Mavericks Linked to Multiple All-Star Free Agents After Kyrie Irving Extension originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025-26 NBA season is just a few days from officially tipping off (on June 30), but already the Dallas Mavericks have hit the ground running.
Dallas will most likely select hyper-athletic Duke phenom Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick. The 6-foot-8 forward is projected to be the kind of transformative franchise star the Mavericks have needed… ever since they traded their last transformative franchise star, Luka Doncic, to the Los Angeles Lakers in February — not even a year removed from bringing Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals.
After locking up injured nine-time All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to a reported three-year, $119 million contract extension, the Mavericks’ next targets in free agency have been revealed.
Shams Charania of ESPN reports that it is anticipated Dallas will look for a short-term Irving replacement at lead guard, while the 2016 champ recovers from an ACL tear suffered late in 2024-25.
Specifically, former All-Star point guards Chris Paul and D’Angelo Russell will be pursued, along with guard Dennis Schroder and former Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon.
ESPN story on Dallas Mavericks All-Star Kyrie Irving intending to sign a three-year, $119 million contract to stay with the franchise: https://t.co/hXXubJ6tVz
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2025
The Irving agreement will open up a $5.7 million taxpayer’s mid-level deal for Dallas, which is the mechanism Charania suggests Dallas is looking to use for this new guard.
Paul, a 12-time All-Star, will be in his 21st NBA season as he seeks his next pro home. He is a terrific passer and shooter in his prime, but as a 40-year-old pint-sized point guard, he has fallen off defensively and is a constant injury concern.
The oft-hurt Brogdon’s body, meanwhile, just no longer seems capable of surviving a full season intact.
Russell, a shoot-first guard, is a great regular season substitute for Irving, but has struggled to succeed in playoff situations.
Schroder would give the club its best defensive upside, and thanks to that attribute could probably fit alongside Irving better than the other reported options.
Related: Kyrie Irving Makes Decision on Mavericks Future: Report
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.