The Brooklyn Nets traded Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks in 2023 and got a decent haul in return but it’s now time to update it. The Nets had gotten Dorian Finney-Smith in that trade and with them having now moved him to the Los Angeles Lakers, here’s a look at what they ended up getting for Irving.
– D’Angelo Russell
– Maxwell Lewis
– Reece Beekman
– De’Anthony Melton
– One unprotected first-round pick (2027)
– Seven second-round picks
In case you’re wondering how this all came about, here’s how.
The Nets received Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected first-round pick, and two second-round picks for Irving and Markieff Morris. Then last season, they traded Dinwiddie to the Toronto Raptors for Dennis Schroder and Thaddeus Young, who was waived the same day.
Fast forward to this season and Schroder was traded to the Golden State Warriors along with a second-round pick for De’Anthony Melton, Reece Beekman, and three second-round picks. Then came the Finney-Smith trade (which included Shake Milton) that netted the Nets D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks.
Put all that together and you get that haul. Now, you might consider that underwhelming for a player of Irving’s caliber but it’s important to note that his stock was at an all-time low when he was moved. The eight-time All-Star had been involved in various controversies and the Mavericks took a huge risk by trading for him. It paid off for them but very easily could have backfired.
Another team that was willing to take that risk was the Lakers. The Nets rejected their reported package, though, and this haul they ended up getting by sending Irving to the Mavericks shows it was the right decision. Here’s what the Lakers had offered the Nets for Irving.
– Russell Westbrook
– Two unprotected first-round picks (2027 and 2029)
Russell Westbrook had no value on the trade market at that point, as he was eventually traded to the Utah Jazz and agreed to a contract buyout. So, the Nets basically would have gotten two first-round picks for Irving. While those would have been valuable picks, there’s no denying that the haul they have gotten is a better return for the guard.
You’d rather have seven second-round picks and a first-round pick, along with those players, rather than just two first-round picks. There is no guarantee that the Lakers will be terrible moving forward either, as they have some solid young pieces within their ranks.
Whatever option the Nets would have chosen, though, they ultimately would have lost the trade with how well Irving has played and behaved. He has averaged 25.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game for the Mavericks, and has been a model citizen too. Irving helped them get to the 2024 NBA Finals as well and has become a fan favorite in Dallas.
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