Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[SleepingHero]

we'll see what offers are out there 
I could see him taking slightly less than we're offering for a better opportunity. But it's hard seeing who that would be

Only one team has significant cap space and that’s Brooklyn.

But LeBron could opt out and take a pay cut to make the money work in LA. Same with Kyrie.

There are possibilities for the Lakers to make it happen.

[SleepingHero]

Are you suggesting something built around a three team trade of Kyrie to Lakers, Reaves+ to Suns, KD to Mavs?  Does something like that even make sense?  KD is 4 years older and Kyrie is probably already the better player.

My initial thought was that Kyrie was going to bail, but given how good of buddies he is with AD I'm not so sure.  Might depend on how badly the shit show continues.

I was thinking about that Kyrie to LA, KD to Dallas, Suns gets scraps from Lakers and Dallas to make it work.

Just because the money makes sense in terms of not gutting this entire team. It also helps that Kyrie changed his entire twitter profile into lakers purple and gold which is the main reason why I’m having feelings that Kyrie is out of here.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

The Lakers could easily load up on older superstars to win now, then reload with Luka later. They love Reeves, but they'd include him to get Kyrie in a heartbeat.

[DallasMaverick]

Why would Kyrie leave? He has the GM he likes. The coach he likes. His longtime friend in AD and will likely be talking it up with Durant at the All-Star festivities to come join them for a legitimate shot at a championship.

It is much more likely that Nico trades all remaining picks, and the salary needed for Durant. Then Kyrie signing a similar deal as before, that align with AD and KD's (next) deals. Which is just as likely to be how long Nico is in charge.

I just don’t think the 3-max-player formula works anymore.

Really hard to imagine the Mavs going after someone like that.

Much more effective to have a load of athletic MLE-type guys.

[LukaMVP]

I just don’t think the 3-max-player formula works anymore.

Really hard to imagine the Mavs going after someone like that.

Much more effective to have a load of athletic MLE-type guys.

totally agree. having three max players on board means most of your other players would be minimum contracts, and we are hardly an appealing destination for those competent vets who are willing to join a contender for minimum pay.

[Smitty]

I just don’t think the 3-max-player formula works anymore.

Really hard to imagine the Mavs going after someone like that.

Much more effective to have a load of athletic MLE-type guys.

Nico doesn’t care what we think.

[audiosway]

Kyrie has always been a bit weird. He finally seemed to mature and find peace here. He had finally accepted that for him to win a ring again he had to be a beta. Just as the first time with Bron. The key was to play with an undisputed alpha who he could also accept,as better than him since he is still an elite player himself.

Things were shaping up perfectly here. The city had accepted him, he had a great relationship with Luka, and he was playing at a high level . Now all that is gone. He is again having to be the primary creator for others as well as expected to score.  It’s understandable if at soon to be 33, he doesn’t want to be in that position.

I have a feeling that Kyrie and Klay had gotten frustrated with Luka's lack of conditioning as well as complaining to the refs and complained to the coaches/GM. They are the team leaders. They wouldn't have done it where Luka or the other guys would have found out. Coaches and GMs will get frustrated with a player. But, when they get complaints from others on the team and risk losing the team a move is made immediately.

I think Nico hit a spot where Luka had to go and he wanted to get a similar talent back to keep winning. A bunch of draft picks wouldn't help them win a title right now. That would also explain the rumor that they reached out about Giannis as well.

The more I think about it I don't think Nico is stupid or oblivious. He and Kidd knew this would cause serious blow back. Look at Kidd on the presser. He tried to show no emotion. He has to think of not losing the rest of the team.

Imagine being an all world talent that has worked hard their entire life on their body and game. American players are a different breed than Euros. Euros aren't gym rats normally. Dirk was the outlier. Jokic didn't get in shape until just before his MVP and title runs.

Kyrie is in a situation where he is a team leader playing with an all time great shooter and one of the best two way players in the world in AD. He is playing for his hero Jason Kidd at coach. He knows the team will offer him a max deal at 33. He's been in NY and has seen how crazy the media is there. I seriously doubt he wants the scrutiny of LA after that. This team was just in the Finals. He isn't sitting there thinking that he can't do it without Luka. 

Just my two cents after having given this a lot of thought and reading everything about it.

[mavsmagic]

I have a feeling that Kyrie and Klay had gotten frustrated with Luka's lack of conditioning as well as complaining to the refs and complained to the coaches/GM. They are the team leaders. They wouldn't have done it where Luka or the other guys would have found out. Coaches and GMs will get frustrated with a player. But, when they get complaints from others on the team and risk losing the team a move is made immediately.

I think Nico hit a spot where Luka had to go and he wanted to get a similar talent back to keep winning. A bunch of draft picks wouldn't help them win a title right now. That would also explain the rumor that they reached out about Giannis as well.

The more I think about it I don't think Nico is stupid or oblivious. He and Kidd knew this would cause serious blow back. Look at Kidd on the presser. He tried to show no emotion. He has to think of not losing the rest of the team.

Imagine being an all world talent that has worked hard their entire life on their body and game. American players are a different breed than Euros. Euros aren't gym rats normally. Dirk was the outlier. Jokic didn't get in shape until just before his MVP and title runs.

