Kyrie Irving burst into the scene in Dallas after a blockbuster trade. His arrival marked an all-new era of basketball for the Dallas Mavericks. Although the Mavericks missed the playoffs, they found the star that could compliment their superstar, Luka Doncic brilliantly. However, what would have happened if the Mavericks did not go all-out on the 31-year-old? Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks front office made an unbelievable move to acquire the talents of Kyrie Irving. They traded away most of their reputed role players as well as their future first round picks to the Brooklyn Nets to complete this substantial trade.

Much before this trade however, Cuban and the Mavericks eyed a young 19-year-old to shoulder their franchise’s hopes on. How would things have turned out had they signed this current 2023 FIBA World Cup Team USA phenom?

Mark Cuban reveals his franchise’s target before the Kyrie Irving trade

The Dallas Mavericks had a disastrous welcome to Kyrie Irving’s talent on the roster. Although Irving and Doncic seemed in tandem after a few games, the team slipped from the 6th seed to eventually fall out of playoff contention. However, had the Mavericks pursued Team USA’s superstar off the bench, Tyrese Haliburton in the 2020 NBA Draft, their future may have looked very different.

Tyrese Haliburton came into the 2020 NBA Draft as a highly promising guard. He ended up with the Sacramento Kings as the 12th overall pick in the draft. However, the Mark Cuban stated that the Mavericks planned to go all-out on the Iowa State alum before the Kings could get to him.

“Tyrese Haliburton, we did everything we could to trade up and get him. Did everything we could,” he stated. He also shared a hilarious narrative surrounding Rick Carlisle, the former Mavericks coach to move to the Indiana Pacers in 2021.

“Now obviously, Rick was our coach at the time. Rick goes to Indiana what’s the first deal he does?” he said, mentioning the Pacers’ blockbuster trade to acquire Haliburton from the Kings.

Despite the Mavericks’ efforts to land the emerging star, Haliburton ended up with the Kings in 2020. After his trade to Indiana, he added insult to injury for the Mavericks, earning his first All-Star nod. The Mavericks on the other hand, landed the talents of Uncle Drew which formed a gifted backcourt duo of Doncic and Irving.

READ MORE: “Worst Feeling Ever”: 11 Months Before $260,000,000 News, Pacers Star Tyrese Haliburton Disclosed Career Altering Experience To Millions

However, one cannot help but wonder what would have happened, had the Mavericks succeeded in acquiring Haliburton.

Could Haliburton be the answer to the Mavericks’ woes?

The Dallas Mavericks had an embarrassing season in 2022-23. They missed the playoffs for the first time since their franchise player, Luka Doncic’s draft in 2018. Now, an uncertainty about the future of their franchise looms large. However, how would their fortunes have turned out, had they drafted Tyrese Haliburton in 2020?

Haliburton has lit up the 2023 FIBA World Cup so far with his phenomenal performances off the bench. From wild no-look passes to extraordinary finishes at the rim, the 23-year-old has done it all. His NBA career has also been akin to this, earning an All-Star nod with the Pacers in just his third season. Given his spectacular talent, one can only wonder what he could have done alongside Luka Doncic.

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The Mavericks missed a gem in 2020. They now have a superstar in Kyrie Irving but his stint with the franchise has only disappointed so far. Whether they come to regret not going all-out for Haliburton or not is a narrative only Irving can impact.