DALLAS – The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have acquired All-Star forward Kristaps Porzingis along with guards Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke, in exchange for guard Dennis Smith Jr., center DeAndre Jordan, guard/forward Wesley Matthews and two future first-round draft picks. In a related move, Dallas has also requested waivers on forward Ray Spalding. Porzingis (7-3, 240) holds career averages of 17.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 31.0 minutes per game in 186 games (185 starts) with New York. He averaged a career-high 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and a career-high 2.4 blocks in 48 games (all starts) for the Knicks last season en route to being named a 2018 NBA All-Star. Porzingis suffered a torn left ACL against Milwaukee on Feb. 6, 2018, ending his 2017-18 season. He has yet to play in 2018-19. The former fourth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft appeared in 72 games (all starts) for the Knicks as a rookie in 2015-16, averaging 14.3 points, a career-high 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 28.4 minutes on his way to being named to the 2016 NBA All-Rookie First Team. A native of Liepaja, Latvia, Porziņgis began his professional career with Spain’s Cajasol Seville. He was a two-time recipient of the ACB All-Young Players Team (2014, 2015) and was also named a EuroCup Rising Star in 2015. Hardaway Jr. (6-6, 205) holds averages of 13.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 25.9 minutes in 384 career games (162 starts) with New York and Atlanta. He was averaging a team-high 19.1 points for the Knicks this season. Hardaway is the son of former Maverick Tim Hardaway Sr. The former Michigan guard was the 24th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft after a three-year college career for the Wolverines. He earned First Team All-Big Ten honors as a junior in 2013. Hardaway also earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors for the Knicks in 2014. Lee (6-5, 215) is an 11-year veteran from Western Kentucky, who holds career averages of 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steal and 27.9 minutes per game in 765 games (505 starts) with Orlando, New Jersey, Houston, Boston, Memphis, Charlotte and New York. He was the 22nd overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Magic. Burke (6-1, 175) holds career averages of 11.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 24.1 minutes in 336 games (127 starts) with Washington, Utah and New York. Burke, who is in his sixth NBA season, was named the National College Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2013 after leading Michigan to the NCAA Tournament championship game, where it lost to Louisville. He was teammates with Hardaway Jr. on the Wolverines squad that advanced to the title game. Smith Jr. (6-3, 195) was drafted by Dallas with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Mavericks’ first selection in the top 10 since drafting Robert Traylor with the sixth pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, then trading his rights to Milwaukee for the rights to Dirk Nowitzki, the ninth overall pick. In 101 career games (all starts) over a season-and-a-half with Dallas, Smith averaged 14.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 29.3 minutes. He recorded his second career triple-double with 13 points, a career-high-tying 10 rebounds and a career-high 15 assists at New York on Wednesday, Jan. 30. Jordan (6-11, 265) signed with Dallas this offseason and averaged 11.0 points, 13.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 blocks and 31.1 minutes in 50 games (all starts) with the team. He holds the highest rebounding average in franchise history (13.7 rpg). Matthews (6-5, 220) signed with Dallas as a free agent in July 2015, and averaged 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 33.3 minutes in 258 games (all starts) with the club. He went 616-of-1,669 (.369) from deep with the Mavericks, which are the sixth-most triples in franchise history. Spalding (6-10, 215) appeared in one game as rookie for Dallas this season. He was selected by Philadelphia in the second round (56th overall pick) of the 2018 NBA Draft, before having draft rights traded with Kostas Antetokounmpo (the 60th overall pick) to Dallas in exchange for the 54th overall pick Shake Milton.<doc-sep>Kristaps Porzingis said New York "deserves better than that." As if the unexpected trade sending Kristaps Porzingis from the Knicks to the Mavericks wasn't a big enough shock for New York fans, Porzingis has helped fan the flames on social media. After getting dealt on Thursday, Porzingis sent a pair of tweets that very likely put Knicks fans in their feelings, for two different reasons. One tweet featured Porzingis dapping up now-teammate Luka Doncic when the Knicks and Mavericks played a day before the trade and the other was a thank you message. On Instagram, Porzingis was a bit more cryptic. First sending this message on Thursday, hours after the deal. It is unclear exactly what "the truth" is or when it will come out, but whatever it is, it is likely to cause intrigue in New York. On Saturday, Porzingis had another message that asked Knicks fans to "stay woke." "The city deserves better than that..." the post reads. "My suggestion for [K]nicks fans is to STAY WOKE!! Peace." Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix recently reported rival teams were "shocked" to learn Porzingis was available by trade. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Porzingis is not likely to play this season as he recovers from an ACL tear he suffered around this time a year ago. The Knicks entered Sunday with the worst record in the league at 10-41 while the Mavericks are 12th in the West at 24-28.<doc-sep>NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks in action against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2018 in New York City. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 100-91. