Well that was quick.
Just a couple of days after Kyrie Irving requested a trade, the Nets found a taker in the Mavericks. Brooklyn didn’t get any stars in return but considering Irving’s reputation and a short window to make a deal, the front office is probably happy to excise Irving from the locker room.
Dallas was desperate to find another ball-handler and star talent to pair with Luka Doncic, who has the highest usage rate among all NBA guards.
Irving has played well when he hasn’t stirred controversy this season. That backcourt dynamic will be fascinating to watch.
Coach Jason Kidd and GM Nico Harrison have past relationships with Irving and believe they can keep him happy, which may be a foolish assumption. Irving has been called the worst teammate in any sport by some media members.
If he can work out an extension agreement with the front office, perhaps he’ll be satisfied and motivated for at least the remainder of this season.
The Nets received two rotation players – Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith – in return, as well as some draft capital.
The loss of Finney-Smith could impact the Mavs’ defense and they still have the Christian Wood situation (extend him, trade him or allow him become a free agent after the season?) to deal with before the trade deadline.
As for Brooklyn, it’s quite familiar with Dinwiddie, who figures to absorb a good portion of Irving’s minutes. The Nets now have three players – Finney-Smith, Royce O’Neale and Ben Simmons – who don’t provide significant scoring. They may have to make another move this week to address that issue.
That brings us to today’s topic: What do you think of the Mavs-Nets deal? Does Dallas become a serious championship contender with the addition of Kyrie Irving? Has the Nets’ window closed or will they be better off without Irving and all the drama he creates?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
I proposed a deal of Dinwiddie, Josh Green, and two firsts. I think Dallas got a better deal than that, tbh. But given that Kyrie is who and what he is, I don’t think this moves the needle much for them. The Mavs still have a weak defense, will still be a slow and deliberate team, and while their offense improves without question, their depth is also lesser from this deal. I’d say they’re now in roughly the same spot as last year: contenders, but not by any means a favorite.
Mavs still have 2025 First and 2027 First to trade
Wood and Powell for Draymond
Then 1 First to Wolves for Reid
Starters
Draymond
Josh Green
Reid
Irving
Luka
6th man Hardway
76th man Kleber
One of the many things that has been under/unreported about this deal is Finney-Smith’s subpar season. He is an excellent on ball defender, but his help defense has been noticeably absent, along with inconsistent shooting. Although he will be missed in Dallas, they have wing depth in the emerging Josh Green and Reggie Bullock at the SF position. Playing Dodo at PF was always a poor fit.
The elephant in the room is the lack of defense on this team, as currently constructed. Wood is subpar at the PF (though a respectable rebounder). Luka would be better if he didn’t have to carry the load every possession on offense. Hardaway Jr. has a deadly jump shot when open, but might be the worst defender in the entire National Basketball Association. Irving doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence on the defensive side either.
So where does that leave the Allas Mavs (no D)? Getting Maxi Kleber back will help (which will likely bump Powell to the bench when he’s 100%), as will giving Frank Ntilikina more rotational minutes … but there should be another move or two in the pipeline. Mavs should be calling around and taking note of defensive role players that would be available who will not cost an arm and a leg (Jae Crowder? Serge Ibaka? Taurean Prince? Nerlens Noel?)
Mo Bamba should be your first call imo . Perfect fit.
The Dallas Mavericks are going to give up sooooooooooooooooo many points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big risk to assembling talent if KI walks this summer since the leverage on a sign in trade is tempered by the other team being able to pay the spurs say to take salary.
Kyrie Irving is going to be extremely dangerous on the Dallas Mavericks. He used to playing with another superstar like LeBron James or Kevin Durant. Now he’s with Luka Doncic. I’m not sure if Kyrie Irving will stay with them after the season but how they finish the year and play together in the playoffs is going to be major in his decision making process. I’m happy for Jason Kidd. He can coach two Superstars. Mark Cuban got aggressive and this can possibly be the best move he made in a long time.
