Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[mvossman]

I don’t see much ‘never-trade-Kyrie’ sentiment here.  I may be wrong, but the critique of the Kyrie ideas that have been thrown around seems more about the timing not being right (wait for a better return near the TDL).  But, more often, the criticism has been about the compensation not being enough.  I don’t want to argue pick equity.  Some teams can add picks to the frameworks mentioned…for instance, Detroit.  They have all sorts of pick equity.  But at some level the actual players matter more as many of the picks coming from Kyrie destinations are likely to be late firsts.

I do see that sentiment.  I think there are a lot of folks that would not make a Kyrie trade in the offseason unless the Mavs are blown away.  Then at the TDL if the Mavs are hovering around 500 and threatening a play-in spot many of those same folks would be mortified at trading Kyrie for assets ("we could make the playoffs!").  It's not an overt never-trade-Kyrie, but effectively it plays out that way.  Its hard to trade away a fan favorite.