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Yahoo Sports
What’s the deal?
As expected, the Dallas Mavericks and Kristaps Porzingis solidify their young core, pairing him up with the reigning Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic. Although this signing was expected, it is still a big win for the franchise. Having two young superstars with MVP potential on the roster sets Dallas up for nearly a decade of success.
After they traded for Porzingis’ expiring contract last season, it was expected the two sides would reach a long term agreement once free agency started.
What does Porzingis bring to the team?
A 7’3” stretch big, Porzingis’ unique skill set is what earned him the “unicorn” moniker. When spotting up from deep, there is no player in the league who can contest his shot. In the fast pace modern NBA game, this skill is invaluable.
Although at times he’s shown an unwillingness to post up, Kristaps is also a very effective back to the basket player. If he continues to add some low post skills to his game his efficiency will continue to increase.
What does this move mean for the Mavericks?
This is the beginnings of a dynasty. If the Mavericks can continue to build around this young core, they could be the team to beat in two or three years. The addition of Porzingis also gives a boost to Luka’s development. Doncic will have more open looks and experience in how to play with other star players.
While the rise of Steph Curry had seemingly made the NBA a guard driven league, the bigs have been quickly taking over. Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have shown that seven footers with guard skills are the future of the league. By signing Kristaps to a five year deal, Dallas is ahead of the curb.
How would you grade this contract?
This contract gets an A. The only thing keeping it from an A+ is Porzingis’ injury history. Lanky seven footers tend to be more injury prone. Porzingis has already missed significant time during his tenure with the Knicks, and will likely miss more time in the future. If the Mavericks hope to turn their young core into a championship contending NBA team, they need to make sure the young bigman’s health is maintained.
Final thoughts
This win for the Mavericks is just as much a loss for the Knicks. New York gave up a unique superstar for a diminished return in hopes of landing a franchise changing player. They instead settled for Julius Randle.
This Mavericks team is very interesting. With the improvement of both their young core, along with signing some veteran players, they could easily be making a playoff run as early as next year.