Kyrie Irving Trade Rumors Take Off With Pistons Touted as Potential Destination

The Detroit Pistons reportedly could have their sights set on adding Kyrie Irving to play alongside Cade Cunningham.

Kyrie Irving Trade Rumors Take Off With Pistons Touted as Potential Destination

Kyrie Irving (Image credits - Yahoo Sports)

It has been a long wait, but Kyrie Irving is finally back to playing basketball for the Dallas Mavericks. After tearing his ACL in March last year, Irving missed the entire 2025-26 campaign.

With Irving out for the season, the Mavs struggled to make noise in a stacked Western Conference, finishing 12th with a 26-56 record. As a result, they missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year after reaching the NBA Finals in 2024.

Despite the poor season, they saw a lot of promise in their No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg. With the Mavs hitting the reset button and building around their new franchise superstar, there has been plenty of talk about Irving’s future in Dallas ahead of the new season.

Flagg is expected to show significant growth next season. However, the Mavs are still far from playoff contention. As a result, Irving’s future is up in the air, and reports suggest the Detroit Pistons are interested in acquiring him.

ESPN insider Bobby Marks addressed rumors that the Pistons are interested in Irving.

I think Kyrie Irving not just in Dallas, but I think is one of the biggest X factors in the whole NBA this season here. Because he can tilt the balance for a team potentially like Detroit who is contending in the Eastern Conference. Can you imagine a Kyrie Irving and Cade Cunningham pairing there?

Bobby Marks on NBA Today

The Pistons were the top seeds in the Eastern Conference last season. Unfortunately, they were underwhelming in the playoffs and were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.

The Eastern Conference has gotten a lot more competitive during this summer. While the Pistons are expected to make the playoffs, they’ll hope for a deep postseason run, and adding Irving could provide much-needed offensive firepower.

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Kyrie Irving returns to competitive basketball after 20-month injury layoff

The former champion did not play in the Mavs’ first preseason game against the Houston Rockets but made his comeback for their second game on Sunday during their preseason tour in Macau. Kyrie Irving was making his return nearly 600 days after tearing his ACL.

Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving (Image credits – Bleacher Report)

Irving played 22 minutes and showed little rust. He ended his night with 17 points, two rebounds, and three assists as the Mavs recorded a convincing 132-115 victory over the Rockets.

Last offseason, Irving signed a three-year, $119 million contract extension. After missing the first season, the upcoming campaign could be his final year under contract, as he has a player option for 2027-28.

So, a move to the Pistons could make sense for everyone. They have already done a good job in retaining their core players after re-signing Ausar Thompson and finally getting Jalen Duren to re-sign with them as well.

Mavs President gives an honest take on how Kyrie Irving fits on the team

Kyrie Irving is undoubtedly one of the best offensive players in the league when fit and healthy. Heading into his 15th season, Irving can still play a major role in a team with championship aspirations. He may be returning from a long-term injury, but Irving is a player who has never been too reliant on athleticism.

Mavs President Masai Ujiri praised Irving and emphasized his belief in the veteran’s fit and offensive impact heading into the new season.

We truly believe that he can succeed on our team. If we have the right players, we can really grow as a team in a new system with Dusty and the new culture we’re trying to build. And I think basketball-wise, Kyrie causes havoc. He causes spacing. He’s one of those guys who can still do it himself. And I think that will ease up a lot of stuff for a couple of you guys on our team.

Masai Ujiri on The Hoop Collective podcast

While Irving can provide the young Mavs team with some much-needed leadership and veteran experience, it will be interesting to see what his future in Dallas looks like. At 34, Irving will be looking to compete for championships and that is not possible in Dallas at the moment.

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