02-02-2025, 05:30 PM
Admission by Kevin Pelton (right before he gives the Mavs an “F” for the trade):
First, let's acknowledge I've made a habit of betting against Mavericks trades to my detriment. I disliked the risk of bringing in Kyrie Irving months before he would become an unrestricted free agent, but Irving re-signed with Dallas rather than join the Lakers -- now an even more remarkable sliding-doors moment -- and has been terrific for the Mavericks.
At last year's trade deadline, I thought Dallas took too much risk for too little benefit by dealing a first-round pick and a swap to get Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington. Adding those two starters ultimately helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals.
First, let's acknowledge I've made a habit of betting against Mavericks trades to my detriment. I disliked the risk of bringing in Kyrie Irving months before he would become an unrestricted free agent, but Irving re-signed with Dallas rather than join the Lakers -- now an even more remarkable sliding-doors moment -- and has been terrific for the Mavericks.
At last year's trade deadline, I thought Dallas took too much risk for too little benefit by dealing a first-round pick and a swap to get Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington. Adding those two starters ultimately helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals.