Wild West: Mavericks Make Moves

02/06/2023 Wild West: Mavericks Make Moves

By: Jeff Yoder

Two Days After Requesting Trade From Nets, Mavericks Land Kyrie Irving to Pair With Luka Doncic

Well, that escalated quickly. Shortly after we sent out Friday’s newsletter, Nets star point guard Kyrie Irving requested a trade. With the NBA trade deadline looming (Thursday, 3:00 pm ET), he got his wish. The Mavericks acquired Irving in a package that sent two players and three picks to Brooklyn, including former Nets player Spencer Dinwiddie. Kevin Durant is now the last man standing in the Barclays Center, and Luka Doncic just found an electric co-star. Is Dallas the new favorite in the West?

 

Trade Details

Mavericks Get: G Kyrie Irving, F Markieff Morris

Nets Get: G Spencer Dinwiddie, F Dorian Finney-Smith, 1st-Round Pick (2029) & Two 2nd-Round Picks (2027, 2029)

 

No Faith in Brooklyn

It was three years ago when the NBA reeled at the thought of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving teaming up in Brooklyn. Then came James Harden. A super team if there ever was one. After two failures to reach the Eastern Conference Finals and a litany of off-the-court drama, from Irving’s COVID-19 vaccination stance to hard-headed media silence and controversial tweets, the Nets marriage started to break. Brooklyn traded Harden to the 76ers before canning head coach Steve Nash after a 2-5 start this season. And even after the Nets appeared to turn the 2022-23 campaign around, Irving still wanted out. Wish granted.

 

Kyrie is on the final year of his 4-year, $136.5 million contract and could become a free agent again this offseason. The Mavericks aren’t expected to offer him a contract extension until the rest of the season plays out.

 

Additional Storylines

SI: Grading the Trade: Mavericks Land Kyrie Irving

NY Post: Kyrie Irving ‘Ecstatic’ About Nets Trading Him to Mavericks

B/R: Nets Chose Mavericks Offer for Kyrie Irving Over Lakers Deal

FOX: LeBron James Fires Off 3-Word Tweet After Nets Trade Kyrie Irving to Mavs

 

Photo: Dustin Satloff / Getty Images