It was just some 48 hours ago that Kyrie Irving demanded a trade from the Brooklyn Nets after the franchise and the headache-causing star couldn’t come to terms on a long-term deal.
Now, he’s going to contend not with his old pal and teammate LeBron James, but with Luka Doncic with the Dallas Mavericks, with a trade being reported on Sunday.
The Nets got back a pretty great package in the deal despite the fact that NBA franchises knew Brooklyn would unload him before Thursday’s trade deadline. And the Nets? Well, we’ll see if there’s more shuffling to keep Kevin Durant happy. THE DRAMA!
Let’s hand out some trade grades:
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First, the details
Per Shams Charania:
Mavericks get: Kyrie Irving, Markieff Morris
Nets get: Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2027 second-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick (unprotected) and a 2029 second-round pick
The Mavericks are sending a 2029 unprotected first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 second round-pick to the Nets, sources @TheAthletic @Stadium. Brooklyn also is sending Markieff Morris to Dallas. https://t.co/EtqlQqQuGq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2023
Brooklyn Nets
Well well well!
Another year, another disgruntled star who wants out for this franchise, but look at the return here considering how public this became: Dinwiddie comes back to the franchise in which he broke out. Finney-Smith had become an important floor-spacer and defensive player alongside Luka Doncic and the Mavs. And who knows if that 2029 first-rounder will be a high one given that it’s unprotected.
Plus, they shed a player who had been a problem off the court multiple times. I’d say this is a big win for the Nets.
GRADE: A-
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs, to this point, should have been a better team considering how good Doncic has been. But entering Sunday, they’re the No. 6 seed in the West, among underachievers like the Suns and Warriors.
Does this move get them into a top-three spot? It’s not as certain as you’d think. I do think Doncic and Irving can complement each other and can take a lot of pressure off Luka.
If you’re Mark Cuban, you also hope Irving doesn’t cause a firestorm. But on paper, on the court, this will improve the Mavs, and if Cuban hands Irving an extension, it could mean good things for this franchise down the road.
There’s just a little more uncertainty here, coupled with a bit of lost depth.
GRADE: B
