In the early hours, and ultimately days after the Mavericks and Knicks announced last Thursday's seven-player trade, confusion and conflicting information ensued about the two first-round draft picks Dallas had agreed to send New York.
And how the trading of those picks would affect the Mavericks' 2018 draft-night trade of another first-round pick, to Atlanta, to acquire Luka Doncic.
When the trade to Atlanta was made, the first-round pick to the Hawks was top-five protected. Specifically, if Dallas finishes outside the top five in this year's draft lottery, the Mavericks' 2019 first pick would be conveyed to the Hawks.