Mavs Donuts: All Eyes on Jalen Brunson; Trade Rumor Roundup
Here's your fresh batch of ‘Mavs Donuts,’ where we look at 12 of the NBA's biggest storylines for today, including what's going on with the Dallas Mavericks.
DONUT 1: THE 'FLIGHT RISK' IS REAL
A Brunson ‘flight risk’ being ‘real’ is not something that will make any of these upcoming decisions any easier for general manager Nico Harrison.
Even with Brunson now being a full-time starter next to Luka Doncic, he still doesn’t have the same kind of control over games like he did when Doncic missed time earlier this season. If Brunson has eyes this upcoming summer for a team like the New York Knicks - a team he’s been linked to all trade season - then maybe getting the best return for him now could be better than the risk of losing him for nothing in July.
DONUT 2: DOES JALEN WANT TO STAY?
Allegedly, the New York Knicks have considerable interest in Brunson, and it's rumored that the Mavs' 2023 draft pick could be in play New York is to acquire his services. Would Dallas really trade arguably its second-best player to receive a pick back that they traded to obtain Kristaps Porzingis three years ago?
DONUT 3: CJ TO BIG D?
After watching the Dallas Mavericks lose to the league's worst team in the Orlando Magic on Sunday night, it's apparent they need help in the scoring department. Thankfully for Dallas, the Portland Trail Blazers have a player rumored on the trade block. Murmurs of executives viewing C.J. McCollum as a negative asset continue as the trade deadline approaches.
DONUT 4: OR COULD THEY SWING DINWIDDIE?
A recent report implies that Washington Wizards guard Spencer Dinwiddie is available on the trade block due to the fact that he hasn’t meshed well with superstar Bradley Beal. Could this potentially be where Harrison make his first big move as a front office executive?
While the Mavs currently harbor a much-improved Jalen Brunson, who is having a career-best season, no extension or offseason guarantees have surfaced from the front office or Brunson himself. Considering Brunson's up-in-the-air free agency status, the Mavs might want to explore all their options and look at point guard under contract until 2024.
DONUT 5: INGLES OUT FOR SEASON
Long-tenured Utah Jazz role player Joe Ingles went down with a torn ACL according to multiple reports. Ingles' knee buckled with no contact on a drive to the rim in the second quarter.
The Jazz, Nuggets and Mavs appear to be a in a middle tier all to themselves, given that they're all separated by just one game in the West standings as we enter the final stretch of the season. Dallas and Denver are currently on much different trajectories than Utah is right now. We'll find out soon if any of these teams will do anything at the NBA trade deadline in attempt to graduate to the upper tier of the conference.
DONUT 6: ON THIS DAY, 1984
David Stern officially took over as the NBA’s fourth Commissioner, replacing the retired Larry O’Brien, who had served as Commissioner since 1975. Stern previously served as the NBA’s first General Counsel and later as Executive VP of Legal & Business Affairs.
DONUT 7: STEPH'S 40 HELPS DUBS DROP ROCKETS
Steph Curry's 40-point masterclass pushed his Golden State Warriors past the West-worst Houston Rockets. Final score: 122-108.
DONUT 8: NO EMBIID, NO PROBLEM: SIXERS BEAT GRIZZLIES FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE WIN
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 33 points, while Andre Drummond filled in for a resting Joel Embiid and grabbed 23 rebounds to beat the Memphis Grizzlies in overtime 122-119. Ja Morant had 37 points in the losing effort.
DONUT 9: CELTICS FREEZE HEAT BY 30
The Boston Celtics knocked the Miami Heat out of sole possession of first place with a 122-92 win. Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 29.
DONUT 10: ROOKIE ISAIAH JACKSON LEADS PACERS TO WIN OVER CLIPPERS
No. 22 overall pick Isaiah Jackson scored a career-high 26 points in his first career start in a 122-116 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
DONUT 11: CAVS LEAD 4TH QUARTER COMEBACK IN WIN VS. PELS
The Cleveland Cavaliers' bench scored 52 points, including 21 from Brandon Goodwin, to help beat the New Orleans Pelicans 93-90.
DONUT 12: UP NEXT
The Mavs are off tonight and head back home to face the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT.
