What does the Kyrie Irving trade mean for Dallas Mavericks in short-term and long-term? Can they win an NBA championship?
Kyrie Irving being traded to the Dallas Mavericks had NBA fans on their feet. The past week has been an absolute roller-coaster ride for fans as Thursday's trade deadline nears.
For some time, the LA Lakers' Jan. 23 trade for Rui Hachimura had been the biggest move ahead of the deadline. With teams setting high asking prices for players like Alex Caruso and Bogdan Bogdanovic, there was little movement.
That all changed when news surfaced on Friday that Kyrie Irving had requested a trade out of Brooklyn. Sure, there had been plenty of talk in regards to how things would play out this offseason with Irving's contract expiring. However, there was little indication that he would be dealt days before the deadline.
Immediately, speculation surfaced that the former champ would be headed to LA in a move that would see Irving reunited with LeBron James. In addition, with Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder unhappy in Phoenix, many wondered if the Suns could enter the mix.
News then broke on Sunday that Kyrie Irving would be headed to Dallas to join forces with Luka Doncic in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie and three draft picks. The move was a pretty shocking one. For the first time, Doncic has a true costar. In addition, it showed that owner Mark Cuban and the Mavericks aren't willing to compromise on the best years of Doncic's career.
As we look ahead to the stretch run of the season, let's take a look at what the Kyrie Irving trade means for the Mavericks as they hope to secure a top seed in the playoffs.
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic's fit together
Of course, the main topic surrounding the trade is how two ball-dominant players like Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic will play together. As the old saying goes, "there is only one ball," and with both men heavily reliant on creating their own shots, many have questioned their fit together on offense.
At the same time, defenders of the trade have pointed out that the Mavericks' heliocentric offensive scheme gave the team a limited ceiling. With their success reliant on Doncic essentially running the offense as a one-man-show, there was no one for the Slovenian star to defer to for a breather.
Although Doncic is one of the NBA's best players, even he needs another player capable of putting up big numbers. By acquiring Irving, Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks (29-26) have filled that role.
At the same time, Dallas sits 23rd in defensive efficiency ratings as a team. While Irving has averaged 1.0 steals per game and 0.8 blocks per game this season, he's at his best on the offensive end.
The Mavericks are fifth in a stacked Western Conference. With Irving expected to make his debut for the team on Wednesday against the LA Clippers, fans and critics alike will get their first glimpse of Jason Kidd's team.
How do you see things playing out in Dallas? Drop your predictions in the comments below.