Kyrie is in a situation where he is a team leader playing with an all time great shooter and one of the best two way players in the world in AD. He is playing for his hero Jason Kidd at coach. He knows the team will offer him a max deal at 33. He's been in NY and has seen how crazy the media is there. I seriously doubt he wants the scrutiny of LA after that. This team was just in the Finals. He isn't sitting there thinking that he can't do it without Luka. 

Just my two cents after having given this a lot of thought and reading everything about it.

A whole lot of wild speculation. There’s no evidence that Luka was some type of locker room cancer or that anyone outside of Nico (and maybe Kidd) was annoyed with him. Even if teammates did complain about him, which I highly doubt, trading the guy who carries the team and is the face of the franchise is still a completely idiotic move

[LukaMVP]

trading away your best player is idiotic enough and if you consider the return it looks even worse. nonetheless Nico isn't an idiot, he doesn't get his paycheck from the fans.

[cow]

Good ratings, you say?

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4381...sh-blowout

[mavsmagic]

Tribute post from the Mavs’ social media manager. Just when I was starting to feel a little less sad

https://x.com/beccagenecov/status/1889780941645644156

Update: the social media manager has since deleted the post and gone private. Seems that she was told off by higher ups. The way this organization is handling this fiasco is bizarre and so out of touch. It’s to the point where I’m starting to think they won’t put together and show a video tribute to Luka when the Lakers come to Dallas in April

[mvossman]

trading away your best player is idiotic enough and if you consider the return it looks even worse. nonetheless Nico isn't an idiot, he doesn't get his paycheck from the fans.

I think there is more evidence that Nico is an idiot than the other way around.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Another stellar performance from fatass. Moving in slow motion out there.

[mavsmagic]

Another stellar performance from fatass. Moving in slow motion out there.

What’s your issue?

[SleepingHero]

Ok maybe Nico was onto something.

If we get 3 Maverick biased refs every game, maybe this trade wasn't so atrocious. Still atrocious. But 3 refs every game is pretty sweet.

[audiosway]

A whole lot of wild speculation. There’s no evidence that Luka was some type of locker room cancer or that anyone outside of Nico (and maybe Kidd) was annoyed with him. Even if teammates did complain about him, which I highly doubt, trading the guy who carries the team and is the face of the franchise is still a completely idiotic move

There is actually a lot of info out there that Kidd was very frustrated with Luka. He had publicly complained about Luka jawing with the refs many times. I'm not saying he was a cancer. Everyone liked Luka. What I'm saying is that Kidd, Kyrie, and Klay have all won titles. They know how hard it is to get there and to win. None of that is speculation.

Kyrie learned a great deal from how it went south in Boston with him openly talking about maneuvering with the players. He isn't going to do that again. He has said a handful of times now that Luka is his brother and they have a great friendship off the court. But, this is a ruthless business that prioritizes winning. Klay came to Dallas to have a chance to win another ring or two.

Imagine being the kind of competitor that Klay and Kyrie are. Those guys practically live in the gym. Luka has to be sent home in December to lose weight. He comes back and immediately injures the calf for the 3rd time in 4 years. Then, he comes back after a month at almost 270 lbs. Kyrie and Klay don't have another 10 years in the league. It doesn't matter how good someone is if you think they are wasting your shot to win.

Sure, my part about Kyrie and Klay is just my thinking based on things I've seen in their past. But, Kidd and Nico have been publicly vocal about their frustration with Luka for several years now.

[LukaMVP]

if Dirk had played two more seasons tutoring luka I think things would've been better tbh. hope he can get back in shape in LA as soon as possible, with Bron being his role model.

[burekemde]

I hope the trade will be rescinded as Markieff did not pass a medical

[SleepingHero]

if Dirk had played two more seasons tutoring luka I think things would've been better tbh. hope he can get back in shape in LA as soon as possible, with Bron being his role model.

I doubt it truthfully. Dirk himself said he barely did anything for Luka his rookie year because he already came in playing like a pro. Maybe Luka would’ve built some better habits just by being in proximity to Dirk but i don’t think that’s how Luka operates. 

Still there is no excuse as to why he can’t keep himself at the apex of his physical condition. Doesn’t take away that he’s arguably the best player in the world when healthy. I miss my Slovenian. *Siri, play Miki Milane*

[michaeltex]

Pre-trade I would watch the games, even on replay, just to see Luka's magic. Since the trade, I'm trying to look beyond the hoopla and apply some logic to whether this trade ends up good or bad for DAL.

Last night, against UTA, Luka played 23 minutes, went 6/13 (3/8) and 1-5 FTs for a team worst -19 on/off. I know he's probably still sanding the rust off, but this performance is similar to what we have debated for years on this board.

He made an AMAZING behind-the-back pass for a LAL 3pt assist. Also argued a no-call that gave UTA a free layup. So there are all-time highlights and embarrassing low lights. Sound familiar?

I guess he can use the free time during the ASB to get back in game shape. Laker culture has it's work cut out in changing his natural inclinations.

FWIW, I like the fight our smurfs are showing without any size currently available due to injuries. Truly position-less basketball.