Grading the Kyrie Irving blockbuster trade

The NBA’s trade season is officially open as the League’s first blockbuster of the year has finally taken form. After months of back-and-forth speculation, the Brooklyn Nets have finally traded away superstar Kyrie Irving. Sending the eight-time All-Star to the Dallas Mavericks in a deal centered around Spencer Dinwiddie, who is set for his second stint in Brooklyn, forward Dorian Finney Smith, and draft compensation.

Irving initially requested a trade after the Brooklyn Nets’ most recent contract extension offer included a “championship stipulation,” which incensed the eight-time All-Star’s camp and effectively ended any and all contract negotiations between the two parties. While Irving was rumored to still be willing to honor his contract and play out the season, there was immense pressure put on Brooklyn to find a suitor ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

Both the Los Angeles Clippers and the Lakers were closely tied to Irving, but as trade talks ramped up Sunday morning, the Mavericks’ offer proved to better fit the vision of Nets’ general manager Sean Marks. The full details of the trade involve Irving and veteran forward Markieff Morris heading to Dallas as Dinwiddie, Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick, and two future second-round picks are all Brooklyn-bound.

Kyrie Irving is now a member of the Dallas Mavericks. How do both teams grade out after the deal?

There is plenty to look at when it comes to this deal as the fallout, but first, it’s only fitting to begin with the star of the trade, the newest member of the Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie Irving.