LOSER: Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks shocked everyone when they sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline this season. What is even more shocking though is that they basically got nothing for him. 

Davis Bertans is under contract through the 2024-25 season and is owed $65 million. Spencer Dinwiddie is under contract through the 2023-24 season and is owed $54 million. 

Getting out of the $101.5 million still owed to Kristaps Porzingis over the next three seasons is something that makes sense, but the Mavericks brought in equal to, if not more in the contracts of Bertans and Dinwiddie, as well as lost value on the floor. 

Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans are not high-level scoring options and while his durability was a concern moving forward, Kristaps Porzingis has been having a solid season, averaging 19.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and shooting 45.1% from the floor. 

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This is just such a puzzling move by the Mavericks, who I guess now turn their attention to locking up Dorian Finney-Smith and Jalen Brunson long-term. 

Luka Doncic is a terrific talent and one of the best all-around players in the league, but he is not going to be able to carry this team by himself as the Mavericks asked of Dirk Nowitzki all of the years he was in the league. 

Tying themselves down financially even more than they already were was not a smart move by the Mavericks and it is hard to envision them being able to make any big splashes in free agency or via trades moving forward given their lack of overall talent.