It had become quite obvious as of late that Kristaps Porzingis has not lived up to the expectations that the Dallas Mavericks had for him when they brought him in to form a superstar duo with Luka Doncic. After nagging injuries and inconsistent play, he clearly cannot provide the Mavs with the offensive spark or defensive playmaking that was seen during his time with the New York Knicks.
Another postseason in the books and he still didn't perform as well as they'd hoped. With his current frustrations with the team, it's time for Kristaps and the Dallas Mavericks to part ways. So with no further adieu, let's dive into the two best trade destinations for him.
Golden State Warriors
Something the Golden State Warriors had been missing all season was another player on their roster who could consistently provide them with scoring outside of 2021 NBA scoring champion Stephen Curry. In Kristaps Porzingis, they would have exactly that. His size and shooting ability would do wonders for them, and he would thrive in their three-point heavy system driven by strong team defense and great ball movement. The Warriors system could be where Porzingis is rejuvenated while also providing them with scoring help and adding some much-needed size to their roster.
Kristaps Porzingis clutch before half time 🔥🔥#dallasmavs pic.twitter.com/ZR7HtQJoeP
— Therapeutic (@ThembelaLubelo) June 5, 2021
Let's not forget that when Kevin Durant came to the Warriors, he was not well-known for his defensive capabilities, and under coach Steve Kerr he became the team leader in blocks and defensive rebounds in just his first year with the team. If the Warriors could bring Porzingis back to an All-Star level of production and efficiency, then who knows? They might even elevate his game a few notches, and they would have a steal of a trade.
With Klay Thompson coming back healthy and the Warriors having an entire offseason to recuperate, that could be a scary team come next season. Just imagine a starting five of Curry, Thompson, Porzingis, Draymond Green, and Kevon Looney. That team would be a tough outcome playoff time.
Miami Heat
A team that is just a season removed from their last finals appearance, the Miami Heat were absolutely burnt out and undermanned all year long. By the time they found some life in the season, they had just barely made it out of the play-in game. With Kristaps Porzingis, they could find new life and help bring him back to his former All-Star self. The Heat arguably have the best athletic training staff in the league. Under the guidance and leadership of coach Erik Spoelstra and franchise star Jimmy Butler, Porzingis would be back on the right track.
Under their training staff, he would stay healthy for longer periods of time, and the Heat culture would toughen him up and help make him a grittier defensive presence. Plus, with his size, he would wonders for them by providing much-needed assistance in the paint for Bam Adebayo, who got exhausted all season long by constantly alternating between spots.
With Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, and Goran Dragic likely to be leaving in free agency, they could definitely use some more shooting as well. If the Heat could get the most out of Porzingis, he could become a two-way beast and fully live up to his potential. A trio of Butler, Adebayo, and Porzingis could make the Heat a dark horse title contender again.
A few things to consider in these dealings would be that Kristaps Porzingis has one of the highest salaries in the league and has been injury-prone and inconsistent. On the other hand, if there's any team in the league that could bring him back to an elite playing level, it's definitely the Golden State Warriors or the Miami Heat. He's a risk that either of these franchises could take on and would even be able to expand his game to new heights. Especially considering both of these teams have made great player development programs over the years and continue to build winning foundations.
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