Will Kyrie Irving Get Traded? Latest NBA Rumors on Mavs Plans amid Anthony Davis Buzz

Despite their struggles so far this season, the Dallas Mavericks reportedly aren't looking to trade veteran guard Kyrie Irving.

Speaking Wednesday at the 22:30 mark of Howdy Partners (h/t HoopsHype), ESPN's Tim MacMahon discussed where Irving and the Mavs stand, saying, "What I would tell you about Kyrie is the Mavericks do not want to trade him."

During the same podcast (h/t Malik Brown of ClutchPoints), MacMahon conversely called the idea of the Mavs trading Anthony Davis "a real possibility," adding that it may even be a "likelihood."

Irving, 33, has yet to play this season after tearing his ACL back in March. Despite the injury, the Mavs re-signed him on a three-year, $118.47 million contract during the offseason.

Without Kyrie in the lineup, the Mavericks have struggled mightily this season, as their 5-14 record is tied for the second worst in the Western Conference.

When healthy, Irving has long been among the best guards in the league, earning nine All-Star nods, three All-NBA selections and one NBA championship over the course of his 14-year career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and Mavs.

He owns averages of 23.7 points, 5.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 three-pointers made and 1.3 steals per game for his career, and last season Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.9 three-pointers made and 1.3 steals per contest.

With Irving having yet to play and Davis missing all but five games this season due to a calf injury, the Mavs have had to lean on rookie No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.

Pelicans-Mavericks Full Highlights

01:29

While Flagg has played well and put himself firmly in the Rookie of the Year conversation with 15.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 three-pointer made per game, he hasn't gotten consistent help from his teammates.

It stands to reason that the Mavs would be a far more dangerous team with Irving, Davis and Flagg all playing together, but MacMahon's comments suggest AD may not be long for the team.

Davis was part of the infamous trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers last season. While one might assume the Mavericks would want to keep the centerpiece of that deal, the person who orchestrated the trade, general manager Nico Harrison, was fired earlier this month.

Despite being a 32-year-old, oft-injured big man, Davis would likely yield a significant return for the Mavs.

That could be the case for Irving as well, but since the Mavericks' frontcourt depth highlighted by P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II trumps that of their backcourt depth, it is understandable why the organization may see more value in keeping Kyrie.