With All-Star weekend around the corner and the playoffs not far behind, NBA fans have spent the last couple of weeks focusing on what moves their favorite teams would make leading up to the trade deadline.
When Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on February 4th, he sent shockwaves through the league, with teams rushing to put packages together in hopes of adding the superstar to their lineups. Dallas ultimately had what Brooklyn was looking for: completing the blockbuster trade by sending guard Spencer Dinwiddie, forward Dorian Finney-Smith, and draft picks to the Nets in exchange for Irving.
Betting is a popular way for fans to participate in the NBA from afar, and the Irving trade has drastically altered title odds. Some of the world's biggest sportsbooks listed on OddsChecker offer free bets to new customers, giving basketball enthusiasts an opportunity to place a wager on their favorite team.
The Irving news may just change what people think about Brooklyn's prospects this season. Keep reading to learn how this trade may impact the rest of the Net's season.
Flexibility and Stability in Brooklyn
Since Irving will become a free agent at the end of this season, the Nets didn't have much leverage when he requested a trade from the team. All they could do was take the best package presented to them, and that's what they did when they agreed to send the superstar to Dallas.
While they did lose one of the biggest names in the NBA, they received some much-needed stability in return. Kevin Durant couldn't ask for a better-supporting cast member than Finney-Smith. Although he's not a prolific one-on-one scorer like Irving, he knows what to do when the floor is spaced correctly to ensure his team scores.
On top of that, Dinwiddie returns to Brooklyn and will help lift their defense. Before the Nets built their superteam, they recruited him from the G League in 2016. He's gone on to prove himself in the league and will return to where he got his start.
Durant's Scoring Load
Without Irving, Brooklyn's trade will force Durant to up his offensive output to compensate. It'll also put pressure on Ben Simmons to contribute more offensively and stay healthy. Besides Durant and Simmons, the Nets don't have any other consistent shot creators.
The Nets want to make a serious run for a title this year, something the team's management hasn't been shy about. What's questionable is whether adding to its already capable group of two-wings and improving its switch-heavy defense will be enough to push them over the top. After all, they have the Celtics and the Bucks, who are also looking championship ready in the east.
Luka Gets Much-Needed Help
There's no question that Luka Dončić is one of the NBA's best players and he's largely carried the Mavericks, single-handedly driving the team's offense without much support since Jalen Brunson was traded to the New York Knicks during the offseason.
Luka's play has impressed fans across the league, with his points, field goal attempts, and field goal percentage all increasing this year. However, with so many talented teams in the NBA, it's almost impossible for a superstar to win a championship on his own, and fans have long demanded the Mavericks get Luka some help.
Well, help arrived in the form of Irving, and to say fans in Dallas are hyped would be an understatement. One of the biggest problems the Mavericks have faced is scoring when Luka isn't on the floor. With Irving on the team, there will be someone to share the burden.
Irving is an eight-time All-Star and has put up impressive numbers this season, averaging 27.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. When Irving is on the court he doesn't need help generating offense; he can do it on his own.
Dallas head coach Jason Kidd has admitted the team had to give up a lot to acquire the 30-year-old, but believes it'll pay off by making the Mavericks championship contenders.
