With the Wizards set to face the Mavericks on Friday night for the first time since the trade deadline, Tim Cato and Josh Robbins of The Athletic reassessed the deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis and a protected 2022 second-round pick to Washington in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.
Cato and Robbins agree that it was a win-win trade for the two teams. Porzingis’ time in Dallas had clearly run its course, but he has been productive with Washington, averaging 21.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 1.6 BPG on .472/.305/.866 shooting in 13 games. He has been a willing passer and aggressive in the post, averaging 7.5 free throw attempts.
In addition to his production, Robbins writes that the Wizards are happy with Porzingis’ approach and toughness — the 7’3″ big man played through a couple of ankle sprains in recent games.
Dinwiddie, meanwhile, has thrived in a complementary role in Dallas, where his role is more clearly defined. Through 18 games with his new club, he is averaging 17.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 4.2 APG on .498/.386/.720 shooting.
Dinwiddie has been able to spot-up for threes and drive-and-kick as a secondary or tertiary ball-handler next to Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson. Bertans is still struggling to convert shots, but the team is holding out hope that might change over time.
Here’s more on the Wizards:
- Porzingis doesn’t expect the game against the Mavs to be as wild as when he played the Knicks for the first time after being dealt to Dallas, writes Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. “I think it’s going to be a good game. It’s not going to be like my first game with Dallas in New York. That one was just crazy. This one is going to be a bit more just me competing against my old team. We’ll see,” he said.
- Tomas Satoransky had a uniquely historic night on Wednesday, as Hughes relays in a separate story. Satoransky had a double-double without scoring a point, becoming just the third player in league history to accomplish the feat. The unselfish guard finished with 10 rebounds and 13 assists against just two turnovers, while shooting 0-of-2 from the field in the team’s 127-110 win over Orlando. “I don’t know if it’s good or bad, you know? I don’t know,” Satoransky joked. “I just let the game come to be a little bit. I was trying to be aggressive, but every time I would drive or was aggressive to the basket, it opened up space for my teammates. So, I tried to push the tempo from the beginning and I got some rebounds.” The 30-year-old veteran will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
- The Wizards lack a “special someone” to set the team on the path to becoming a consistently winning franchise, according to David Aldridge of The Athletic. Washington definitely has some talented players, but no clear leader or catalyst.
As someone who always wonders about the romantic angle I was very disappointed that “special someone” referred to basketball ability.
Probably not as disappointed as Bradley Beal, though.
Writer Aldridge seemed to have the Jimmy Butler- Udonis Haslem sideline argument in mind whan he wrote that piece.
He was wishful about WAS having a demanding voice like either of those two, who hold teammates accountable… Alphas that might butt heads if firing up the same huddle.
Or for having a home team that stands for something like Miami.
Now is a good time to say these things, with Beal out, providing an excuse to not include him in case he complained. But Beal would likely be excluded anyway, being too cool for that kind of “heat”.
Dinwiddie was mentioned as trying to be that guy, but it did not work out. Here is where I wanted to hear Beal mentioned, as an obstacle!
I was way off on this deal for Dallas. Thought it was total nonsense, yet Dinwiddie has been so good they might be a dark horse to make the WCF now.
Porzingis has put up impressive stats in the minutes he’s played as well. I’d like to see how that goes once Beal is back though; he seems to regress when he’s not the #1 option.
*If* he can keep this pace though, a Beal+Porzingis duo could be a lower seed playoff team in the East next season.
Another win win deal, at first I though Washington completely won this deal and on second thought I actually started to believe Dinwiddie could be a good fit and KP does have major injury issues.
And now looking back it’s seems to still be pretty even for both sides.
From Dallas side, if they can make it out the first round for a change then it’s an improvement. From Washington’s perspective just getting Bertans off the books was a win and KP has potential. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Beal if he stays or leaves.
I’ve said it over and over but I think Washington flips Beal in a sign and trade for Jaylen Brown. Leaving them with Brown and KP and building around those two with Kyle Kuzma and there young players.
The Dallas situation was good for Dinwiddie’s skills though I thought the same about Washington, where a starting job was open. In both there was disconnect on-court which needed some bonding at speed— by a player not so much a coach (though both teams hired new coaches too).
Beal indicated he may be looking forward to a taller team, so it worked out.
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I do not see why Boston would trade Brown for Beal, especially now that Boston is flying and Udoka brought Brown more into what they’re doing.
Ainge would want a lot more and Sheppard would get offended. No way it happens.
Yeah I predicted it way before the Derrick White deal and then turning their season around. Beal and Tatum are really good friends and it just made sense at the time.
But since they have turned the season around I don’t think it’ll probably happen.
Could still see Beale opting out and a possible sign and trade tho
Brown is not being traded!
Bradley, Kristaps, and Kuzma should be enough for the Wizards to be competitive in the East. They all can be relied upon to have the offense run through them and be able to be able to carry the Wizards offense. The Wizards are missing a strong supporting cast that will play complimentary basketball while defending at a high rate. If and when the Washington Wizards commit to playing defense then they are a tough out.
KP is putting up nice numbers. But here are the Real #s …. (6 – 13) the Wizards record since the trade. KP is not a star. He’s not worth his contract.
Are we looking at Dinwiddie and his affect on Mavs ……. Geeeeezzz I remember a poster wanting the Knicks to sign him to play PG. If only ????
Trade Randle to Dallas his Home town. Dinwiddie and what ever ……
You need to change Kuzma for Rui or even Denni, then we are talking… although just a low seed, probably a play in, Beal’s ceiling ain’t that high, although KP6 really does lift the team to new heights!