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) What’s next after the New York Knicks’ trade of Kristaps Porzingis? The worst nightmare that New York Knicks fans could have happened Thursday afternoon. Within a two hour span, Kristaps Porzingis had left a meeting with Knicks brass, gave them an indication he wanted to be traded, and was ultimately traded. Porzingis, dubbed a “unicorn” by many, was tired of seeing the franchise go into the dark tunnel that is tanking and not being able to see the light at the end. The trade was the first major transaction of the Scott Perry era. It came as a surprise to the league and Knicks fans everywhere who were expecting his first blockbuster transaction to either be trading for Anthony Davis or signing Kevin Durant in the offseason. However, instead of adding Davis or Durant, the Knicks added Dennis Smith Jr., Wesley Matthews, and DeAndre Jordan. First off, the possibility for Zion is still completely in play. Wesley Matthews and DeAndre Jordan are not good enough as a tandem to uplift the Knicks to wins. Now, without their top scorer, Tim Hardaway Jr., Matthews and rookie Kevin Knox become the top scorers, each scoring 13.1 and 12.5 PPG, respectively. Additionally, with Kanter barely seeing the floor and Emmanuel Mudiay hurt, the top spot on offense is completely up for grabs. The process of tanking, if not already, just hit its highest level. Secondly, this was a salary dump at the highest level. The only way to clear two max slots this offseason was to get rid of Courtney Lee and Tim Hardaway Jr.’s contracts. Porzingis had expressed his discontent with the losing, granted he only gave them one offseason to build a contending team with him as the focal point. Now comes time for the ifs. With Matthews and Jordan added to the roster, their expiring contracts create space for not one, but two max contract spots. All year long the speculation of Kevin Durant or Kemba Walker or Kyrie Irving coming to the Knicks to be the savior of the franchise. If the allure of Madison Square Garden or the weak Eastern conference is enough for one of those stars to become a Knick, then there is a future with hope. However, if history chooses to repeat itself, the world’s most famous arena will be inhabited by G-league call-ups and players that are two years away from being two years away. One player that doesn’t fall into either one of those categories is Dennis Smith Jr. An uber-athletic, 21-year old point guard that has yet to come close to reaching his potential. It’s only fitting that he is a member of the Knicks now when two years ago everyone except Phil Jackson thought he should’ve been drafted with the eighth overall pick. Smith is a competent NBA point guard with highlight potential on every play. After a sophomore season filled with ups and downs, a change of scenery could be all he needs to get on a track to stardom. With Kristaps gone, this is the clean slate Scott Perry needed. The only thing left from the tumultuous Phil Jackson era is Frank Ntilikina, who barely plays as it is. The books are clear and the canvas for the front office to paint a winning situation is blank once again. This move can’t be declared a failure just yet either. It’s a preparation for a home run swing in the summer. It provides a sliver of hope that the franchise is actually progressing. However, every move the Knicks have made for the better part of the century was to provide hope and not results. This trade has the potential to set the Knicks up with two marquee players or set them back another decade. We will have to wait until July to find out which destiny manifests itself.<doc-sep>
The NBA’s trade deadline season started with a big one Thursday afternoon when Dallas and New York agreed on a deal that forged a clear path for the Mavericks’ future and gave the Knicks a better shot at one of their own. Dallas acquired a package of players including star big man Kristaps Porzingis and guard Tim Hardaway Jr., for a package headlined by former lottery pick Dennis Smith Jr. and two future first-rounders — including one that’s unprotected — as well as veterans DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews (and their expiring contracts). “We didn’t even use a gun and a mask,” one Mavericks employee told The Times. The Mavericks’ employee isn’t wrong to be excited. Assuming Porzingis fully recovers from the knee injury that likely will sideline him all of this season, the Mavericks have found a second star to pair with rookie sensation Luka Doncic, giving them a pair of offensive unicorns as good as any in the NBA. The 6-foot-7 Doncic is 19, the 7-3 Porzingis is 23. And Hardaway isn’t merely a throw-in. A high-volume scorer on the Knicks, Hardaway will have to become a more consistent catch-and-shoot three-point option, but he’s productive enough to play minutes on a good team. The risk might be Porzingis’ health — he’s never played more than 72 games — and the high-cost commitment — he’ll be a restricted free agent his summer — but it could be a win for Dallas. Conversations with NBA insiders and executives paint a positive picture for the Knicks, too. Sign up for our daily sports newsletter » Smith is a bit of a gamble — he didn’t excel in Dallas under coach Rick Carlisle — but he has plenty of athleticism and talent. The draft picks, especially if the Western Conference stays as tough as it is today, might turn into lottery selections. But the real win is the possibilities the deal allows for this summer. The Knicks now have enough cap space to sign two players to maximum contracts. The Knicks have been considered by a lot of executives the favorite to sign Kevin Durant, and the trade might signal their confidence that he’s on his way. If Durant lands in New York, a second star could follow, with Kyrie Irving a favorite. Of course, if Boston were to somehow land Anthony Davis, Irving could re-up with the Celtics. Jordan back to L.A.? The tentacles of the Porzingis-Smith deal reach all the way to Los Angeles. For the Lakers, it’s helpful in their pursuit of Davis. A Knicks offer of Porzingis and a first-round pick would’ve been an interesting one for New Orleans. The Clippers still dream of pairing Durant with Kawhi Leonard, though they understand how unlikely it is. A more immediate impact could come after the trade deadline, when the center-heavy Knicks could buy out Jordan’s contract, making him a free agent. A reunion with the Clippers is a definite possibility. The team could use more rebounding, and Jordan could rebuild some of his defensive reputation by helping the Clippers in an area where they struggle. Jordan would like to return to Los Angeles, and he’s still close with coach Doc Rivers. Some NBA scouts believe a pairing with the Lakers, perhaps next summer, makes sense for Jordan, too. Tip-ins Former USC big man Nikola Vucevic made his first All-Star game this week, and he remains an interesting rental option for the Lakers if they strike out on Davis. The Orlando Magic, who haven’t been to the postseason since 2012, have faded and are four games out of the No. 8 spot in the East. … Whether he gets dealt at the deadline or not, expect the Clippers to be involved with Vucevic this summer when he hits unrestricted free agency. … The Denver Nuggets deserve a lot of credit for developing their young players, and it appears they might have hit on another one. Third-year guard Malik Beasley, a former first-round pick, exploded for 35 points in a win over the Houston Rockets on Friday. He’s scored in double figures in 18 of his last 22 games, a stretch in which he’s shot 45.5% from deep. dan.woike@latimes.com Twitter: @DanWoikeSports