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If you haven’t been keeping up with the NBA recently, Kyrie Irving was just traded to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, February 5th, in exchange for Ex-Net Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and three future draft picks according to various sources. Irving has been a controversial figure over the course of this season, which prompted the Brooklyn Nets organization to take immediate action. Each team had something to gain and lose in the trade, so let’s take a look at how this news impacts the teams involved and how this could lead to more moves in the future.
The Dallas Mavericks (Grade: B)
The Dallas Mavericks Gained a couple of assets in this trade:
- Star Point Guard Kyrie Irving, who’s currently averaging around 27 points over the span of 40 games
- Power Forward Markieff Morris, who provides depth and scoring off the bench
Even thought Kyrie Irving has been subjected to a lot of media attention over some comments he made about certain groups of people, the tenacity and evasiveness Irving brings to the table is second to none. Kyrie Irving is still one of the best point guards in the league and slotting him in with Luka Doncic only amplifies his game.
With the Mavericks gearing up for a title run after a solid performance in the 2022 Western Conference Finals, Irving couldn’t have come in at a better time for Dallas.
However, it is important to note that the Dallas Mavericks also lost one of their best defensive assets: Dorian Finney-Smith, which means that they are a little light in the front court moving forward. The team has also been thinking of moving Center Christian Wood, in hopes to attain a playoff ready squad come late-March. Dallas has been on a bit of a dry spell recently, so this move should reinvigorate the team and increase their performance going forward.
With all that being said, the Dallas Mavericks receive a letter grade of B for this trade.
The Brooklyn Nets (Grade: C)
Like the Mavericks, the Brooklyn Nets gained some assets from the trade as well:
- Forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who has been a defensive anchor for the Mavericks
- Former Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who knows the system of the Nets and how he fits within it
- Three draft picks: A 2029 first round pick and two future second round picks
Losing Kyrie Irving is an obvious setback for Brooklyn. Even though Irving wasn’t completely focused on this season, having a solid point guard in the front court builds your foundation with the rest of the starting 5. Sure, Simmons and Durant could get the job done for right now, but in practice that is definitely not the case.
The Nets do gain a solid defensive asset in Dorian Finney-Smith, who has proven himself to be one of the better lockdown forwards in the NBA. The Nets also reunite with former guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who has been a solid scorer off of the bench for the Nets in the past. However, that’s where the positive takes on the trade end for Brooklyn.
With this trade in full effect, many question the future of Kevin Durant who has been linked with several teams amid the Irving Fiasco. The Suns, Celtics, and 76ers seem to be the leading candidates in the race for the Slim reaper. Durant has not personally stated anything about this matter, but if his silence indicates anything, it’s possible that Durant’s feelings toward the organization have changed since last week.
The Brooklyn Nets had to make the best of a bad situation by trading away one of their best stars at the guard position. It was a cascade of unfortunate events over the course of the season that led to the announcement of the trade. They can still bounce back and secure a solid playoff spot, but it’s hard to argue that the Nets have gained something equivalent to Irving. The Nets will receive a grade of C for the trade.
Closing Remarks
This trade came as a shock to many people at first. However, when you start to connect the pieces of the puzzle, this trade should’ve been done a while ago. The relationship between Irving and the Nets front office was deteriorating in front of our eyes this entire time.
With that being said, we here at Condensed media wish Kyrie Irving, Markieff Morris, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Spencer Dinwiddie the best of luck on their respective teams. The season isn’t over yet, but this trade could’ve altered playoff predictions, and the attitude of many fans for the upcoming season.
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