Summary
On February 6, 2023, the Brooklyn Nets traded Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris to the Dallas Mavericks — the second domino of the rebuild, falling just three days before the Kevin Durant trade. The return was modest compared to the KD haul: Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, and two second-rounders. But the real value was subtraction — removing the chaos that Kyrie brought to the franchise.
Key Insights
- Traded February 6, 2023 — three days before KD was dealt to Phoenix
- Kyrie requested the trade after contract negotiations broke down
- Return: Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, 2029 1st (unprotected), 2027 & 2029 2nds
- The 2029 first from Dallas is part of the Nets Pick Inventory
- Finney-Smith was later traded to the Lakers at the 2024 trade deadline for more assets
- The trade ended a tumultuous era: Kyrie's vaccine refusal, his suspension for promoting antisemitic content, and his general unreliability derailed the Big Three experiment
Details
The Trade Package
Nets sent: Kyrie Irving, Markieff Morris
Nets received:
- Dorian Finney-Smith (later flipped to LAL)
- Spencer Dinwiddie (returned to Brooklyn where he started)
- 2029 DAL 1st (unprotected)
- 2027 DAL 2nd
- 2029 DAL 2nd
Why the Return Was Thin
Kyrie's trade value was depressed by:
- His history of demanding trades and creating chaos
- Teams' fear that he'd leave in free agency after any trade
- The antisemitic content suspension had damaged his marketability
- Only Dallas was willing to bet on him long-term
The Broader Context
The Kyrie trade was the first signal that the superstar era was over. Three days later, KD was gone too. Within a week, the Nets went from a team built around two of the most talented players in NBA history to a team with Spencer Dinwiddie and a pile of draft picks.
Kyrie's Impact on the Franchise
For all the chaos, Kyrie's time in Brooklyn was transformative:
- His and KD's decision to sign in 2019 put Brooklyn on the map as a destination
- The failure of the Big Three experiment directly led to the rebuild's massive pick haul
- Without Kyrie's implosion, the Nets might have been stuck in mediocrity instead of acquiring the assets to rebuild properly
Related
Open Questions
- Will the 2029 Dallas pick have significant value, or will Dallas remain competitive?
- Was the Kyrie trade the right move, or should the Nets have tried to re-sign him on a team-friendly deal?