BREAKING NEWS: The Dallas Mavericks are officially entering the 2025–26 NBA season with a major hole to fill, as All-Star guard Kyrie Irving continues to..

The Dallas Mavericks are officially entering the 2025–26 NBA season with a major hole to fill, as All-Star guard Kyrie Irving continues to recover from the devastating ACL tear he suffered in March. The injury, which sidelined him late in the regular season and throughout the playoffs, has left the organization scrambling to identify a new primary playmaker to support Luka Dončić and keep the team’s championship hopes alive.*

Team sources confirm that while Irving remains committed to returning stronger than ever, his timeline for recovery is “highly cautious,” with expectations that he may not return to the court until after the All-Star break — if at all this season. The Mavericks medical staff is reportedly taking an ultra-conservative approach due to Irving’s age, injury history, and the long-term implications of rushing a return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

With that in mind, General Manager Nico Harrison and head coach Jason Kidd have begun an aggressive search for a new playmaking guard — someone capable of managing the offense, relieving pressure from Dončić, and serving as a reliable closer in late-game situations.

“We’re not replacing Kyrie the person or the talent,” Kidd said during a media availability this week. “But we have to find someone who can step in and keep this offense humming, someone who can make plays and take care of the basketball in crunch time.”

While internal development is an option — with players like Jaden Hardy and Josh Green potentially stepping into larger roles — team insiders suggest that the Mavericks are seriously exploring the trade market and veteran free agents for a short-term solution. Names like **Malcolm Brogdon**, **Tyus Jones**, and even a possible reunion with **Spencer Dinwiddie** have reportedly come up in early discussions.

League executives say Dallas is prioritizing players with high basketball IQ, low turnover rates, and strong leadership traits. “They’re not looking for flash,” said one anonymous GM. “They’re looking for someone steady, someone who can command the offense while Luka does what Luka does.”

Kyrie’s injury is not only a blow to the Mavericks’ on-court rhythm but also to the team’s locker room leadership. Irving, despite his controversial history, had reportedly become a vocal presence in Dallas and developed strong chemistry with Dončić during the 2024–25 campaign, helping lead the team to one of the top seeds in the Western Conference before going down.

His absence was felt immediately in the postseason, where the Mavericks were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals amid offensive stagnation and late-game execution issues — areas where Irving’s poise and creativity are typically invaluable.

Irving, for his part, has been seen at the practice facility working through light rehab exercises and mentoring younger players. He addressed fans in a recent social media video, stating: “This is just another challenge in the journey. I’m staying patient, staying grounded, and doing everything I can to come back better than ever. But I won’t rush it. When I return, I want to be the best version of myself — for my teammates, for this city, and for the game.”

While Mavericks leadership has not ruled out Irving’s return late in the season, they remain focused on building a rotation that can win games — and contend — without him for the foreseeable future.

As the free agency period approaches, fans can expect the Mavericks to be active, aggressive, and strategic in addressing what could be the single most important position on the roster heading into a season full of uncertainty — and opportunity.

The 2025–26 Dallas Mavericks season will be defined by how they respond to adversity. And finding the right playmaker could be the difference between surviving without Kyrie — and truly thriving.