The New York Knicks have traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal, according to the New York Times’ Marc Stein, will send Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews to New York, and Porzingis, Courtney Lee, Tim Hardaway Jr., and two future first-round picks to the Mavericks.
Kristaps Porzingis traded to Mavericks to form 1-2 punch with Luka Doncic
Shortly after it was reported that Porzingis wanted out of New York, the Knicks dealt him to the Mavericks.
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New York has announced the deal in a press release, with general manager Scott Perry confirming that Porzingis made a “request to be traded,” which Wojnarowski reported earlier on Thursday.
Porzingis’ dismay with the Knicks isn’t new. It was just two season ago when former President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson tried to trade him.
But wow, this trade came up quick, shocking the league.
Why this trade makes sense for the Mavericks
The Mavericks are taking a gamble that Porzingis, who is nursing a torn ACL he suffered last season, will recover to full form. That isn’t a sure bet for a 7’3 mobile big, but if it pays out, it could be tremendous.
The Mavericks dealt Dennis Smith Jr., a fine talent who probably wasn’t a long-term fit next to Luka Doncic, and Jordan and Matthews, whose contracts are expiring anyway, to take on a unicorn All-Star. Pairing a 19-year-old Doncic with a 23-year-old Porzingis could be the 1-2 punch of the future. It’s conceivable that Dallas’ window to building a title contender is in sight.
There are more doubts besides health, though. According to Yahoo’s Shams Charania, Porzingis intends to sign the qualifying offer in the offseason, making himself a free agent in 2020. Will all this be for a year’s rental of Porzingis?
Still, it’s a risk with tremendous upside.
Why this makes sense for the Knicks
This trade only works out if the Knicks land a major free agent this summer, whether it be Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant or another unknown.
The Knicks freed themselves of big contracts in a salary-dump effort by shedding Hardaway Jr. and Lee’s deals. They’ll now have not one, but two max money slots to work with.
If the Knicks swing and miss again, their return will look minimal. Jordan and Matthews’ contracts expire at the end of the year, meaning Smith is the lone talent guaranteed past this season. And his upside is a shade of what Porzingis’ is, albeit he’s a promising talent.
Both the Knicks and Mavs are going for home run hits with this move.
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