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Dallas Mavericks: 3 reasons retaining Kristaps Porzingis was a no-brainer

By Adam Tayabali

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 5 : Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Dallas Mavericks warms up prior to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 5, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 5 : Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Dallas Mavericks warms up prior to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 5, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photos by Darren Carroll/NBAE via Getty Images
Photos by Darren Carroll/NBAE via Getty Images /

As soon as free agency started at 6:00 p.m. (ET) on June 30, the Dallas Mavericks made sure to agree to a new deal with Kristaps Porzingis.

The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to re-sign power forward Kristaps Porzingis to a five-year, $158 million contract, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The Mavs traded for Porzingis at the end of January in a seven-player deal with the New York Knicks. Dallas gave up a lot to get the 7’3” Latvian big man. It gave up assets in the form of 20-year old point guard Dennis Smith Jr. and two future first round draft picks, as well as the expiring deals of DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews.

KP missed all of the 2018-19 regular season due to an ACL injury he suffered in his left knee the season prior. There’s no telling how someone of Porzingis’ size will return after such a huge injury, but he’s still only 23 years old.

Porzingis has one of the most unique and versatile skill-sets in the NBA and that could help him return to form. Before the knee injury, he averaged 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

He is expected to come back healthy and with an offseason of training. There’s also the possibility that the Mavs organization manages his load similarly to the way the Toronto Raptors did with Kawhi Leonard last season.

With all that being said, here are three reasons the Dallas Mavericks made the right choice in offering the Unicorn a five-year max contract.

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