical asset, especially since only Klay Thompson surpassed his three-point averages last season.

Jakucionis, the 20th overall selection in the 2025 draft, is another intriguing piece in this hypothetical trade. At 6-foot-5, the rookie guard shot an impressive 42.3% from three-point range, adding youthful vigor to the Mavericks lineup as they look to develop around rising star Cooper Flagg.

In addition to acquiring Herro and Jakucionis, Swartz proposed that Dallas could also receive a second-round pick in the 2026 draft (41st overall). Herro's scoring ability and potential make him an ideal partner for Flagg as the Mavericks seek to transition from older players like Irving, who may no longer fit their long-term vision. Ultimately, the success of this strategy will hinge on the Mavericks' willingness to trade Irving, given his age and recent durability issues.