Adversity continues to haunt the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025-26 season. Right after suffering Anthony Davis’ injury setback, they now face uncertainty around Kyrie Irving‘s return from injury. There were some positive murmurs around the 33-year-old’s recovery, who has been out since March 2025, ever since tearing his ACL. There was some optimism about a mid-February return for Irving, but now it seems like things have slowed down once again.

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, “Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks will be having discussions about postponing his return until next season.”

This report also highlights that, despite staying ahead of schedule, the veteran guard hasn’t yet been cleared to practice, despite his hopes of playing a part in the ongoing season.

Before this update, NBA Hall of Famer Reggie Miller suggested that Irving could return to action in the middle of next month, as it fits the generally required one-year timeline for ACL injuries. There was popular belief among fans that the star guard could play a role in helping the Mavericks and their rookie star, Cooper Flagg, if they reached the postseason. But now, if the ESPN report is to be believed, he may return next season, building up on the durability.

Earlier, head coach Jason Kidd said, “Mentally and physically, you want to be 100%,” when pressed about Irving’s return timeline.

The Mavericks have already been plagued by injuries, as Davis suffered damaged ligaments in his left hand, which completely spoiled their plans to trade him. While they are still planning to carry on with that motive, his injury status only makes things extremely tough.

The team is planning for a future in which Irving will lead the roster alongside Flagg, who has already taken on immense responsibility in his rookie season and will only get better from here. Therefore, they are proceeding with great caution, without any intention of rushing him back to fitness.

Dallas Mavericks face uncertainty in Anthony Davis trade saga

The Mavericks and Davis were both looking at the trade window with significant interest. The veteran was looking to move to a team that would be ready to pay his extension, and he had a feeling the Mavericks might not do so, given his unavailability since joining the team.

However, his ligament injury completely ruined the plan. There’s still no clarity over his recovery, as he could be out for the season if his condition requires surgery. However, he has recently debunked all media reports suggesting that he should be ready before the ongoing campaign ends.

According to recent rumors from NBA Insider Josh Lewenberg, the Toronto Raptors have shown a lot of interest in the big man. They “have held internal conversations about the pros and cons of trading for Davis,” although “their reported interest appears to be driven by Davis’s representation.”

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His agent, Rich Paul, believes moving away from Dallas is best for his client.

However, according to MacMahon, the 10-time All-Star is happy to remain in Dallas this season and eventually secure an extension before the start of next season. The Mavericks appear to have also toned down their urgency to get the 32-year-old traded before the deadline.

Meanwhile, they’ve shown some resilience with a shorthanded roster, sitting 12th in the Western Conference with a respectable 18-26 record. They have won the last three games on the bounce and are within touching distance of a play-in spot this season.

So, if Davis somehow returns by postseason (Irving too, best-case scenario), they could be a more formidable team with Flagg already playing at an extremely high level.