Pistons Could Make a Run at Kyrie Irving in Blockbuster Trade, Reports ESPN

The Detroit Pistons may not be done upgrading. According to ESPN's Vincent Goodwill, the franchise could target Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving in a trade, with several members of Detroit's staff said to be admirers of his shot creation and ability to play off other ball-dominant stars — a trait he demonstrated during productive spells alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

The timing would be bold. Irving, 34, missed the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his ACL in March 2025, and he recently acknowledged a setback during his rehabilitation. He is under contract for roughly $39.5 million next season and holds a $42.4 million player option for 2027-28, which means Dallas could look to move him before the deadline if the Mavericks — who finished just 26-56 last season — fail to show meaningful improvement.

For Detroit, the appeal is obvious. The Pistons won 60 games last season to claim the East's No. 1 seed but fell in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, and they are still hunting a reliable second scorer to pair with 25-year-old star Cade Cunningham. Detroit already struck out this summer in pursuits of Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Austin Reaves, and now holds long-term commitments to core pieces like Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson. A healthy Irving next to Cunningham and Duren would give the Pistons a legitimate big three — but any deal remains far from done, and Irving's health will be the deciding factor.