Dallas Mavericks: 5 things they can learn from Kristaps Porzingis trade

Thing Dallas Mavericks can learn from Kristaps Porzingis trade: 5. Risks don’t always pay off

The Mavs took a risk in acquiring Porzingis. He was still recovering from ACL surgery. There were no guarantees that he would return to his All-Star form. The Mavericks also took on three contracts the Knicks did not want on their books. It was a gamble that Dallas could turn them into three rotation pieces.

The risk was larger because owner Mark Cuban and the front office knew they would have to give KP a max contract before he ever played a game for the Mavericks. They were locking in for five and half seasons with a player that would not play in an NBA game in nearly 20 months.

KP was injured in the playoffs in 2020 and struggled to protect the rim and move laterally following meniscus surgery this season. It has been a disappointing two years that has everyone wondering what to expect from Porzingis moving forward.

The Dallas Mavericks took a risk in acquiring Kristaps Porzingis, and it has not worked out. They knew that was a possibility coming in. The Mavs could have tried to add an injury protection into KP’s contract or signed him to a shorter deal, but they did not. Now, they have to find a way to maximize their roster with the Unicorn’s contract weighing their books down.

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