Anthony Edwards Is Heavily Advocating for Kyrie Irving Trade Amid Growing Competition, per NBA Insider

After an upsetting second-round exit in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, Anthony Edwards wants more help. In the second round of the playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs 4-2.

Despite Edwards' efforts to upset the Spurs, averaging 23.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in the Western Conference semifinals, the lack of star power proved detrimental.

While Julius Randle has technically filled the role as the Wolves' second option, he doesn't necessarily blend well with Edwards.

According to NBA insider Scoop B, Edwards is “advocating heavily behind the scenes” for the Timberwolves to trade for Kyrie Irving. Other sources mentioned that Edwards and Irving have mutual respect. Ant believes that Kai could be the guy to help elevate his game.

There have been rumors regarding Randle's future with the team. Given how Edwards has expressed interest in acquiring Irving this offseason, there's a chance that Randle could be utilized as part of a trade package. However, the Timberwolves have yet to decide who their target will be.

Other rumors suggest that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant could likely be trade targets this offseason. Given how the Milwaukee Bucks are slowly revamping the team, trading Antetokounmpo this summer might not be far-fetched.

Acquiring KD wouldn't be a bad idea either, given Edwards' history with him, having played for Team USA in the 2024 Olympics.

Will the Mavericks Be Willing to Trade Kyrie Irving to Pair With Anthony Edwards?

With only four teams remaining in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the vast majority of the league has already shifted into offseason mode, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks. While Minnesota processes its results, Dallas has made a significant move by welcoming Masai Ujiri as its new President of Basketball Operations.

This appointment ends a six-month search for leadership, signaling that the organization is ready to move forward. Ujiri has already begun reshaping the franchise, starting with the decisive firing of former head coach Jason Kidd. These early actions suggest a comprehensive reconstruction is underway in Dallas.

While recent reports suggest the Mavericks have no intention of trading Kyrie Irving, it's worth noting that was before Ujiri came into the picture.

After five seasons of coaching for the Mavericks, it's safe to argue that Kidd did an impeccable job. In 2024, the former head coach led his team to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011. Despite coming up short against the Boston Celtics, it was still an impressive feat for Kidd.

Having that in mind, there's a chance that Ujiri could decide to trade Irving despite the value he has brought to the team in his last three seasons. Especially now that the Mavericks organization has made it clear they fully intend to build a team around Cooper Flagg.

If Irving does end up getting traded to the Timberwolves, he might be the missing piece to the puzzle. Irving is a versatile guard who can both score and create plays for his teammates. This is a perfect tandem for Edwards.

There's no denying that Edwards is a scoring machine. However, he can only do so much on the hardwood alone. Having Irving constantly setting him up while backing him up on offense could prove to be a deadly combo.