Programming note: Watch the pregame edition of Warriors Outsiders tonight at 6:00pm P.T., streaming live on the MyTeams app.
Thursday, Jan. 31 has the potential to be a very important day in NBA history.
That's because the Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis, Courtney Lee, Trey Burke, and Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Mavericks in exchange for Wesley Matthews, Dennis Smith Jr. and DeAndre Jordan, league sources told several national reporters.
The Athletic's Shams Charania broke down the full deal.
Sources: Full players involved in Knicks/Mavericks deal:
Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, Trey Burke to Dallas.
Dennis Smith Jr., Wes Matthews, DeAndre Jordan and likely first-round draft pick compensation to New York.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 31, 2019
Sources: Dallas' draft compensation to New York in Kristaps Porzingis deal: Two future first-round picks.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 31, 2019
Sports
This is not necessarily a positive development for the Warriors and their fans:
Dennis Smith Jr. or no Dennis Smith Jr., the Knicks grand plan is to sign Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. https://t.co/78kc4YJJTv— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) January 31, 2019
We have known for months that the Knicks were going to go all-in on their pursuit of Durant this summer. And now, they are in a terrific position to add the two-time Finals MVP plus another superstar to the mix:
The Knicks could be staring at $74.6M in projected cap space for next season. That would be good enough for 2 max slots.— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 31, 2019
Don't forget that earlier this week, Yahoo's Chris Haynes reported that Anthony Davis isn't targeting the Celtics in a trade because there is growing belief that Kyrie Irving isn't going to sign long-term in Boston.
And on Thursday morning, ESPN's Zach Lowe and Adrian Wojnarowski reported that as well.
[REWIND: Clyde Frazier: Kevin Durant needs title with Knicks to enter GOAT convo]
Rich Kleiman, Durant's agent and business partner, is a lifelong Knicks fan who back in March 2018 said on The Bill Simmons Podcast: "I want to run the Knicks. I really want to run the Knicks. Dead serious ... I want to run the Knicks."
Durant chimed in with: "I think he could run the Knicks better than anybody who has ever run the Knicks."
Obviously, nobody knows what is going to happen in July. The whole world is clearly speculating at this point.
But as the kids like to say these days -- "stay woke."
Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders. Follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller