More than often, the NBA gives us glimpses of partnerships that live in our heads rent-free. It also highlights how far two individuals can go with a good professional and personal bond. The duo of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen dominated the 90s, while Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol won the hearts of fans with their ‘brother-like’ bond. Dallas Mavericks fans also boasted of possessing such a partnership in the form of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. That is, until a few days ago when the Slovenian was shockingly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. This move left the Mavericks as a whole, without an offensive talisman, and Kyrie Irving without his ‘hermano’.

The 32-year-old point guard finally spoke about Luka Doncic’s trade after the 118-116 loss against the 76ers. Without thinking for too long, Irving stated, “Just really shocked. Just don’t imagine that you’re gonna get ready to go to sleep and then find out news like that. It’s still a grieving process right now. Miss my ‘hermano’. You know, we had a lot of time together. Keith too. And Maxie.”

“We just built something. Bonds that went beyond the basketball court. So, if anybody can understand at home, when someone or a few group of people, or a few people leave in a trade, it’s going to be difficult, and that’s what we’re dealing with right now”.

However, Irving also acknowledged that, at the end of the day, it is a business. No matter how emotional he would get over losing a valuable pal, the player admitted that the decision “is above my pay grade”.

Even an athlete playing under a $120 million contract believes he is not paid enough to go into the intricacies, the decisions that ultimately led to the most shocking NBA trade deal of the decade!

From an outside perspective, Luka Doncic seemed as safe from a trade deal as a player could be… He did not have a no-trade clause, but what he did have was experience. The Slovenian had spent the last 6 years establishing himself as the face of the Mavericks. With Kyrie Irving’s arrival, the team reached new heights and even made it to the NBA Finals last season.

Now, GM Nico Harrison and the Dallas side’s front office have put the team in a precarious position.

Though they secured Anthony Davis in the trade, he is ‘OUT’ as he recovers from an abdominal muscle strain. The recent game also saw Daniel Gafford sustaining a shoulder injury. If the same turns out to be serious, then the Mavs will be playing their upcoming games without 3 starters, and without the first 4 centers in the reserve. Add all this to the fact that they currently hold a 26-25 record.

Amidst all these struggles in the locker room, Kyrie Irving believes that things need to be figured out. “Yeah, we’re putting the pieces together,” said the power forward when addressing the state of the locker room post-Luka’s trade.

“And, you know, the tone is improving. Just because everybody had questions, a little confusion. We’re just talking to each other, making sure we’re all good, and putting the game first and in the capacity where we can prepare,” Kai concluded.

Playing without a ‘hermano’ would also cause Kyrie Irving to figure out some things. However, he may not have to. After all, if the rumors are true, then the Mavs’ next big move could see them reuniting the Anta Brand player with a former teammate!

Will a last-minute trade deal reunite Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant?

The Athletic reporter Sam Amick recently touched base on the aftermath of Luka Doncic’s trade. According to him, the Mavericks GM is set to target big-name players. Amick wrote: the Mavs “have dreams of adding Durant to their Davis-Kyrie Irving-led group. While the likelihood of Dallas pulling this off now appears unlikely, the mere idea of Durant joining Dallas’ star-studded group sheds new light on the thinking of Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison after he was roundly ridiculed for the Doncic deal.”

Amidst all the talk of Jimmy Butler potentially heading to the Phoenix Suns, not many presumed that Kevin Durant would also be in trade talks. However, if the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade told us anything, no player is safe!

With both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving having spent the same tenure with the Brooklyn Nets (2019-23), a reunion would help Kai get another reliable partner. At the same time, it would improve the Mavs’ offense left affected by Luka’s exit.

Even Shaquille O’Neal touched upon this potential trade during the NBA on TNT pregame show on Tuesday. He said, “With the move that they don’t have to pay (Luka) a supermax, I’m sure they’ve got a lot of money floating around. So if they’re putting it out there, it can happen.” Would you like to see KD and Kyrie Irving reunited? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.