ESPN Insider: Mavs Would Have Traded Jalen Brunson for Kyrie Irving

In a recent appearance on the Knicks Film School podcast, ESPN analyst Tim MacMahon speculated about the Dallas Mavericks' potential moves had they managed to extend Jalen Brunson in 2022. According to MacMahon, even if Dallas had secured Brunson's services long-term, the team might still have pursued a trade for Kyrie Irving, potentially sending Brunson to the Brooklyn Nets.

"The funny thing is, if Brunson signs that extension with Dallas, I think there is a high likelihood that he would be with the Brooklyn Nets right now," MacMahon said on the podcast . This revelation comes as a surprise, given that Brunson was widely regarded as a key piece of the Mavericks' future alongside superstar Luka Doncic.

MacMahon's reasoning stems from Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's well-known penchant for pursuing star talent. "Mark Cuban has always been about chasing stars, and Kyrie was going to become available the next season, as he did," MacMahon explained.

The analyst suggested that the Mavericks might have viewed an Irving-for-Brunson swap as an upgrade, despite Brunson's impressive development and chemistry with Doncic. Dallas would've kept Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie and a first-round pick from the Irving trade, keeping together many key pieces from the 2022  Western Conference Finalists.

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While this alternate timeline remains purely speculative, it raises questions about the Mavericks' long-term strategy and their valuation of homegrown talent versus established stars. The actual sequence of events saw Brunson sign with the New York Knicks in free agency, leaving Dallas with a void that they eventually filled by trading for Irving.

MacMahon concluded by acknowledging the unpredictable nature of these "what-if" scenarios but noted that Brunson's departure to New York has ultimately benefited his career, as well as giving the Mavericks the path for Irving, who has become Doncic's best running mate.