NBA Trade Deadline: New York sends Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas for Dennis Smith Jr.

In the first blockbuster trade this season, the New York Knicks traded away their Franchise centerpiece Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks for Dennis Smith Jr, Wesley Matthews, DeAndre Jordan and two future first rounders. Knicks also packaged Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke.

This trade happened out of nowhere on the Knicks side. Dennis Smith Jr. was rumored to be traded. Porzingis however let the Knicks front office know about his dissatisfaction with the franchise as recently as Thursday.

For the Mavericks, this trade gives them a future superstar in Porzingis and some depth at the guard position. This will also let the Rookie sensation Luka Doncic know that they’re all in about winning. They also shipped two expiring contracts in Wesley Matthews and DeAndre Jordan. Porzingis who will be a restricted free agent this summer is reportedly interested in signing a qualifying offer with Dallas.

Talking about the Knicks, they now have more than $70 Million in cap space for this summer’s free agency. They should be bad enough to get a top 3 pick in this year’s draft. DeAndre Jordan might opt for a buyout since he may not want to be on a tanking team.

The Knicks were interested in Dennis Smith Jr. at last year’s draft but selected Frank Ntilikina. Smith also dropped a triple double in a Mavs win against New York this week at Madison Square Garden.

No team got substantially better. Porzingis is still recovering from the ACL he tore last season. New York Knicks have to have one of the worst records in the NBA to make this work. Dallas has to hope KP and Luka gel together enough for both of them to sign long term. The job is far from finished for either franchise.