I definitely can see Kevin Durant getting traded by the trade deadline or for sure in the offseason. The Brooklyn Nets could’ve competed for a championship with Kyrie Irving. Now I don’t see them getting out of the first round.
KI is 6’2″ DFS is 6’7″ SD is 6’5″
Both are better defenders than KI who is prone to the Lukaitis where he argues with refs instead of getting back in transition. They just traded there best defender and one of the highest min for a small guard.
In the playoffs they are going to have a problem stopping teams in the half court…
The Nets had no window whatsoever, but they are indeed better off without Irving. Durant will surely follow suit, the only question is when. The Irving-Doncic fit is awkward, and Dallas’ problems were never on the offensive end (they are 24th in defensive rating and will only get worse with this trade). They should have gone all out for Anunoby or a defense-first big.
As for the Nets, I think this is a downgrade on the court, but as long as they have KD, they have a chance. He’s just that good. And Claxton’s breakout has lifted them somewhat more than expected. I think this is their last chance. They’ll have to retool next year, especially since I doubt KD will re-sign.
KD is under contract for 3 more years pal:
link to basketball-reference.com
Gotcha. Guess his repeated trade demands made me think it was his last year.
That’s quite the mellow response considering this guy called you pal then hit you with a link. Is it me or does everyone with a TradeRumors badge come across as a know it all?
It’s so fascinating to me that a player can demand a trade and then also receive a trade bonus for the trade that they demanded. NBA Players Union must have some really good blackmail photos because there is no way
There is a reason that owners want to collectively bargain in trade demands in the next CBA…
Fascinating or is someone a wee bit jealous/envious/hateful? I lean the latter.
Being a Celtics’ fan, I don’t envy any team that has to put up with Irving. Not sure how he and Luca will work together.
I think there’s a risk to both teams, but I think the nets put themselves in good position to play out the season. I think if they could find a way to trade Ben Simmons to San Antonio for Poetl and Richardson, Cam and picks to Toronto for FVV they would put themselves in prime position to take the east
As a nuggets fan, this was the best possible place of any of the west contenders that Kyrie could end up at, I hate facing Luka with a second insanely dangerous shooter on the floor, but it’s better than facing him alongside PG and Kawhi or LeBron and AD
Does Simmons have positive trade value at this point? That’s a serious question. The nets can’t count on anything out of him in the playoffs. I am interested to see if they use him and some of these picks to upgrade
I would think that a couple of franchises might see that they could do something with him, honestly it’s the only chance I see if him having a real career
Good for the Nets. Finally done with the drama. Even if the got worse lol.
Mavericks got a tiny bit better, Nets got a more than a tiny bit worse. Both teams have a ceiling of the second round.
Fun to read about but the only thing that really happened is Nets aren’t contenders any longer.
Nets only got worse if you ignore the fact that Irving was toxic and wasn’t going to genuinely play for them again anyway. They technically didn’t give up anything at all.
As a Celtic fan the Nets scared.me before.
They don’t now.
100% agree with this, Nets are no longer championship contenders, Kyrie was by far the most talented player dealt.
As a 76ers fan I agree…not often both of our teams can agree on something
Agreed. Both teams arent gonna go veery far in the playoffs. Trade makes no sense really for this year at least.
As a Rockets fan, I’m loving this lol. Those picks looking better and better
Not by much unless KD goes before Thurs…………….
As long as KD is there the Picks wont be all that great
Doncic and Kyrie are 2 big egos… I expect some fireworks
Clyde and Willis would have left Kyrie in the toilet with the rest of the turds.
Love the deal for Brk
Always applaud risk and Dallas needed to do something but I would have gone a different direction with thier limited resources
It will never work long term. Both are ball dominant. Where Luka will pass to make a play. Kyrie will pass when he doesn’t have shot.
