Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[F Gump]

Current Mavs ownership is part of the Ruling Class. The One-Percent. Their considerations aren't the same as the non-one-percent. Nico was probably ordered to make the move to trade Luka for reasons of their own, without factoring in Mavs fans feelings. Mavs fans feelings were not their consideration. Ownership is happy with the move. We read what Dumont had to say. In their opinion, case closed. Fans unhappy? Sit the eff down, and shut up.

Hmmm. Interesting take. But I'm not quite able to buy it.

In theory, you can have so much money that you don't care. But real life - and demonstrated by the NBA owners who all have billions - is that the rich really care about losing money.

What if you just had one of your toys, worth $4.5B, suddenly become worth far less because a manager doofus is doing stupid things with it, and the customers no longer like buying what they are selling? They do care what the public thinks of their team - that's what they are selling and what drives value.

My belief is that this has now gone far beyond a trade mistake. I think Nico's ongoing, utter ineptitude as a GM has imperiled the brand itself, and guts the value of the franchise. Dumont supports the move, but no way he supports making "The Mavs" into something despised in Dallas (unless he's that stupid, in which case his job is going to be on thin ice too).

Or let me put it in different terms. If the Mavs today want taxpayer support to build a new arena, and an entertainment venue around it, will they be warmly embraced? Or laughed at and ignored? They NEED the fan base and public support, and every move they are making is alienating it more and more.