Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[FireNicoHarrison]

I still think pre trade Mavs had it all to win, it was an insane roster... And i still don't believe who assembled that roster can trade Luka for the 2025 version of KP and a FRP.

[rocky164]

I still think pre trade Mavs had it all to win, it was an insane roster... And i still don't believe who assembled that roster can trade Luka for the 2025 version of KP and a FRP.

That roster definitely deserved a playoff run just to see what we had.  Think about this for a minute.  We had KP, Brunson, and Luka who are all arguably better players than what we have left with AD.  Kyrie is still here, but who knows what Kyrie will look like post injury.

[DallasMaverick]

I still think pre trade Mavs had it all to win, it was an insane roster... And i still don't believe who assembled that roster can trade Luka for the 2025 version of KP and a FRP.

Yeah, with Luka we had absolute certainty of a championship banner. Not just one, but two, three, four…

Now, we have absolute certainty of being cellar-dwellers for our entire lifetimes.

Right?

[FireNicoHarrison]

Yeah, with Luka we had absolute certainty of a championship banner. Not just one, but two, three, four…

Now, we have absolute certainty of being cellar-dwellers for our entire lifetimes.

Right?

I don't think you got the gist of the post, but no, the only certainties in life are death and taxes...

[The Jom]

Luka with 8 first-half free throws at the half tonight vs. Houston. No other player on either team as a free throw attempt. Not one. Crazy. Could never, ever happen with the Mavs.

[ThisIStheYear]

Here’s a certainty. In the modern NBA where you need to shoot 40+ threes a game, building your roster around three non shooting bigs, no matter how good, is a road to Meh.

[omahen]

Lakers played an awesome game. Controlled the defensive rebound and generated huge amount of open threes. If Lakers would be shooting better, it would be a blow out. It was a B2B for Houston, but watching this game, I am not really scared of them. Their halfcourt offense is not good and their bigs stand no chance defending the three pointer. Key game against GSW next.

[F Gump]

Lakers played an awesome game.

Could not care less.

Lakers suck.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Could not care less.

Lakers suck.

That's it.

[Chicagojk]

Lakers played an awesome game. Controlled the defensive rebound and generated huge amount of open threes. If Lakers would be shooting better, it would be a blow out. It was a B2B for Houston, but watching this game, I am not really scared of them. Their halfcourt offense is not good and their bigs stand no chance defending the three pointer. Key game against GSW next.

Didn’t see the game.  Imo they are the second best team in the west and I would want to avoid OKC as long as possible.  Did you see OKC has one loss against the East all year?  Wow!  Maybe someone shocks OKC in the first two rounds.  Unlikely though.

I don’t think anyone will want to play this a lakers team.  While they are a little flawed, Luka will get his teammates good looks and if Luka is hitting his three there is nothing you can do.

I think the key is how Lebron holds up in a long playoff.  If he can’t be what he was right after the trade, that will be tough for the Lakers.

While avoiding OKC is my number one if I was them.  A GS and Denver first two round is next.  Both teams have their issues, but jokic and Steph can impact a series like Luka.  I would be hoping to get Memphis or Houston in the first round.  Neither are beating a healthy Laker team

[omahen]

Didn’t see the game.  Imo they are the second best team in the west and I would want to avoid OKC as long as possible.  Did you see OKC has one loss against the East all year?  Wow!  Maybe someone shocks OKC in the first two rounds.  Unlikely though.

I don’t think anyone will want to play this a lakers team.  While they are a little flawed, Luka will get his teammates good looks and if Luka is hitting his three there is nothing you can do.

I think the key is how Lebron holds up in a long playoff.  If he can’t be what he was right after the trade, that will be tough for the Lakers.

While avoiding OKC is my number one if I was them.  A GS and Denver first two round is next.  Both teams have their issues, but jokic and Steph can impact a series like Luka.  I would be hoping to get Memphis or Houston in the first round.  Neither are beating a healthy Laker team

I think Lakers will be very good against teams with more traditional centers. Luka/reaves/LeBron will destroy those guys in PnR imho. Either lobs, finishing themselves or an open three. They will have more problems against switch heavy teams. 

I am still wondering, if it would be better to get OKC sooner, while they are less tired.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Here’s a certainty. In the modern NBA where you need to shoot 40+ threes a game, building your roster around three non shooting bigs, no matter how good, is a road to Meh.

That was never the case with the Mavs especially the way their roster was set up, with Luka or Kyrie throwing lobs to the bigs. The only floor stretching big they had was Maxi, and he became a reluctant shooter. AD is a border-line decent 3 pt shooter, but he doesn't take enough of them. Some good defensive teams can take away the lob threat, such as Boston did last year. Davis is the only consistent scorer they have. I don't trust Lively or Gafford unless they are right at the rim.

[ThisIStheYear]

Man, Luka needs to hit the Ozempic before it’s too late for him. It’s hard to believe what I’m seeing. He looks like a Euro Shawn Kemp,

[SleepingHero]

Man, Luka needs to hit the Ozempic before it’s too late for him. It’s hard to believe what I’m seeing. He looks like a Euro Shawn Kemp,

He had one off game after rattling off 7 straight 30 point feats. He’s fine.

[omahen]

Lakers unfortunately lost. Luka didn't have a great game, but bigger problem was the bench, where no one could score. GSW shot 45 % from three. Podziemski 8-10, Moody 3-6, Draymond 2-4 for example. West is now even closer. Lakers still have two games against OKC to play and only one game (and a tiebreaker) lead to GSW. Can't afford to screw up games like Pels tonight.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Fakers are trash.

[bubbler86]

Luka had a decent run a week or two ago but is now 3 for his last 22 on 3-point shots. That is chucker-like.

[ThisIStheYear]

Luka is shooting a pathetic 41%. Can’t get shots up in the paint when he even manages to get there. Caused two 24 second violations last night dribbling to nowhere. is only 11-8 playing with the game’s 2nd GOAT. He’s failing in LA so far and looks like Brenden Fraser. I wouldn’t be watching Laker games if I didnt want him to succeed, but at some point you have to change your thinking based on evidence.

[david75090]

AD is our New Hero. Nico traded that fat guy, so we all need to get over it and root for our New Hero. Times-a-wastin'. We've got a play-in game about to be here. All hands on deck.

[WildArkieBoy]

AD is our New Hero. Nico traded that fat guy, so we all need to get over it and root for our New Hero. Times-a-wastin'. We've got a play-in game about to be here. All hands on deck.

AD does look good.  It's just his durability that's in question.  But, back to this thread's original topic:  With Pat Dumont at the healm and the volume on Cuban's microphone turned off, the Mavs seem stuck with the Nico/JKidd tandem with respect to bball expertise.  While we have a core of good young players, Nico's last two trades make me question his role in acquiring the current core.  Regardless of who's responsible for this solid core, they're going to win some games even with JKidd watching from the sidelines.

wab

ps: The Lakers could use Gafford if his contract request becomes too high stakes for Destination Resorts.