Arguably the biggest trade in NBA 2K League history went down on Tuesday when Mavs Gaming sent the face of their franchise, and inaugural No. 1 overall pick Dimez and a third-round pick to Raptors Uprising GC for Reece Mode and a second-round selection.

I had an opportunity to speak with Dimez on Tuesday afternoon after the trade, and he sounded excited about the next opportunity.

He mentioned he is looking forward to continuing his career with Raptors Uprising GC, and that there are no hard feelings toward Mavs Gaming as he exits the only franchise he’s ever been with as part of the league.

There are a few major takeaways and immediate reactions to this news, but here are a few of mine.

What is Dimez’s League-Wide Value?

Some view Dimez as one of the best players in the league. He’s an OG being the first player ever selected and that distinction carries some weight. Unfortunately, Mavs Gaming has been disappointing from a success standpoint since Season 1, and the team is off to yet another rough start with a 6-12 record in the regular season, and less-than-noteworthy finishes at The TIPOFF powered by AT&T and The TURN powered by AT&T.

So the question is: is Dimez an elite player, or is he just the first player taken in the draft?

I watched him put together strong performances over the past three weeks, but unfortunately, the team was unable to get the victory in some of his best games. That doesn’t mean that Dimez isn’t elite, but after three-plus seasons, it does mean a change is likely in order.

Is Reece Mode the Forgotten Piece in This News?

Obviously, Dimez is the biggest name here, but when you look at the details, this was nearly an even swap with little differences between the draft picks exchanged.

Through 18 games, Reece has made 41.6% of his threes, which is a relatively low percentage compared to most shooting guards in the NBA 2K League. At this point, we don’t know what position he will play with Mavs Gaming, but perhaps a change was in order for him and Raptors Uprising GC too. After an undefeated run in Season 3, the squad from the Six are 5-13, and in need of a speedy resurgence.

What Position Will Dimez Play With Raptors Uprising GC?

The next question that comes to mind is: what position will Dimez play with RUGC? Obviously, Kenny is in the PG spot currently, but that doesn’t mean a change couldn’t be in order.

“Kenny and I have great chemistry so I wouldn’t mind playing PG or SG.,” Dimez said. “I don’t think he’d care either.”

Dimez and Kenny have been among the most mature and non-toxic players in the league, at least publicly, and as Dimez mentioned, they know each other well dating back to some of the earliest days of competitive 2K esports events.

That chemistry might have been an important piece for RUGC. I’m sure they wouldn’t have wanted to make a trade that would immediately result in discord on a roster that is already trying to get things in order.

For the remainder of the season, it will be interesting to see how Mavs Gaming and RUGC respond with their new-look rosters. In case you’re wondering, Mavs Gaming and RUGC do not play each other again the rest of the season. Since they are in different conferences, the only chance they could meet again head-to-head is via an improbable playoff or tournament run.

However, RUGC is back in action on Wednesday against Celtics Crossover Gaming, and they have another series against 76ers GC on Friday. Mavs Gaming have a bye this week.

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