While it seems like eons ago, we are creeping up on the one-year anniversary of the trade the sent Kristaps Porzingis to Washington for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertāns.

With the Wizards visiting American Airlines Center on Tuesday, it was a perfect opportunity to take stock of how that trade on Feb. 10, 2022, looks now.

Call it a win-win.

You can nitpick about who got the better of the deal, but if you look at it objectively, there’s plenty of reasons for both sides to be happy.

Porzingis did not play Tuesday, but he has averaged 22.1 points and 8.8 rebounds while playing 41 of the Wizards’ 46 games so far. The sprained ankle he suffered on Saturday is expected to cost him a week or two.

“When you look at the trade, I think it’s a win for both clubs,” Jason Kidd said. “KP’s playing well for Washington and Spencer and Davis are playing well for us. You look at what Spencer has done for us last year and this year is something maybe no one thought could happen. He’s taken full advantage of being that sixth man last year and playing with Luka and JB (Jalen Brunson). And this year, being inserted into that JB role playing with Luka, he’s killed it.

“And you look at KP, he’s playing well for them. I think they would say they’re happy with KP.”

That’s exactly what Wizards’ general manager Tommy Sheppard said before Tuesday’s game. And it was a sentiment echoed by Washington coach Wes Unseld.

“You got to give up something to get something,” he said. “Our acquisition of KP has really helped us. Defensively, we’ve been better, his rim protection. I think that’s an area he doesn’t get enough credit for. His leadership is an underrated piece that I was not aware of. It’s a quiet leadership, but he leads by example. And when he does say something, it carries weight in that locker room. So it’s been a good trade for us.”

Considering the Mavericks finished last season 19-7 after the Porzingis trade and then went on to the Western Conference finals, it obviously paid dividends for them, too.

And Dinwiddie’s play this season – his second after recovering from knee surgery that cost him most of the 2020-21 season – is proof that the Mavericks’ faith in him as part of the trade was well-placed.

“He’s got his legs under him,” Unseld said. “He’s shooting the ball at a high rate. And the gravity of Luka makes everybody better. I think Spencer’s taken full advantage of this opportunity to get out and quarterback that second unit.”

He’s averaging 16.8 points and 5.2 assists while shooting a shade under 40 percent from three-point range.

Kidd emphasized that Dinwiddie’s passion for smoothies is one of the things that has helped him play in all but one of the Mavericks’ games this season.

“Spencer’s availability, it’s been huge.” Kidd said. “He takes care of himself. He pays attention to his body. He understands what he has to do due to the injuries and he takes that very seriously.

“And he has to lead the league in having shakes. I don’t know if he eats anything solid. Nah, I’m just joking. He’s healthy. He’s about doing the right thing. And he’s playing a lot of minutes.”

Briefly: Thursday will be the three-year anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s death and Kidd was asked about the loss that the NBA community has endured since then. “The impact he had on the NBA and the younger generation, but also the women’s game, to be able to put the light on that with his daughter, being around, trying to help,” Kidd said. “The love he had for basketball, the men and the women, and what he was doing for the women’s game, we miss. But I think we just miss that smile, that Mamba mentality for what he did for the game. Just shows how fast time goes.” . . . The Mavericks again were without big men Christian Wood and Maxi Kleber. There remains no set timetable for either’s return, although Wood likely will be back soonest . . . The Wizards had newcomer Kendrick Nunn available against the Mavericks. He was acquired Monday for Rui Hachimura. “You’re looking to make moves that improve our roster,” Unseld said. “Some of the improvements might not feel like they’re immediate. But there’s a plan there. It’s always a situation where you have to give up something to get something.”

Twitter: @ESefko

 

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