Dub Hub, Daily Warriors Links for 2/6/23: Kyrie Irving traded to Dallas as NBA trade deadline approaches

Good Morning Dub Nation,

It was a busy news weekend in the NBA world as teams continue to prepare and execute their plans ahead of Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline. However, we start off this Monday with the big injury news regarding Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, who suffered a lower leg injury during Saturday’s 119-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

For those of us who aren’t medical professionals, here is an explanation of Curry’s injury from Sports Medicine Doctor Brian Sutterer on Twitter, as well as when the team is hoping to get him back according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.

The other big news of the weekend was the blockbuster trade of Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Irving requested a trade on Friday and reportedly threatened to sit out the rest of the season if he was kept on the team past Thursday’s deadline. The Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Phoenix Suns were among the teams to make offers for Irving, but ultimately, the Nets decided to go with the Mavericks offer of players Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and two second-round picks in 2027 and 2029.

The combination of Irving and Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic should prove to be a formidable offensive tandem in the Western Conference. Doncic is a double team magnet which should open up plenty of one-on-one opportunities for Irving who is elite in that aspect of the game.

Golden State — currently sitting at eighth in the West — will be challenged in the upcoming days. They will have to find a way to deal with Curry’s injury as well as the inevitable improvement of several teams looking to bolster their rosters ahead of the trade deadline.

Here are the rest of today’s stories:

In case you missed it from Golden State of Mind:

• The one thing the Warriors are so good at — and how a potential Steph Curry absence makes it impossible to execute
• Steph Curry exits game against the Mavericks with a lower leg injury
• Warriors hang on in 119-113 victory over Mavs, but Steph Curry’s injury looms large
• Player grades: Warriors vs. Nuggets
• Kyrie Irving requests a trade, again

Other Warriors News:

• Sources: Stephen Curry (leg) expected out through All-Star break (ESPN)
• Why Kevon Looney is back in Warriors’ starting lineup after going small (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Jordan Poole will start again for Warriors after Steph Curry leg injury (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Warriors lose Steph Curry, hold off Mavericks for necessary home win (The Athletic)
• RUMOR: The Kevin Durant reason Warriors could hold onto young players past trade deadline (ClutchPoints)

NBA News:

• Inside the Kyrie Irving trade negotiations: Why the Mavericks beat out Lakers, Suns and other offers (The Athletic)
• NBA probed incident involving associates of Grizzlies’ Ja Morant; red laser trained on Pacers team members (The Athletic)
• LeBron James nears NBA all-time scoring record after 27-point game vs. Pelicans (The Athletic)
• Magic’s Mo Bamba, Wolves’ Austin Rivers among 3 suspended for brawl (ESPN)
• NBA fake trade guide 2023: Eight tips to make your deadline deals suck less, have more fun with rumors (The Sporting News)