The Mavericks have made their first bold move to surround budding star Luka Doncic with the right players.

Sources: Full players involved in Knicks/Mavericks deal:

Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, Trey Burke to Dallas.

Dennis Smith Jr., Wes Matthews, DeAndre Jordan and likely first-round draft pick compensation to New York.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 31, 2019

Dallas traded Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and draft pick compensation to the Knicks for Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke and Courtney Lee, according to Stadium NBA Insider Shams Charania. Porzingis and Smith Jr. are the centerpieces of the trade, with Matthews and Jordan looking like potential buyout candidates.

While the Mavericks likely won’t see Porzingis on the court this year due to his recovery from a torn ACL, the big man is exactly the type of player who should mesh well with Doncic. Porzingis can stretch the floor and defend the rim, making him the ideal big man for the modern NBA. He averaged 17.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in three seasons with New York.

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Dallas also gets Hardaway Jr. and his mammoth contract, one of New York’s poor decisions in free agency. The shooting guard is putting up a career-high 19.1 points per game, but his efficiency is down from last season. The Mavericks have the ability to take on Hardaway Jr.’s deal, but are banking on his ability to be more effective next to Doncic. Lee is a capable wing player who has one more year left on his deal after this season. Burke has struggled after a strong 2017-18 campaign, but provides value as a cheap point guard option off the bench.

The Knicks reportedly felt Porzingis would not sign an extension with the team and made the trade to get a return for him. Matthews and Jordan represent expiring contracts that will allow the Knicks to create more than $40 million in cap space this summer. Not signing Porzingis to a deal saves New York some additional money. Smith Jr. didn’t mesh well with Doncic based on advanced analytics and there was some tension between the guard and Dallas this season. His fit with Frank Ntilikina will be something to monitor for the rest of the season now that the Frenchman will get some of Hardaway Jr.’s minutes.

The Mavericks will also be sending a draft pick but if it’s a first-round selection, the Knicks likely won’t see that payoff until 2021. New York should have two maximum salary slots available in free agency once this deal is completed. With rookie Kevin Knox playing well and Smith Jr. now in the fold, the Knicks will have some draw in free agency. Having a high lottery draft pick will also entice stars.

With no first-round pick this season barring some miraculous lottery luck, the Mavericks clearly felt the need to acquire young talent to grow with Doncic. However, they will have to work to keep Porzingis happy.

Sources: All-Star Kristaps Porzingis is planning to inform the Dallas Mavericks his intent is to sign the qualifying offer in restricted free agency this summer.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 31, 2019

Basically, Porzingis is going to avoid restricted free agency and sign the one-year qualifying offer. This means he’s going to be an unrestricted free agent after next year. The Mavericks can offer a five-year deal, but they can’t offer the designated player extension. Dallas is taking a huge risk here. If Porzingis and Doncic don’t work out next season, the big man could bolt in free agency.

The Mavericks and Knicks were at a crossroads organizationally. Both made a deal to help them create a clear-cut path for their respective futures. Dallas will be betting on Doncic and Porzingis to mesh well and elevate the players around them. New York will be looking to strike lottery gold before making two massive splashes in free agency.

MORE: Eye Test vs. Analytics: The Dennis Smith Jr. Conundrum