Update: Marc Stein of The New York Times:
Protections on the 2019 first-round pick Atlanta will receive from Dallas in the Luka Doncic deal, per league sources: 1-to-5 protected in 2019; 1-to-5 in 2020; 1-to-3 in 2021; 1-to-3 in 2022; fully unprotected in 2023. Dallas obviously hopes it conveys next June
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 22, 2018
That’s enough protection for me to like this trade for the Mavericks. They’ll surely push in free agency to be as good as possible next season.
The Mavericks reportedly targeted Luka Doncic.
They’ll get him.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
Atlanta and Dallas have agreed to a deal, league sources tell ESPN. They'll trade Nos. 3 and 5 picks, sending Luka Doncic to Dallas and Trae Young to Atlanta, sources said. Dallas will send Atlanta a future first.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2018
No players involved in the deal, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2018
Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports:
Sources: Protection on Dallas' 2019 first-round pick to Atlanta in Luka Doncic/No. 3 deal: 1-5.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2018
Evaluating this trade hinges on the full protections of the future first-round pick, but Doncic is worth plenty.
He’s so skilled – as a ball-handler, passer and shooter. Doncic won’t singlehandedly transform Dallas, but he pairs nicely with Dennis Smith Jr. long-term. Doncic should also help in the short-term, which Dallas isn’t sacrificing.
The Hawks might have preferred Trae Young, a favorite of Atlanta ownership. Perhaps, the Hawks bluffed their way into this trade. If so, that’s a nice move by them. Young, with his passing and shooting, is an impressive prospect in his own right. This will push Dennis Schroder even further onto the trade market.
The Grizzlies made this trade possible by taking Jaren Jackson Jr. No. 4. He apparently came around on Memphis.