Ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, the Dallas Mavericks have officially acquired Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets; the guard was exchanged for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and several future draft picks.
Tuesday 7 February 2023 10:49, UK
Kyrie Irving has been acquired by the Dallas Mavericks after requesting a trade from the Brookylyn Nets.
In claiming the eight-time All-Star who is averaging 27.1 points this season, the Mavs had to jettison Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and several future draft picks to the Nets.
From a basketball standpoint, the trade appears to be a no-brainer for both teams. The Mavs are getting another elite talent to pair with their existing superstar, Luka Doncic, who is very much in need of attacking support. Meanwhile, the Nets are able to move on from Irving's controversies this season and put all their eggs in the Kevin Durant basket.
Head coach Jacque Vaughn had this to say about Irving's departure: "I've seen him grow as an individual and be a better teammate than when I first met him. So for me, I'm going to always look at the good in people and want the good in people. And I want him to succeed. He's no longer with us, but I appreciate his time".
It is also clear that both franchises are looking to fortify their rosters ahead of the playoff and play-in picture, with the All-Star clash next week a perfect reminder of the depth of talent the NBA possesses as teams jostle for position.
With Irving now in tow, the Mavs have the highest-scoring duo in the league, and arguably the best frontcourt combination in the game. Doncic is peerless from within the paint, while Irving has hit over 40 per cent from three-point range in six of his 12 seasons, and is a career 88.2 per cent free-throw shooter.
Should things go well for the pair, it's likely that Irving might consider following the Mavs into next year's campaign, though he does become a free agent at the end of the season. After all, Irving is making a fraction under $37m this season, the last of a four-year, $136m deal he signed in 2019, therefore the prospect of a contract extension could be tempting.
