Nick Angstadt here, the host of the daily Locked On Mavericks podcast, with your daily Locked On Mavericks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Mavericks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Dorian Finney-Smith to LA, Who Should the Mavs Trade for Now?
Nov 19, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (28) warms up before a game against the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner/Brad Penner-Imagn Images
It’s officially trade season in the NBA and the Brooklyn Net’s decided to trade a familiar face in Dallas to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nets sent Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Lakers in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second round picks.
No Dorian to Dallas Reunion
With the trade deadline approaching in February, the Dallas Mavericks could be looking for defensive wing depth behind PJ Washington due to the injuries to Maxi Kleber and the inexperience of O-Max Prosper. One of the natural targets in the trade market was Finney-Smith in Brooklyn, but now with him off the market, where do the Mavs turn from there for potential trades?
Guys like Larry Nance Jr., Matisse Thybulle, and Bruce Brown are names that I think we should be watching on the trade market for Dallas. All three players should be relatively cheap on the trade market and do not have long term money that would hinder any big plans the Mavs might have.
With weird vibes in Minnesota and an upcoming contract decision for Naz Reid, could the Mavs make a call to Minnesota to see about Reid? What about Harrison Barnes in San Antonio?
No Defense in Portland
The Mavs won on Friday night because of their defense and lost on Saturday night because of their defense. Despite Kyrie Irving’s 46 points, the Mavs had no answer for Deni Avdija late and couldn’t get stops.
Dec 21, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to a question during a post game interview after the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. | Ed Szczepanski/Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown was fired on his way to meet his team at the airport, Anthony Edwards was fined again — this time a cool $100k — for profanity, Amen Thompson picked Tyler Herro up and skipped him like a stone over the hardwood floor, the Suns and Mavs got into it too, and D’Angelo Russell was traded to the Nets (again) in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. It was a busy weekend in the NBA.
But let’s not focus on the chaos. Let’s instead look to a milestone within the milieu of the NBA’s theatrics, one that’s sat looming, casting a long shadow over the league for years now and especially over LeBron James, who turns 40 today.
James is a rare athlete in many ways. He’s been dominant in every decade of his career — and it’s rare enough to pluralize “decade” when discussing the length of an athlete’s career — and at one point was the greatest athlete on the planet. He’s won NBA titles, Olympic gold medals, has played a huge role in furthering athlete autonomy and reshaping the public’s perception of what an athlete can do and be off the court (or field, rink, etc.) in terms of political and social awareness and advocacy. He’s the first ever athlete to play alongside his son at a professional level and he’s advanced, even introduced, the concept of recovery and physical and mental longevity for an athlete.
He’s also still capable of forcefully taking your breath away with a rousing block, dunk, and the ability to toss his team on his back and take control of the game — he’s still averaging 23.5 points, 9 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game.
James’ rarest attribute though is something of a double-edged sword: his longevity. The quality of longevity, pure staying power, James has maintained throughout his career is the kind of consistency we just don’t see in sports yet he’s made it feel routine, totally normal.
The gift of this for basketball fans has been having James as both a metronome and a backdrop for over 20 seasons. Other players have taken what he’s done and made their own improvisations, but he’s the rhythm that drives the game like he’s the mountain set at the horizon, offering a perennial sense of direction. What happens when these two constant factors aren’t there anymore?
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Celebrate 40 great moments for LeBron James on his 40th birthday. (NBA.com)
Milestone By the numbers: a statistical look at NBA milestones as LeBron James turns 40. (TSN)
Biz A look inside Mike Brown’s final days with the Sacramento Kings. (The Athletic)
Preview As the Mavericks prepare to face the Kings, there are three reasons to be proud of their recent performance, including improved defensive efforts and strong individual contributions. (Mavs Moneyball)
Injury Despite Kyrie Irving’s season-high scoring, the depleted Mavericks fell short against the Blazers, highlighting the impact of current injuries on the team’s performance. (Dallas News)
Feel Good Despite the unfortunate incident, Luka Dončić's family is safe after a burglary at his Dallas home, bringing relief to Mavericks fans concerned for their star player’s well-being. (Bleacher Report)
Injury Following a physical game against the Suns, the NBA suspended Jusuf Nurkic, Naji Marshall, and P.J. Washington, affecting the Mavericks’ rotation and strategy. This incident underscores the game’s intensity. (CBS Sports)
Injury In a distressing incident, Luka Dončić's home was burglarized, with $30,000 worth of jewelry stolen. This burglary adds to the star’s recent challenges. (CBS Sports)
Preview The Mavericks will battle the Kings at the Golden 1 Center at 10:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
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Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Implications Of The Lakers & Nets Trade
Dec 28, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) moves the ball against Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez/Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The NBA trade market is heating up, and the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers have made the first significant move of the season. In a surprising turn of events, D’Angelo Russell is heading back to Brooklyn, while Dorian Finney-Smith makes his way to Los Angeles.
The trade details are as follows:
Brooklyn receives:
D’Angelo Russell
Maxwell Lewis (2023 second-round pick)
Three second-round picks
Los Angeles receives:
Dorian Finney-Smith
Shake Milton
This move has significant implications for both teams and fantasy basketball managers alike. For Brooklyn, Russell’s return could shake up their backcourt rotation. With Cam Thomas also returning from injury, the Nets suddenly have an abundance of scoring guards. While this might lead to some exciting offensive performances, it could also create a defensive nightmare for Brooklyn.
Noah Clowney’s value may see an uptick with Finney-Smith’s departure. The rookie has shown flashes of potential in recent games, and this trade could open up more consistent minutes for him. However, it’s important to temper expectations, as the Nets’ rotation remains fluid.
Ben Simmons’ role is now in question. With Russell taking over primary ball-handling duties, Simmons might see a reduction in minutes and usage. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation closely, as Simmons could become a potential drop candidate if his playing time dips significantly.
The Dallas Mavericks suffered a controversial loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in a game marred by a missed goaltending call. How did the Mavs respond without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and what impact did the officiating have on the NBA game’s outcome?
The Dallas Mavericks are searching for their next elite defender to complement Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Can the Mavs find a hidden gem like they did with Derrick Jones Jr. last season to bolster their NBA championship aspirations?
The Dallas Mavericks suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Denver Nuggets despite building a 19-point lead. How did the Mavs, playing without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, manage to compete against a healthy Nuggets squad featuring Nikola Jokic?
