Kristaps Porzingis had a career year yet didn’t live up to expectations

Porzingis averaged career bests in field goal percentage, two point percentage, free throw percentage, turnovers, player efficiency rating, true shooting percentage, total rebound percentage, offensive win shares, win shares per 48 minutes played, offensive box plus minus, and box plus minus.

He had career worsts in steal percentage, block percentage, field goal percentage allowed at the rim, defensive win shares, and defensive box plus minus.

Porzingis also struggled with availability; he played in just 43 games, a career low in seasons where he has played at all.

It was the only game this season where Porzingis blocked more than three shots, and one of only five games where he blocked more than two shots.

Luka had 26 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 7 turnovers on 9 for 22 from the floor and 1 for 7 from behind the arc.

Porzingis and Josh Richardson teamed up for a handoff into a secondary pick and roll which resulted in Richardson making an open 18 footer.

He is on the books for $31,650,600 next year, $33,833,400 in 22-23 and has a player option for $36,016,200 in 2023-24.

In the playoffs, the Mavericks had an Offensive Rating of 123.54, a defensive rating of 120.98 with a net rating of 2.56 in 202 minutes with both players on the court.

However, the reason for the regular season struggles were purely defensive as lineups that contained Luka and Porzingis had an offensive rating of 121.06 during the regular season.

During the regular season, Luka shot 40.9% from three with a 64.9% true shooting with Porzingis on the court and 31.6% on threes with a 55.4% true shooting without.

During the playoffs, Luka took a similar percentage of shots at the rim with and without Porzingis but he finished them at 83% with Porzingis and just 60% without Porzingis.

Luka showed an ability to defend better during the playoffs, but in order to maximize his team’s ceiling, the other 4 players need to defend at an elite level.

If the Mavericks cannot get value from a Porzingis trade, they would be better off banking on a hot start to next season and hoping to deal him at that point.

During the regular season portion of the bubble, he averaged 30.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, only 1.3 turnovers per game and shot 47.6% from the field, 38.1% from three and 89,1% from the free throw line.

While there is always the potential for another injury, it is much more likely that Porzingis plays well to begin next season raising his trade value.

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