‘Notable’ Dallas Mavericks change which could potentially point to a Kyrie Irving exit

There have been questions about Kyrie Irving’s future with the Dallas Mavericks, and an NBA insider thinks a recent change might suggest it could happen.

Kyrie Irving’s time with the Dallas Mavericks has already seen the team make a run to the NBA Finals. That was in the Luka Doncic era, though, and injury has kept the veteran superstar out since.

With Cooper Flagg leading the way following a stellar rookie season, the franchise is going in a different direction. But the timeline isn’t the same anymore, with a 15-year age gap between the two stars.

As such, there have been many questions about whether Irving will move on. And NBA insider Marc Stein has pointed to a ‘notable’ Mavericks departure as a factor to consider.

Marc Stein says Kyrie Irving ‘ally’ Phil Handy leaving for Philadelphia is notable in terms of superstar’s future

Last week, ESPN reported that assistant coach Phil Handy is leaving the Mavericks to team up with Nick Nurse on the Philadelphia 76ers.

Irving and Handy have had a professional relationship for decades, starting in 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers when the franchise won their historic championship.

In a recent report, Stein suggested that the Mavericks have been rebuffing trade interest from other teams regarding Kyrie. He pointed to the Handy situation as something of note.

“Rival teams, however, continue to wonder aloud about how firmly Dallas will stick to that stance once the season begins and the next in-season trade deadline,” Stein wrote about the Mavs holding on to Irving.

“A notable factor: Yet another Irving ally is suddenly leaving the franchise. Assistant coach Phil Handy, as first reported Friday by ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, is departing Dallas to reunite with Nick Nurse by joining Nurse’s coaching staff in Philadelphia.

It’s difficult to say what happens with the 9-time All-Star moving forward. Kyrie will want to win wherever he is, so a lot is likely to depend on how the 2026-27 regular season begins for Dallas.

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