Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[cow]

It goes to show how fast you can implode a franchise.

Pretty easy to do when the foundation of your approach is to make one of the worst trades in sports history.  Everyone in the basketball world, including casual fans, knew this was a mistake except for our GM and ownership.

[SirMyztiq]

Torn ACL for Kai. Devastating season with the only thing to look forward to is "being healthy" next year and pray that we don't trade away our young pieces for KD.

[KillerLeft]

Just crazy.

I'm not a superstitious person, but ever since the Luka trade things have been going wrong in multiple facets of my life. The Mavs are a dumpster fire and I've suffered random setbacks in my professional life that I didn't see coming as well. It feels like 2025 is going to be just awful.

[omahen]

I feel sorry for Kai and hope he recovers soon.

Nico had a problem with Luka not taking care of himself. Having issues with signing him on that big contract due to risks related to that. Well, asking a 32 year old guard, who was not exactly an ironman in his career, to play 40 mpg is a disaster waiting to happen. Although I didn't think it will be so bad. There is likely no back-up plan to this. Perhaps Nico should fire himself over this. Or fire Kidd.

[BoredAssistant]

I've only watched the Lakers game (barely) and 30 seconds here and there, and have not seen one second of Flagg so no one should care what I think. You can hit on two players in one draft, apparently. I would look to trade to move up in this draft to at least have a chance this year (force the nba's hand w/Flagg?) and/or acquire picks in general to move up or to use in the future. Absolutely tank immediately and where appropriate.

[cow]

Just crazy.

I'm not a superstitious person, but ever since the Luka trade things have been going wrong in multiple facets of my life. The Mavs are a dumpster fire and I've suffered random setbacks in my professional life that I didn't see coming as well. It feels like 2025 is going to be just awful.

I spent January in Fort Worth taking care of my elderly mother who started dialysis.  I drove through 400 miles of fog only to bring a "snowstorm" with me.  One of my sister's dogs bit me, caught RSV and then Nico Harrison traded away a generational talent for reasons.  When I did finally get home, my RSV graduated into a lung infection.  The Mavs have largely been a dumpster fire since 2011 with a huge ray of hope injected when they had one the best drafts ever.  And while he got damned close, even a once in a lifetime player couldn't drag us out of the hole both management regimes dug.  

It could be worse I guess.  Did you hear that Jimmy Johnson retired from Fox Sports this week?  He'd been with them for 30 years.  30 years!  That really gave me perspective on the Cowboy's ineptitude.

[KillerLeft]

Perhaps Nico should fire himself over this. Or fire Kidd.

This injury really can't be connected to the validity of the trade (despite the valid connection you're making regarding playing time), but morale amongst Mavs fans, including and especially season ticket holders, was already low and this injury is a signal that things are about to get really, truly BAD for this team in such a way that guarantees the rest of this season and probably most of the next will be truly depressing. The blowback is undoubtedly going to get lumped into the feelings over the Luka trade, so for the first time today I can envision some front office changes happening during this off-season. 

It will be interesting to see who goes first, Harrison or Kidd. Or, will they leave together? 

I struggle to see any other way of acknowledging this mess to your fan base, at this point.

[Kidnova]

This injury really can't be connected to the validity of the trade (despite the valid connection you're making regarding playing time)

I understand what you're saying, as you can't predict injuries, but I'm not sure I totally agree with you.  Everybody knew that Kyrie's time as a superstar was limited, whether by age, injury or both, but the franchise cornerstone was only 26 years old, so you were setup for both short and long term.  This certainly emphasizes the short-sightedness of the trade, even if it was information not available at the time the decision was made.

[omahen]

This injury really can't be connected to the validity of the trade (despite the valid connection you're making regarding playing time), but morale amongst Mavs fans, including and especially season ticket holders, was already low and this injury is a signal that things are about to get really, truly BAD for this team in such a way that guarantees the rest of this season and probably most of the next will be truly depressing. The blowback is undoubtedly going to get lumped into the feelings over the Luka trade, so for the first time today I can envision some front office changes happening during this off-season. 

It will be interesting to see who goes first, Harrison or Kidd. Or, will they leave together? 

I struggle to see any other way of acknowledging this mess to your fan base, at this point.

It was not my intent to connect this injury to the Luka trade. Although of course the consequence of the trade was that they were left with one creator only. Still, it was their choice to play him 40 mpg. Perhaps they would lose a couple of games more in this stretch if they played him 35 mpg, but that looks like a better option now...

[cow]

This injury really can't be connected to the validity of the trade (despite the valid connection you're making regarding playing time), but morale amongst Mavs fans, including and especially season ticket holders, was already low and this injury is a signal that things are about to get really, truly BAD for this team in such a way that guarantees the rest of this season and probably most of the next will be truly depressing. The blowback is undoubtedly going to get lumped into the feelings over the Luka trade, so for the first time today I can envision some front office changes happening during this off-season. 

It will be interesting to see who goes first, Harrison or Kidd. Or, will they leave together? 

I struggle to see any other way of acknowledging this mess to your fan base, at this point.

So you are saying that raising ticket prices right now was a bad idea?  

Kidd might welcome getting off this sinking ship.  I think he's done enough to rehab his reputation from his days with the Bucks and Nico did him a solid by saying Kidd wasn't involved in the Luka trade (also Kidd looked like a hostage in that post-trade presser).  I'd guess his services would be in demand.

I wish we lived in the timeline where Mosley replaced Carlisle.

