07-28-2025, 08:30 AM
(07-28-2025, 07:50 AM)Smitty Wrote: We get these reports every summer. I'm not saying that he's not taking it seriously, or that it won't last, just that we were on Luka weight watch every year here.
Now we're on AD/Kyrie/Lively health watch instead.
I think this year is different. It should be. Strong, quick Luka was always my favorite. I was worried that was gone. There was much more going on with the training staff than we knew last year, but still seeing how he was moving and how he looked at the beginning of the season was the most dissapointed in him that I ever was. Was it the injury? Was it his preparation? Was it distrust in the training staff? All? Whatever it was, he was moving like a 40 year old. Still productive but there was no way it was something that was going to last. The finals run was long and brutal and he deserved to take time off. Although, conditioning should be almost a 12 month thing.
Every possible step should have been taken before trading him. In fact, firing Nico should come before trading Luka. I am sure there was a lot of angst how he came to camp last year. Still though, Nico had to know that this next step was probably coming. Just like Dirk who found nutrition in his mid 20's. We will see if Luka is as serious as Dirk was, but it is a nice first step.