NBA Trade Grades: The Kristaps Porzingis-Spencer Dinwiddie deal
By Luke Duffy
NBA Trade Grades: The Kristaps Porzingis-Spencer Dinwiddie deal – Mavericks
Did the Mavericks get robbed? It kind of feels like the Mavericks got robbed.
First, the pros. The duo of Doncic and Porzingis wasn’t going anywhere serious. They might be up to fifth in the West and 32-23, but with Porzingis having only played in 34 of those games because of injury, he was hardly one of the key reasons the Mavericks had turned things around.
Has any player on a good team ever put up 19.2 points and 7.7 rebounds and had the stats feel almost, empty? That can be Washington’s problem now. Porzingis is sure to see his numbers and usage go up in Washington, but right now, that won’t probably contribute to much winning.
Porzingis is being paid a whopping $36 million in the 2023-24 season before hitting unrestricted free agency. The Mavericks getting out from under that contract must also be seen as a win.
If there was even a hint of animosity between Doncic and Porzingis, then they were right to jettison him immediately to keep Doncic happy. So there are some pros to the deal.
But Dinwiddie and Bertans are about as uninspiring as it gets. Ironically, it could be Bertans who ends up having the bigger impact. He was signed to a sizeable deal by the Wizards because he had shown an ability to knock down three-pointers and be the kind of modern forward who could contribute to winning basketball. Alongside Doncic, he is going to look great some nights.
Unfortunately for Dinwiddie, his production has really stalled this season. Right now, it is hard to see where he can have a meaningful impact. Hopefully, that will be on the offensive end, where the Mavericks rank just below league average (16th, 110.3), compared to their much better defensive rating (5th, 106.8, which Bertans and Dinwiddie may hurt).
It just all feels very meh. If the idea is putting a contender around Doncic, as it should be for as long as he plays for the team, then this is not an inspiring move. At all.
To have given up a second-round pick, although not too meaningful in the grand scheme of things, means the Wizards must have really downplayed their true feelings on Porzingis. A weird day for Mavericks fans, with the hope that a buyout guy can be of more help in the coming weeks.