In what has been an excitedly chaotic NBA trade deadline, Dallas Mavericks star Kristaps Porziņģis has been traded to the Washington Wizards.
The 7’3” Latvian, who previously played for the Mavericks after demanding a trade from the New York Knicks — who unexpectedly sat rather quiet during the trade deadline, making no moves — was reportedly unhappy in Dallas, and wanted to be traded. It was expected that Porziņģis and Slovenian superstar Luka Dončić would function as a sort-of European dynamic duo for the Mavericks, but it didn’t quite work out that way.
In the deal, the Wizards sent to the Mavericks two players: Spencer Dinwiddie — who was formerly with the Nets, who had a busy trade deadline themselves — and Latvian Dāvis Bertāns. Porziņģis, who has missed 21 games this season due to an injury, is also currently dealing with a bone bruise to his right knee, causing him to miss the last two weeks. However, when he is on the court, he’s averaged almost 20 points a game, and Washington believes he will be beneficial to their success in the long run.
Wizards are trading Spencer Dinwiddie to the Mavs for Kristaps Porzingis, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/cY9UqjRrW8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 10, 2022
The Wizards, who currently sit at 11th place in the Eastern Conference, five games under .500 with a 24-29 record, are in the midst of a rebuild. They believe Porziņģis will help them in the now, but in a rebuild, a team’s primary focus is on the future. Therefore, it is likely that the Wizards made this move to shed cap space, as they are now free from Dinwiddie’s three-year, $54 million contract and Bertāns’s five-year, $80 million contract.
Washington also traded center Montrezl Harrell to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for players Ish Smith and Vernon Carey, Jr. Regardless of the teams’ decisions and their outcomes, it is undeniable that this has been an NBA trade deadline for the ages.
What did you think of the trade between the Mavericks and Wizards? Which team do you think ‘won’ the trade? Let us know, by either leaving a reaction below or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
