More than six years after they agreed to the Porzingis trade in Christaps, the Mavericks and Knicks, who have been facing each other on Tuesday, remain entangled with Jalen Branson to remind them of a better future for New York.
It's a low bar since GM Nico Harrison thwarted Mavericks.
The Mavericks' first big mistake with Branson was not offering him a four-year, $55 million extension while he was still on the roster.
The second mistake following Branson's breakthrough performance in the 2022 playoffs was that he didn't offer his fifth year on contract when he became free agent.
This allowed the Knicks to plummet and sign Branson to the franchise's best free agent throughout history.
The Mavericks eventually pivoted at Kyrie Irving. Kyrie Irving appeared in the right call a year before Dallas reached the final.
But now, 33-year-old Irving has been out for several months since ACL surgery.
Perhaps the most injured team in the NBA, the Mavericks traded Luka Donsic for Elder Anthony Davis.
Davis, who hasn't played since January, was upgraded to questionableness in Monday's match against the net.
If he didn't play at Barclays Center, Davis could return to MSG. It's the same place he was with the Lakers last.
Regardless of Davis' status, the Mavericks were under .500 and were out of the play-in tournament that would take part in Sunday's match.
They also play the Knicks on the second night of backs in a row, following that Brooklyn game.
Meanwhile, New York will operate on two days of rest.
Two other recent Mavericks have joined the Knicks after Branson, who is expected to return from an ankle sprain before the playoffs.
Casey Smith, the current Knicks vice president of sports medicine, was a longtime trainer in Dallas before Harrison's surprise fire in 2023.
The Knicks also hired Heather Maw as a senior athletic trainer.
She is a member of the Mavericks training staff and currently works closely with Branson, according to sources.
Wizards guard Jordan Pool was fined $2,000 by the NBA for an explicit flop with the Knicks on Saturday, forged contact from Karl Anthony Towns and fell on the court.
It was a complete waste of money for the pool.
The referee did not fall to the flop and called for a pool foul in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks scored 122-103.
