MAVS NEWS: Luka Is Hurt, But is Trudging On | DLive's Mom Passes Away| Maxi OUT

[Luka77]

“Happy” is a relative term. 

Not as happy as I’d have been if Cuban would’ve ponied up the max and convinced him to stay, but happier than I am knowing he left for nothing. 

For a while, the point was made that the Western Conference Finals run experience was worth more for the team than what they would have gotten in trade at the deadline, even if they knew Brunson was leaving. I can see the logic, but at this point the team is so different than it was then that I am not sure the experience really carries over.

If, as you seem convinced, there was no keeping Brunson by the middle of that year (I honestly believe a max offer would have done it, but don’t know definitively), then YES, I move him at the deadline for whatever the best offer out there was.

That's were you and I will disagree.  Cuban wasn't convincing Jalen to stay regardless of how much he offered him.  He has and would always would have more security with people he trust and knows.  Brunson was never going to be the face of the Mavs franchise like every NBA player wants but few can achieve.

The Knicks for better or worse have tied thier wagon to Brunson.  AS long as Leon is there he won't be traded or leave NYC.  The Mavs would never offer him that opportunity.

 IMO he not a franchise player.  A good complimentary player (not great), second piece but nothing more.

Moreover, The Knicks have one more card to be played and that's going all in with the draft capital they have been collecting.  

And watch that next move will be about making Brunson a number two and the franchise player.  Lets see how that works out for them and him.  There can be only one Batman and IMO Brunson is a more Robin than Batman.

Also the conference finals was more important to Luka's development than the rest of the team.  That team was always going to need dismantling or replacing for younger timeline matching pieces for a long contending run.