Shocking everyone, the Knicks traded superstar Latvian center Kristaps Porzingis to the Mavericks on Thursday for Not Tim Hardaway Jr. and Not Courtney Lee, Dennis Smith, and some draft picks. Porzingis, still recovering from a torn ACL, had apparently told the Knicks he wasn’t happy and would like to be traded ahead of his restricted free agency this summer.
Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis for a tank and a dream
We have that and more in Friday’s NBA newsletter.
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
The Knicks quickly obliged, choosing to set themselves up to win a top pick in this year’s NBA Draft as well as clear the decks for multiple superstars, should the bare-cupboard ‘Bockers be able to recruit any. Paul Flannery accurately considers this trade suggests the Knicks might be ready to no longer be the Knicks. Would Scott Perry and crew really make this trade without having a really good idea that Kevin Durant is coming this summer? It’s a real question that certainly gives the trade a certain sheen.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, took on some bad salary to have a chance to sign Porzingis to a max deal this summer and pair him with rising European star Luka Doncic. Dallas went from zero stars to two stars real quick. One issue: Porzingis still doesn’t have a timetable to get on the court, so the Mavericks are probably going to give up a low-lottery pick to the Hawks this summer and gave up two more future picks to the Knicks for Taps. The other issue: Porzingis is reportedly willing to sign the qualifying offer this summer to hit unrestricted free agency in 2020. Believe it when you see it. All told, this is the right type of move for the Mavericks to make having seen how incredible Doncic can be.
Hug a Knicks fan today and remind them July 1 is right around the corner.
Scores
Mavericks 89, Pistons 93
Pacers 100, Magic 107
Bucks 105, Raptors 92
Nets 114, Spurs 117
Sixers 113, Warriors 104
Lakers 123, Clippers 120 (OT)
Schedule
Here’s the TV schedule for the weekend. All times Eastern. Full schedule here.
Friday:
Celtics at Knicks, 7:30, ESPN
Rockets at Nuggets, 10, ESPN
Saturday:
Lakers at Warriors, 8:30, ABC
Sunday:
Thunder at Celtics, 2, ABC
Links
Here are the NBA All-Star Game reserves, as selected by coaches. The biggest snub by a large order of magnitude is Rudy Gobert. I’d rate Eric Bledsoe No. 2 in that category. (I ranked 51 all-star reserve contenders and had both of those players plus DeMar DeRozan in.) I’m frankly mystified that Klay Thompson got in. Here are some other players who were not quite good enough compared to the actual all-stars to make the roster. I would hesitate to call any of them “snubs.”
The Sixers beat the Warriors in Oakland. Good job, Sixers.
What if trading Anthony Davis to the Lakers is the Pelicans’ best option? Zito Madu writes that Lebron James grooming young prospects was always a farce. Why AD’s injury history makes teaming up with James make sense. The Pelicans already removed AD from their pregame video.
Danny Chau takes the temperature of Raptors fans in Toronto.
And finally: the legend of Boban Marjanovic. What a story. What a guy.
Be excellent to each other.
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