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Porzingis has sat out the entire season thus far but the Mavs are looking at the long-term picture
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Luka Doncic and veteran Dirk Nowitzki are likely to entice free agent Porzingis to stick around for next season
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Trey Burke, who is averaging 11.8 points per game this season, is headed to the Mavericks as well
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Porzingis return status was not immediately known
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News that Kristaps Porzingis has been traded to the Mavs has future bettors gambling that Dallas could be a super team.
As of Thursday night, Dallas was at 66-1 odds to win the 2019 NBA Championship. The Mavericks are hovering just a few wins under the .500 mark as the Halfway point of the season approaches.
But they will likely have to wait another season before talk of an NBA Championship win. Porzingis has not played at all this season after suffering a knee injury last year.
The Mavericks are hoping to re-sign the 7-foot-3 Porzingis, who will be a restricted free agent, to a long-term deal this summer, and they are confident that Luka Doncic and veteran Dirk Nowitzki can play significant roles in making that happen, a source told ESPN.
"He loves Luka and Dirk," a source told ESPN.
Porzingis, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, was averaging a career-best 22.7 points per game before he was lost due to a left knee injury during a breakout All-Star season in 2017-18. He also was averaging 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.
Dallas acquires Porzingis and three other players from the New York Knicks in exchange for a package that includes point guard Dennis Smith Jr. and two future first-round picks.
Wesley Matthews and DeAndre Jordan will also go to the Knicks. Trey Burke, who is averaging 11.8 points per game this season, is headed to the Mavericks along with Porzingis, Courtney Lee and Tim Hardaway Jr.
"As is standard for this time of year, we were exploring various options on potential trades," Knicks general manager Scott Perry said in a statement. "Considering the uncertainty regarding Kristaps' free agent status and his request today to be traded, we made a trade that we are confident improves the franchise. We thank Kristaps, Tim, Courtney and Trey for their contributions and wish them all the best."
It is unclear if Porzingis will be able to return to the court this season.
- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
