Dorian Finney-Smith

Kyrie Irving was traded in a blockbuster from the Nets to the Mavericks in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith.

[when we wrote about trade rumors involving OG Anunoby](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2023/02/nba-trade-deadline-rumors-og-anunoby-knicks-pelicans-grizzlies), we highlighted the intersection of defensive positional versatility and defensive matchup difficulty. [Brooklyn’s defense ranked as the seventh-worst](http://www.pbpstats.com/totals/nba/opponent?Season=2022-23,2020-21,2021-22&SeasonType=All&FromDate=2020-09-01&StartType=All&ToDate=2022-11-01) in the NBA during the era in which former head coach Steve Nash led the team. But the Nets’ ranked [sixth-best in defensive rating](https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/advanced?DateFrom=11%2F09%2F2022&DateTo=1%2F08%2F2023&Season=2022-23) during the impressive two-month stretch between when Jacque Vaughn took over on Nov. [While everyone is talking about Irving](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2023/02/kyrie-irving-luka-doncic-mavericks-title-chances-odds-not-favorites), who is reportedly “ [ecstatic](https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/mavericks-kyrie-irving-trade-nets-ecstatic)” to join Luka Doncic on the Mavericks, we should probably pay a bit more attention to the fact that Finney-Smith is now on the Nets. Portland’s Damian Lillard was named the Western Conference Player of the Week. [Subscribe here](https://profile.usatoday.com/newsletters/USAT-NWSLTRMNGMNT-SM/layup-lines/) to get it delivered to your inbox. That real possibility, as well as everything else about his value if he does stay on the team, makes him the most interesting player traded in this deal. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. On the other side of the court, meanwhile, Finney-Smith will provide positive value as well. Finney-Smith, O’Neale, and Simmons give the Nets a versatile defense that will not struggle in a switch-heavy scheme. [here is what Bamba supposedly said to Rivers](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2023/02/magic-timberwolves-austin-rivers-mo-bamba-fight) that started the altercation. [Kyrie Irving was traded in a blockbuster](https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/kyrie-irving-trade-mavericks-luka-doncic-stunning-player-reaction) from the Nets to the Mavericks in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and draft capital.