Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle is excited about the future of the Mavs after the franchise acquired power forward Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks in a blockbuster trade.
Dallas owner Mark Cuban did say on Friday that Kristaps Porzingis probably won't play this season as he continues to rehab from ACL surgery. Porzingis tore his ACL in February last year.
However, that's not going to stop Rick Carlisle from feeling charged about what next season and beyond is going to be like with Porzingis and Luka Doncic leading the team on a nightly basis.
"We're excited about the future. I think that's the simplest way to put it. It's a huge trade. The excitement is understandable." — @dallasmavs coach Rick Carlisle pic.twitter.com/LzRrfuO9Pl
— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) February 2, 2019
Porzingis has career averages of 17.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.0 blocks in 186 NBA games while shooting 43.7 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from beyond the arc and 80.4 percent from the free-throw line.
The 7-footer can score from the paint and perimeter, and he figures to get wide-open looks with Doncic running the Mavs' offense. The only question now is what kind of player will Porzingis be next season after the ACL tear.
The good news is that Porzingis uses his size and length to dominate games rather than his athleticism, so even if his explosiveness is not there when he comes back, KP will still be a nice weapon for Carlisle to use.
This trade wasn't about this season for Dallas. It's about having Porzingis and Doncic as the franchise cornerstones for the next decade.
Follow Us
Subscribe