Mavericks predicted to swap ex-Duke freshman phenom for $120 million Heat All-Star guard

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Rumors suggesting the Dallas Mavericks might be heading in a different direction following their decision to hire Masai Ujiri as their new president aren’t preposterous, considering they’ve already cut ties with veteran head coach Jason Kidd.

Could a blockbuster offseason trade involving an ex-Duke freshman phenom and Miami Heat All-Star guard be the next order of business for the Mavericks? Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley’s new trade proposal indicates it certainly could be.

“The Mavericks must find legitimate long-term building blocks to slot alongside Cooper Flagg,” Buckley wrote Saturday. “Gaining a second lottery pick in a loaded draft, a 26-year-old sharpshooter with a string of 20/5/4 stat lines and an All-Star selection on the resume (Tyler Herro) and a 25-year-old who was wildly more productive in his second season than his first (Pelle Larsson) feels like an obvious way to fast-track the process.”

“Herro is a little polarizing, but the biggest knock against him (other than dismal defense) is the fact that he can't be the best player on a contender. Dallas wouldn't ask him to do that. He'd just be tasked with co-star scoring, secondary creating, and elite shotmaking, which are already part of his bag.”

“He could be the same 20/5/4 type producer in that role and probably push for a 50/40/90 shooting slash while doing it. Ament is also presently polarizing, but his future looks fascinating. His game and frame both need work, but he's already a 6-foot-10" swingman who can handle, shoot, and pass. Stardom is not at all off the table.”

Buckley’s full trade idea would send Irving, the No. 30 overall pick, and No. 48 overall pick in this year’s draft to the Heat for Herro, Larsson, and the 2026 No. 13 overall pick. If the Mavericks are open to surrounding Flagg with younger talent who have more promising futures in the big leagues, there’s no question Herro would fit well with the 19-year-old former No. 1 overall pick’s timeline.

While considered a veteran like Irving, Herro’s long-term outlook offers far more promise than Irving's, as he’s currently in the prime of his career and has yet to reach his full potential despite exhibiting flashes of brilliance.

Herro, a score-first wing who gets to his spots with ease, averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, shooting 48.0% from the field and 37.8% from three on a Heat squad that narrowly missed the postseason.

At the end of the day, Dallas’ offseason should revolve around Flagg and the best fits alongside the evolving Rookie of the Year.

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