On January 31, the New York Knicks made one of the most sudden and questionable trades the NBA has seen. NY traded All-Star forward Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks. The trade sent Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, and Trey Burke, along with a $12.9 million trade exception to Dallas. New York received Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, and a future first-round pick (year unspecified). The trade greatly impacts both the Knicks and Mavericks future.
Dallas Mavericks
Through this blockbuster trade, Dallas has created possibly the best white-duo since Bird and McHale. That’s notable within itself, but the boring numbers are what make this trade great for the Mavs. Ridding their payroll of Jordan’s and Matthews’ contracts is helpful, not due to their payment but for how the trade breaks down (both contracts ended this year anyway).
For the money to work, the Mavs had to take a $12.9 million trade exception, meaning that for future trades they can choose to use that money to make it work. It’s a valuable piece that could pan into assisting another blockbuster trade.
The trading of Dennis Smith makes the statement that the Euroleague MVP Luka Doncic is the future. It’s a commitment to the young star, and he should be grateful they’re willing to trade their high draft pick. For Smith, he goes to NY with a new reason to be better. His athletic ability can’t be understated, but his lack of growth from year one to two is concerning. He can’t waiver and needs to move forward with great aplomb despite this trade. Either way, Dallas no longer has to spread focus (though it’s obvious Doncic was the future).
NY didn’t cement a future with this trade, but the Mavericks displayed a commitment for the next five years. Offloading older players, while getting a 26-year-old Tim Hardaway Jr. makes the Mavericks a team ran by youth. From a leadership perspective, the Mavs may see issues, though, those concerns already loomed over a team with DeAndre Jordan as the on-court leader. Dirk could be a mentor moving forward, but his impact with the on-court leadership will be indirect.
For these next months, it’s Mark Cuban and Mavs fans’ job to make Kristaps feel like the next Dirk Nowitzki. His undecided future with the team is understandable, but any chance for him to leave should be taken seriously. With his vocality about losing, it’s obvious he wants to win. Making sure he knows that Dallas WILL win within a few years is key. It bode well that Kristaps already has a relationship with the current and former European star (Luka and Dirk). Doncic and Kristaps spent time together when Kristaps rehabbed at a Real Madrid facility. Kristaps faith should be indelible by the end of the summer for the front office to be happy.
Roster Needs:
- Legit wing defender that can free up Doncic to guard lesser offensive players.
- Interior presence capable of handling the big man superstars they will be bound to face in the West.
- Veteran minimum guys that give wisdom along with production
New York Knicks
Though the Knicks traded their franchise centerpiece, they were able to unload the major contracts of Courtney Lee ($12 million/year, for the next two years), and Tim Hardaway Jr. ($17.7 million/year, for the next three years), giving them $109.1 million in cap space this offseason, the most in the NBA. They also were able to acquire Dennis Smith Jr., a young and promising PG. New York moving on from Kristaps was an atrocious move, but acquiring that amount of cap space and Dennis Smith Jr., will bode well for their future.
This trade wasn’t designed for NY to benefit this season, however, the pieces they received will evidently pick up a few extra wins for the Knicks. D.J. is a quality big-man who’s good for 15 points and 10 rebounds. Dennis Smith Jr. fills a much-needed hole at PG. They’re able to move surging star Emmanuel Mudiay to the SG, giving them one of the most exciting and athletic back-courts in the league.
Evidently, the Knicks traded an injured Kristaps Porzingis, who hasn’t played all season, an inefficient Tim Hardaway Jr, and two non-rotational players for a promising young PG, a fringe All-Star C, and Wesley Mathews. Mathews will likely be bought out, making him one of the more sought after players in the buy-out market. If he remains on the Knicks, he’ll likely be buried in their rotation, similar to Enes Kanter.
Where this trade will pay-off for the Knicks is in this offseason. The $109.1 million in cap space gives the Knicks room for two max contract players and multiple quality rotational players. Players such as Kevin Durrant, Kyrie Irving, and Jimmy Butler have expressed enormous interest in New York. On top of the cap space, the Knicks will likely have a top-five selection in the draft. Either Zion Williamson or RJ Barrett will be a Knick come the start of next season.
Ultimately, the Knicks gambled moving on from Porzingis. This whole trade for the Knicks was predicated on hypotheticals. The Knicks made an awful move for their franchise moving forward. There were multiple other teams who’d have taken on Hardaway and Lee’s contracts, ultimately freeing up the same amount of cap space that they obtained and keeping a transcendent talent in Porzingis
Pairing Porzingis with a top-five selection would’ve ultimately attracted multiple top free agents, and it wouldn’t even be a question if the Knicks would be a top destination. Now, with Porzingis gone, the Knicks look like a very unappealing destination. The only thing that keeps the Knicks in the race for potential free agents is the massive amount of money they possess, a top-five pick, and the market they play in. Top-tier free agents will likely be turned off by the unattractiveness of the roster, causing the Knicks to ultimately strike out on signing a big name free agent once again.
Roster Needs:
- Everything
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