The Dallas Mavericks are taking sharply different approaches to their two veteran guards, continuing to reject trade offers for Kyrie Irving while remaining open to moving Klay Thompson, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, as teams around the league search for alternatives following LeBron James's decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Stein reported that Dallas has continued to rebuff trade feelers for Irving, who missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering from a torn ACL. The expectation remains that he will begin next season in Dallas alongside Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, finally launching his comeback more than a year after his knee surgery. First-year head coach Dusty May reinforced that commitment at his introductory press conference, explaining that as a first-time NBA coach, he plans to lean heavily on Irving's championship experience across multiple areas of the team.

Thompson's situation looks considerably different, with one season and $17.5 million remaining on his contract. The 36-year-old averaged a career-low 11.7 points across 69 games last season, and with Dallas focused on developing its younger core, he appears unlikely to see significant playing time regardless of whether he stays. The Mavericks reportedly prefer to trade him and recoup some value rather than risk losing him for nothing, a stance that lines up with previously reported interest from the Miami Heat, who had been hoping to add Thompson via a buyout as they pivot away from their failed LeBron pursuit.

Should Irving eventually express reluctance about entering a rebuilding phase at this stage of his career, Stein suggested Dallas may need to reconsider its stance and open itself to trading him as well, leaving both veterans' long-term futures in Dallas somewhat intertwined with how the coming season unfolds.