The Dallas Mavericks were informed by the New York Knicks of pending rape allegations against Kristaps Porzingis on a Jan. 31 trade call with NBA headquarters that finalized a blockbuster trade. The Mavericks took on several unwanted contracts and traded two future first round picks for Porzingis, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

Mark Cuban, in an email to the Post, said the team is aware of the accusation, but "we have been instructed by federal authorities not to comment."

Cuban declined further comment when contacted by ESPN.

A seven-month-long investigation in 2018 into the Mavericks organization found widespread sexual harassment and workplace misconduct over a period of more than 20 years.

Cuban agreed to contribute $10 million to women's causes.

The Sacramento Kings discussed a trade with the Washington Wizards centered on Otto Porter Jr.

The Kings eventually pivoted to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks for Harrison Barnes, while the Wizards dealt Porter to the Chicago Bulls.

Sacramento also had interest in Porter when he was a restricted free agent in 2017.

Barnes was acquired by the Kings to help fortify the wings, but he's spent most of the past two seasons as a power forward.

The New York Knicks made an offer to the Sacramento Kings around last year's draft centered around Kristaps Porzingis.

The Kings were drafting No. 2 and could have moved Fox while reorienting their team around Luka Doncic.

The Kings would have had to either send an additional asset beyond De'Aaron Fox or take back unwanted salary from the Knicks.

Sacramento ultimately decided to keep Fox and draft Marvin Bagley III.

Fox has become one of the league's best young point guards, while Porzingis eventually was traded by the Knicks to unite with Doncic as members of the Dallas Mavericks.

"I like Luka, but we didn't want to overload with players who -- maybe they don't have the exact same characteristics, but if you want to develop the guys you have, you have to make sure they have room to develop," said Vlade Divac.

Kobe Bryant publicly endorsed trading the Los Angeles Lakers' young players for Anthony Davis.

The Lakers had included Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram in trade talks with the New Orleans Pelicans for Davis.

"Kuzma, Lonzo, Ingram ... Are all three better than Anthony Davis? No no!. Ciao! Bye! 

"Anthony Davis is one of the best players in the world. Not just now but in history. What are we talking about? If you can acquire Anthony Davis, you do it. If not, agree. We have three players who are very young and who work hard. They are intelligent and must be developed. But if you can acquire Anthony Davis ... yes!"

The Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz could pick up their trade talks involving Mike Conley around the draft.

The Grizzlies and Jazz held serious talks on Conley leading to the deadline, but no trade was ultimately executed.

The Grizzlies have begun to fully shift to rebuilding mode with their trade of Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors. 

Conley has an Early Termination Option on his contract for the 20-21 season that he's unlikely to exercise.

Lonzo Ball said he was motivated and excited to have a full summer to work on his craft.

“I’m very, very motivated. I want to be the best I can be. I’m looking forward to this summer. I don’t look at it as added pressure, because I haven’t had a full summer yet to dedicate to myself. I have to keep working on my craft," said Ball.

Ball was shutdown for the season following complications related to his Grade 3 ankle sprain.

He added that he's not worried about potentially getting traded in the offseason. 

“At the end of the day, you can only control the things that you can control. If I get traded, then I get traded. But I’m going to be ready to go. The goal is to be the best player I can for whichever team.”

A trade between the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers involving Anthony Davis is very unlikely to take place, according to Marc J. Spears.

"I have been told that there’s no way Anthony Davis is coming here, through the Pelicans. They’re just not going to do it," said Spears while filming for ESPN.

Michael Wilbon added that he also heard a similar sentiment. 

The Pelicans and Lakers each accused the other team of leaking information during their trade negotiations before the deadline, with Magic Johnson adding that the Pelicans of not negotiating in good faith. 

The New Orleans Pelicans had no intent to trade Anthony Davis before the trade deadline, especially not to the Los Angeles Lakers, according to sources.

The Lakers made several aggressive offers to the Pelicans involving Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart.

Magic Johnson criticized the Pelicans for negotiating in bad faith on Davis.

Los Angeles Lakers executives believe that rival teams are going out of their way to sabotage their standing within the league, according to Sam Amick.

"From Jeanie on down, there is a growing belief that rival teams like New Orleans have gone to great lengths to do the kind of subversive damage that is nearly impossible to prove. Johnson himself has said that he doesn’t believe the Pelicans negotiated in good faith, and it certainly was unique to see trade packages with remarkable specificity being reported throughout the process," writes Amick.

Those accusations come on the heels of Jeanie Buss calling out the media for leaking false rumors during their trade talks for Anthony Davis.

“The biggest challenge…(is) the fake news about how we were supposedly trading our entire roster for a certain player, which is completely not true,” said Buss at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.

The Phoenix Suns offered a protected first round pick to the Boston Celtics before the start of the season for Terry Rozier.

The Celtics demanded an unprotected first round pick in exchange for Rozier, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

Boston considers Rozier to be insurance at point guard in case Kyrie Irving leaves in free agency.

A report this week indicated Ryan McDonough's dismissal as general manager of the Suns came after he was unable to remedy their point guard situation.