Kristaps Porzingis, who mere hours earlier reportedly expressed a desire to continue his career elsewhere, was traded by the New York Knicks on Thursday to the Dallas Mavericks for a package highlighted by Dennis Smith, Jr.

The Knicks also sent out Tim Hardaway, Jr., Courtney Lee, and Trey Burke in the deal, while the Mavericks packaged Smith with DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews – both of whom are free agents this summer and potential buy-out candidates.

Immediately, this blockbuster trade led to fans across the NBA spectrum questioning New York's decision-making. Smith is an objectively inferior prospect and player to Porzingis, who barely more than a year ago flashed MVP-type ability before tearing the ACL in his left knee. Jordan and Matthews are probably more valuable in a vacuum than Hardaway and Lee, too, lending credence to the widespread notion that the Knicks' main justification here was to clear enough space under the cap so the team could potentially sign two max-level free agents next summer.

Don't tell that to NBA2K, though, which prevented the trade from being completed in the virtual world because New York was surrendering an elite asset and receiving nothing of major substance in return.

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To be fair to the Knicks, Dallas is reportedly working on acquiring a first-round pick that would also be included in the final version of the trade. Rumors have swirled for months that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, both in enviable situations with the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics, respectively, might be interested in signing with New York this summer, too.

Analyzing this trade from a pure talent perspective, though? It's easy to see why 2K was so flummoxed by the Knicks' decision, especially if the team's ugly track record luring marquee free agents to the Big Apple was considered.