Grade the Trade: This Knicks-Mavs-Raptors deal would send a star to NY
By Cal Durrett
Just weeks before the start of the NBA season, the league’s hierarchy dramatically shifted thanks to two major trades. The two best teams in the NBA last season, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics got significantly better by trading for stars Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, respectively.
That leaves teams such as the New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, and Dallas Mavericks to reevaluate where they stand in their conferences and in their pursuit of a championship. If they are being honest with themselves, the Knicks could struggle to advance past the second round, Dallas isn’t a guarantee to make the playoffs, and Toronto should be rebuilding.
Interestingly enough, a trade proposal from Fanspo could potentially help all three teams improve, either in the short term or in the long term. But, with the regular season starting in less than two weeks, would any of these teams agree to a 3-team, eight-player deal or instead wait and see where they stand in a month or two?
Given how hotly contested both the Eastern and Western Conferences are expected to be, they may not be able to afford to wait and see. Next, let’s grade the trade!