Mavs WATCH: JJ Redick on Kristaps Porzingis Trade - 'Not a Good Player' & a 'Wild Card'
DALLAS - Dallas Mavericks media and fans alike spent most of Thursday commenting on the Kristaps Porzingis trade. Former Mavs (for a moment) shooting guard JJ Redick commented on the move during his latest ‘Old Man and the Three’ podcast.
"(The Mavericks) took back a lot of money," Redick stated.
Although the Mavs had been succeeding without Porzingis this season, the idea that Dallas "dumped" his contract is untrue considering the pieces they received in return. The coveted ball-handler Dallas needed, Spencer Dinwiddie, makes $54 million for the next three seasons including this year, while Davis Bertans is owed potentially $65 million for the next four seasons. Those aren’t exactly team-friendly deals, but they are something.
"Davis Bertans has not been a good player since he signed his massive deal," the former Mavs player claimed.
Frankly, when another NBA player, former or current, speaks of their counterparts' skills, you listen.
Shooting a career-low 31 percent from the three-point line is an alarming stat for a guy who is a career 40 percent shooter from deep. Bertans is also averaging just five points per contest.
Theoretically, playing with Luka Doncic should only improve Bertans’ numbers going forward. Doncic is the ultimate equalizer.
Although the trade, at face value, invokes head scratches and shrugs by many, Redick, who also does work with ESPN, believes that the other part of the deal, Dinwiddie, is the “wild card'' - and obviously MFFL's are hoping that beyond just the dumping of salaries in this deal and beyond all the injury concerns, "wild card'' means "good.''
Only time will tell if the trade will truly help the Mavs or not.
