Mavericks trade deadline grades: Kyrie Irving blockbuster but quiet deadline day

Dallas Mavericks overall trade deadline grade

General manager Nico Harrison and the front office were aggressive. They wanted a second star next to Luka Doncic, so the Mavericks went out and found one. NBA teams have rarely won the championship without being bold and taking risks. Trading for Kyrie Irving is a massive risk, but the 30-year-old point guard is motivated to play as he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. Irving has 200 million reasons to suit up and play well down the stretch.

The Mavs needed one more move, though. They had to find another rotation piece to round out their roster. Dallas is embracing small ball with Josh Green and Tim Hardaway Jr. starting next to their superstar backcourt. Still, the Mavericks are one player short of a solid eight-man playoff rotation when healthy.

Dallas Mavericks trade deadline grade: B-minus

The Mavs get a slight downgrade for not making any more moves. The Kyrie Irving trade is something fans will be looking back at for years, and nobody will know the final grade until things play out. How long is Kyrie in Dallas? How does the partnership with Luka Doncic work? Do the Mavericks win a championship? All of those questions will factor into the final mark.

The Mavs will have to pay Irving this summer to keep him in Dallas, and they will have two first-round picks available to trade. Can the Mavericks further add to their roster and become legit title contenders? Stay tuned to find out.