NBA

• Mavericks receive: Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris
• Nets receive: Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, unprotected 2029 first-round pick, and two second-round picks
  • Acquiring Irving has proven to be a risky proposition — the All-Star guard has now flaked on three organizations, but his talent is undeniable. Dallas, for a long time, has needed a second star to pair with Luka Doncic, and Irving fits the bill. Of course, Irving’s impending free agency is a factor here, and it’s unclear if the Mavericks will give the guard what he desires contractually, but for the rest of this season in particular, this is a worthwhile gamble.
    Grade: B
  • Once Irving requested a trade, the smart move for the Nets was recoup as many talented players and assets in exchange for him as possible. That’s exactly what happened here, as Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith should fit in well as role players around Kevin Durant. Also, the draft picks acquired by Brooklyn are important, as the Nets can package them to bring in even more talent to support the team’s title chase. Again, given Irving’s trade demand, the Nets did a nice job in making the most of a difficult situation.
    Grade: B+
• Magic 119, Hornets 113
  • The Magic are suddenly fairly deep. Even with Jalen Suggs suspended and Terrence Ross being removed from the rotation, Orlando played nine rotation-caliber players in this game — Caleb Houstan not included.
  • The Hornets are now 15-40, so it’ll be interesting to see what the organization does come Thursday’s trade deadline.
• Cavaliers 122, Pacers 103
  • Darius Garland has played some excellent basketball of late for Cleveland, which has helped offset Donovan Mitchell’s struggles while dealing with a groin injury. The Cavaliers also have a few young players making strides, which makes the team all the more dangerous.