Amid all the hysteria in the last few days, the Dallas Mavericks emerged as the winners of the tumultuous Kyrie Irving saga. Or have they? The breaking news of Irving requesting a trade from the Brooklyn Nets hit the NBA world like a storm. However, in what was deemed a timid trade deadline market, the Nets traded the 30-year-old star to the Mavericks in a blockbuster trade just a few nights after his request. Mark Cuban and Co were finally able to place a star-caliber player next to Luka Doncic. However, there’s more to the story than that.
Meanwhile, fans have been singing praises for the Mavericks’ top brass for pulling off the trade. However, according to sources, Cuban and co were not the ones dictating the terms at the helm. Interestingly, the Mavericks offered a different deal before, which the Nets rejected.
Dallas Mavericks offered a different deal for Kyrie Irving
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Under immense pressure to put a second star alongside Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks finally pulled the trigger over the weekend. In a blockbuster trade with the Nets, the Mavericks traded for 8x All-Star Kyrie Irving. The blockbuster trade slipped the NBA world into a major frenzy, with mixed reactions from all sides. But the consensus among fans and media was that the Mavericks got the better end of the deal. However, according to a report by NBA insider Marc Stein, that might not be the case.?
BREAKING: The Brooklyn Nets are trading Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round and multiple second-round picks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2023
Interestingly, the Mavericks had to settle for the Nets’ demands. In their initial offer, the Mavericks wanted to send away Christian Wood and either Tim Hardaway Jr or Davis Bertans. However, the Nets refused the offer. Stein wrote,?“The Nets refused Dallas’ attempts to ship them Christian Wood’s expiring contract or one of its less palatable long-term deals held by Tim Hardaway Jr. and D?vis Bert?ns.”
Christian Wood has been sidelined due to an injury since Jan 18. Wood will become an unrestricted free agent in the off-season. It makes sense why Cuban and co wanted to trade away Wood instead of losing him for nothing in free agency. On the other hand, while Tim Hardaway Jr and Davis Bertans have done their part as role players, their future in Dallas seems grim. The two carry the baggage of their inflated contracts, which hurt the Mavericks’ attempts to onboard more star power on to the roster.?
However, despite the refusal of their offer, the Mavericks audaciously got into bed with the Nets and finally traded for a star-caliber player to place alongside Luka Doncic.?
The blockbuster trade to acquire Irving
Over the tumultuous weekend, the Mavericks seemingly came out on top in the Kyrie Irving saga. To the surprise of many, they successfully traded for the star-point guard and managed not to blow their roster completely.
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In exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick (unprotected), and two second-round picks, the Mavericks received Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris.
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What are your thoughts on the blockbuster trade? Let us know in the comments below.