Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[cow]

The heliocentric thing really, really sucks when the guy with the ball is not efficient.

Luka was good for a highlight or three per game, but in general his brand of basketball is really hard to watch.  It really makes you appreciate the movement from teams like Golden State.  One thing I love about Kyrie on the Mavs is how often he involves other players in bringing the ball up the court or initiating the offense.  That instills confidence in your teammates and has the side benefit of giving you an in game blow.  

I don't really think it is fair to lay that all on Luka due to a few factors like talent around him early on and coaching.  Carlisle was probably too curmudgeonly to deal with Luka's antics, but Kidd seemed to roll over.  I'm not sure that gets any better with him in LA with JJ, but maybe LeBron can help there as well as with the conditioning issues though it wouldn't surprise me if LeBron looks elsewhere for a few more good looks at a title.  I'm not even sure what the right coach would be for Luka...Pop?  Seems like a pretty lazy answer but I do think those two minds would pair well and have mutual respect. 

I think Luka is a really good dude and it always sounds like his teammates enjoy being around him.  I'm sure it can be frustrating to see someone so gifted not work harder and maximize their potential, so maybe he's more Shaq than he is Kobe.  

The timing of the trade still feels so odd and it catching Luka so off guard is very telling.  I'm starting to think a lot of people in the organization might have treated him with kid gloves when that might not have been necessary, let frustration build, and just overreacted from those frustrations.