LISTEN: Why Kyrie Irving Trade Makes More Sense for Mavs Than Lakers

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is a legitimate trade target for the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the Feb. 9 NBA trade deadline. On this episode of the Mavs Step Back Podcast, we breakdown why Dallas makes more sense for Irving's next team over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Following a crazy day of NBA trade reports linking the Dallas Mavericks to Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, we got together on our Mavs Step Back Podcast to break down all the separate reports as well as Irving's potential fit next to MVP candidate Luka Doncic.

Although the LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers also have significant interest in Irving, the Mavs have more enticing deals to offer if the Nets – assuming Kevin Durant sticks around and Brooklyn prioritizes staying competitive now vs. acquiring a couple of first-round picks from the Lakers that will convey four and six years from now.

On this "emergency" episode, my DallasBasketball.com colleague Grant Afseth joined me to talk about why an Irving trade to the Mavs makes more sense than him going to the Lakers. From there, several potential Mavs trade packages are discussed, as well as other moves that could be made in addition to Irving if Dallas plays its cards right.

Taking a flyer on Irving has its risks, but so does standing pat at the trade deadline when Doncic is having an all-time season and yearning for a true title-contending roster. Sure, a trade for Irving might not work out for Dallas, but if it does ... the Mavs could legitimately come out of the West this year with how shaky the rest of the conference has been.

When GM Nico Harrison and coach Jason Kidd were hired, there was a lot of noise about how their relationships with star players could make a difference for Dallas down the road. Nearly two years into their Mavs tenures, we need to start seeing some of those relationship narratives play out for a team that needs an influx of high-level talent.

In 40 games for Brooklyn, Irving is averaging 27.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.3 assist per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from deep. Over his last eight games, he's averaging 33.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game on 50.8 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from deep.

You can listen to the entire Mavs-Kyrie trade episode here:

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