Bron is greatest team player to ever play. And yet he is about to become the greatest scorer. That only explains his greatness. He can adapt to Kyrie. KD can adapt to a team. As he has shown in GS. He is not ball dominant. Kyrie is all about his. A great talent. But wants to be the hero and get his stats. I don’t see him staying in Dallas. Personally I would never want Kyrie on my team. He’s fools gold
Not that the Knicks are doing great or anything, but boy am I glad Isiah Thomas isn’t running the team anymore because he definitely would have shipped like four 1sts and Quickley for Kyrie, only to not re-sign him.
Good for Kyrie, bad for Dinwiddie, Finney-Smith and Durant and the rest of the Nets. Don’t know whether it’s Marks or Tsai but everyone seems to want out of Brooklyn. Jordan, Milsap, Harden, Durant and Irving have all asked for trades and while Griffin played his contract out in interviews seems like he’s happy he’s out of there as well.
It’s hard to evaluate a trade of contracts (which is what an NBA trade really is) when one of the contracting parties routinely ignores his contractual obligations.
Without considering that, DAL made a very good deal, and BKN a confusing one. I mean what playoff team would trade a superstar (on an expiring deal) for two quality fully priced role players (signed through next year), and a very remote 1st.
When it’s considered, though, it reverses. BKN made a very good deal, and DAL a confusing one. DAL got the superstar for the balance of the year, and some Bird rights thereafter, but again that’s just what the contract says. Even if they get all that the contract entitles them, this deal, if KI leaves, doesn’t leave them with enough cap space to replace the players they traded. Further deals, or in the off season, might change that though.
Mark from Cuba showing again he has more money than sense and that luck had everything to do with how he got here…
Agree 100% and well articulated in a tricky situation
Not surprised Brk took this today as I didn’t see any better deal than this forthcoming /// kudos for not getting too greedy
Cause for a nice steak dinner tonight as well for Tsai as the saga is over
volunteering for the clot shot is not anyone’s “contractual obligation” nor should it be ANYONE’s obligation. good grief.
#FreeLuka
Poor Luka… Saddled with a cheap owner who makes dumb decision after dumb decision…
Luka deserves better…
Cuban a cheap owner? LMFAO. please… stop talking about “dumb” when you’re making comments like this.
Luka was top 5 in steals, he plays passing lanes really well and will “D up” on some of the better scores in game, Beal booker Tatum etc. Luka will get lazy if a non star like a jordan Clarkson for example, Luka will let him blow right by him and not really play D. Wood before the injury in his last 8 or 9 games was getting an avg of 2.5 blocks
His matador defense in the playoffs last year made Carmelo defensive effort look like Tony Allen
Dallas had 3 bad deals on their roster now just 2 left and they’ll probably use those and picks to make another move. Bertans at the TD and Maxi on draft day.
Had 3 and now have 3…
Irving is not a good deal… He’ll play 1 full season over 5 years.
Nets did what they had to do but could have done better with the Lakers deal. They’re not competing with that roster might as well blow it up shed some bad salary and retool in the off season. Dallas is certainly better but still need another shooter or two preferably wings.(like everyone else). This deal isnt a huge win for either side IMO.
Tsai said no to LA because that’s where Kyrie wanted to go…
They still fleeced the Mavs…
They hardly fleeced the Mavs and let their ego get in the way of a better deal. Probably vould have gotten a better deal from Phoenix or LAL. Overall Move really doesnt do much for either side.
Here’s a fact for all the geniuses….
Wow how did Knicks miss out on this …..
“Seventy-four games.”
It doesn’t seem real. It doesn’t seem possible. All the clamor, all the noise, all the drama, all the New-York-is-OUR-town-now rhetoric … and the Nets wound up with 74 games worth of the Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving partnership. Seventy-four games.
NY Post ……
I’m guessing after the rascist video fiasco, the fans in BKN were not going to go see this team play if it included KI. He can’t pay his way out of that mess. Better to work out a deal with FO to make it look like a trade request, “that ole nutty Kyrie again”. and then quickly move him along. Business is business. Everyone saves face, as much as possible, and now the rest of the teams have a short window to make the moves necessary to play out the rest of the season.