05-15-2026, 09:30 AM
(05-15-2026, 09:10 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: So, do you think Brunson and Luka could have co-existed? I mean, it was stated that Brunson wanted the opportunity to run his own team, not play second fiddle to Luka. I actually thought he wasn't lead guard material, more like a backup bench piece. But he proved me and everyone else wrong.
I agree with your point and will add that, at the TDL that season there was a lot of talk about whether Brunson, an SRP, was worth extending or should DAL just go ahead and trade him for whatever they could get. Once he got some recognition of being a pretty good PG in the post season, coupled with tampering and other shenanigans by NYKs and Daddy Brunson, he was a lost cause.
I still don't understand why DAL didn't give him a rookie contract with enough years to claim RFA status. If that was Donnie's negotiating, then bad on him. But if Brunson agreed, then I've suspected he had a sneaky plan to migrate to NY at the first opportunity anyway.