The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to trade Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline was arguably the second-biggest transaction of the period.
Not only did it officially signal that the experiment with Luka Doncic and Porzingis had failed, but it also risked messing with the momentum of a squad that was doing quite well for itself in the West this year.
Several weeks in – it’s looking like the Mavericks made the right call.
So much so, in fact, that players on the roster are low-key hinting that the dynamic is much better nowadays.
“(Head coach Jason Kidd) is making us talk a lot more, letting us figure it out, asking questions and letting guys speak up,” Dorian Finney-Smith said this week, via Grant Afseth of Sports Illustrated.
“I feel like we’ve been holding each other accountable this year, and as you can see, I feel like on our team there’s no jealousy now.
“We’re playing great basketball, and even when things aren’t going together, we’re talking to each other and staying together.”
Given that the only thing that has changed is Porzingis’ departure, it’s hard not to view that statement at face value.
And given that Doncic’s beef with Porzingis is a matter of public record at this point, making the connection doesn’t feel like a big stretch.
The video speaks for itself. https://t.co/JYC4W8yuY6
— Game 7 (@game7__) March 18, 2022
For what it’s worth, it seems like everyone walked away from the trade happy. Porzingis and his girlfriend appear to be enjoying D.C., while the Mavericks clearly like what they have going on now.
Who will ultimately emerge from the trade victorious when it’s all said and done? An answer likely won’t truly reveal itself for many years.
Related: Why Aaron Rodgers Was OK With Packers Trading Davante Adams
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
