Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic is expected to be one of the most intriguing names on the trade market in the 2021 offseason. Since suffering a first-round elimination at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, rumors have been continuously swirling around Doncic and his future with the Mavericks.
The Mavericks may not have shown any indication that they are planning to move Doncic but if his rumored frustration leads to a trade request, they would be left with no choice but to listen to offers for him this summer.
Luka Doncic To New York Knicks
One of the teams that are closely monitoring Doncic’s situation in Dallas is the New York Knicks. In a recent article, Mark Nilon of Fansided’s Daily Knicks came up with a blockbuster trade idea that would enable the Knicks to acquire Doncic from the Mavericks in the 2021 offseason.
In the proposed trade scenario by Nilon, the Knicks would be sending a package that includes RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, a 2021 first-round pick, a 2023 first-round pick, and the rights to swap first-round selections in 2022 and 2024 to the Mavericks in exchange for Doncic.
Going All-In For Luka Doncic A No-Brainer For The Knicks
Trading Barrett, Robinson, and multiple first-rounders should be a no-brainer for the Knicks if it means acquiring a generational talent like Doncic. Barrett may have shown a huge improvement with his performance this season, but Doncic is on a different level.
Pairing Doncic with Julius Randle would make the Knicks a more competitive team in the Eastern Conference and bring a significant improvement with their performance on the offensive end of the floor. Doncic would give the Knicks a very reliable scoring option, a great rebounder, playmaker, and floor-spacer. This season, he averaged 27.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.6 assists, and 1.0 steal while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from beyond the arc, per ESPN.
Knicks Add Legitimate No. 1 Scorer
Bringing Doncic to New York would make a lot of sense for the Knicks. Randle may have blossomed into an All-Star this year, but most people don’t view him as the No. 1 scoring option on a title-contending team. Trading for Doncic would give the Knicks their “main guy” and the man who is capable of leading the team’s offense in crucial situations.
Randle won’t definitely mind surrendering the title as the face of the franchise to Doncic as long as it would give them a better chance of fully dominating the Eastern Conference and capturing the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the 2021-22 NBA season.
Mavericks Get Two Young Talents & Draft Assets
The proposed blockbuster deal would also beneficial for the Mavericks, especially if Doncic is no longer interested in staying in Dallas. By sending Doncic to New York, they would be acquiring two young and promising talents that they could develop and future draft picks that would help them speed up the rebuilding process.
Barrett and Robinson could immediately join Kristaps Porzingis in the starting lineup. Barrett could fill the hole in the Mavericks’ wing, while Robinson could serve as Porzingis’ starting frontcourt partner next season.