[Radical Mavs]

This injury really can't be connected to the validity of the trade (despite the valid connection you're making regarding playing time), but morale amongst Mavs fans, including and especially season ticket holders, was already low and this injury is a signal that things are about to get really, truly BAD for this team in such a way that guarantees the rest of this season and probably most of the next will be truly depressing. The blowback is undoubtedly going to get lumped into the feelings over the Luka trade, so for the first time today I can envision some front office changes happening during this off-season. 

It will be interesting to see who goes first, Harrison or Kidd. Or, will they leave together? 

I struggle to see any other way of acknowledging this mess to your fan base, at this point.

IF this happens, who will be the replacements?

[KillerLeft]

I understand what you're saying, as you can't predict injuries, but I'm not sure I totally agree with you.  Everybody knew that Kyrie's time as a superstar was limited, whether by age, injury or both, but the franchise cornerstone was only 26 years old, so you were setup for both short and long term.  This certainly emphasizes the short-sightedness of the trade, even if it was information not available at the time the decision was made.

You don't understand what I'm saying - or, I didn't say it clearly enough, rather. Look at the Parenthetical in my post. I acknowledged this point. 

What I'm saying is that the higher risk of Kyrie's injury was there a week ago, or even before they executed Luka trade, in reality. Smart fans warned that this was a possibility. BUT, Kyrie ACTUALLY GETTING INJURED is going to be the perfect excuse for people to get their pitch forks nice and sharp again, even those who never would've made that connection, just because everything is gonna suck now. 

I honestly don't see how at least one of Harrison/Kidd doesn't get offered up over this.

[KillerLeft]

It was not my intent to connect this injury to the Luka trade. Although of course the consequence of the trade was that they were left with one creator only. Still, it was their choice to play him 40 mpg. Perhaps they would lose a couple of games more in this stretch if they played him 35 mpg, but that looks like a better option now...

Yeah, everyone is misinterpreting my point - probably because I'm pissed and didn't take enough time to articulate it properly. 

I wasn't criticizing you, I was ADDING to your point. Every fan, from most casual to most informed, will connect this to the Luka trade in their minds, whether they think there's a logical connection as you do, or just because not enough time has passed for people to get over being angry. 

I would not want to be Nico Harrison today. That's what I'm saying.

[SleepingHero]

This injury really can't be connected to the validity of the trade (despite the valid connection you're making regarding playing time), but morale amongst Mavs fans, including and especially season ticket holders, was already low and this injury is a signal that things are about to get really, truly BAD for this team in such a way that guarantees the rest of this season and probably most of the next will be truly depressing. The blowback is undoubtedly going to get lumped into the feelings over the Luka trade, so for the first time today I can envision some front office changes happening during this off-season. 

It will be interesting to see who goes first, Harrison or Kidd. Or, will they leave together? 

I struggle to see any other way of acknowledging this mess to your fan base, at this point.

Nico is going to be the fall man. He’s said as much. I think Kidd has actually bought himself time for coaching a winning record with this mess he’s been given this year.


Regardless, I’d also be okay if we truly cleaned house top to bottom. Every single member of the coaching staff for the last 15 years gone. Every member of Nico’s front office gone. The owners sell.

Literally just restart the franchise.

[mvossman]

I wish we lived in the timeline where Mosley replaced Carlisle.

I wish we lived in the timeline where Cuban hired Linsey as GM (a reasonable decision) instead of a shoe salesman with zero experience.

[cow]

I wish we lived in the timeline where Cuban hired Linsey as GM (a reasonable decision) instead of a shoe salesman with zero experience.

Cuban proves that sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

[Nowitzki Way]

I wish we lived in the timeline where Cuban hired Linsey as GM (a reasonable decision) instead of a shoe salesman with zero experience.

Now what happens if Nico does leave or gets fired? How would Dumont and co. even know how to run a search for a GM? This would be a disaster.  

Whats up Rick Welts? What is he even doing here? No way a guy with success like that at Golden State would let the Luka go on. But could he get us Bob Myers? I dont even know what their relationship was.

[KillerLeft]

In a very real way, it's 100% Cuban's fault that all of this is happening. I get that.

But, and I never thought I'd say this, I wish we lived in the alternate timeline where he didn't sell the team. The persisting and legitimate complaints we had about his time with the reigns pales in comparison to the scene we're forced to deal with today.

I wish I could tell 2011 me that breaking up that championship team was gonna be topped eventually on the "stupid" scale. I'm not sure I'd have believed myself.

[KillerLeft]

Now what happens if Nico does leave or gets fired? How would Dumont and co. even know how to run a search for a GM? This would be a disaster.  

Whats up Rick Welts? What is he even doing here? No way a guy with success like that at Golden State would let the Luka go on. But could he get us Bob Myers? I dont even know what their relationship was.

I'm gonna be optimistic here and say that IF Dumont is smart enough to recognize that a GM change is needed (even if he believes it's only to offer up a pound of flesh to the mob), he'll not try to outsmart the world like Cuban did and simply hire a GOOD GM by offering a competitive salary. Doesn't mean they'll get the right guy, but I assume they'd actually talk to basketball experts during the search.

[cow]

In a very real way, it's 100% Cuban's fault that all of this is happening. I get that.

But, and I never thought I'd say this, I wish we lived in the alternate timeline where he didn't sell the team. The persisting and legitimate complaints we had about his time with the reigns pales in comparison to the scene we're forced to deal with today.

I wish I could tell 2011 me that breaking up that championship team was gonna be topped eventually on the "stupid" scale. I'm not sure I'd have believed myself.

One thing is for sure, Cuban wouldn't have allowed the Luka trade to happen.