Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[hakeemfaan]

Probably the best, most level headed perspective on this I've seen so far:

https://youtu.be/bq2_Gmp3y8k?si=wTuMgJhii2j7fzRy

To each their own. Windy is a gem. Many of us disagree that AD for Luka makes this team better right now. Most GMs would too. Theoretically it sounds good. You are getting a terrific player who plays both sides of the ball. So you lose some points with Luka but gain more efficiency and defense 

The flip side is who replaces Luka’s ball handling, usage rate, passing, and the on demand shot creation. It’s easy to say Kyrie but we saw Kyrie after the OKC series literally shaking and saying how it was the toughest hurdle he had to cross.  This from a guy who had won a title. Luka took so much burden off him and vice versa. He was rejuvenated here.  Now you are asking him to do things he probably even can’t without breaking down. Plus you had centers as position of strength and athleticism. You might have to trade one of those to fill that gap. 

Plus AD while healthy the last two seasons is also suspect always given his overall history. Healthy or not he also tends to disappear at times.

Trading Lively (though I would hate to give him up) for AD would have made the most sense. Sure the Lakers hang up the phone but so be it.  Looks like Nico was over his head in how to deal with Pelinka and was behaving like a friend while Pelinka behaved like a GM.  

This was only talking about the immediate future and most fans and GMs won’t agree that AD makes this team better than does Luka. Now factor in the next 7-8 years and there is no way this trade should have been done. 

The deal should have been open to all bidders. If nothing got done and the end result was even the AD deal fell through because the Lakers feel they have more leverage, then you just don’t do the deal. I would have taken the chance of Luka going for nothing. Reality is with the backlash Nico would have been fired and Luka would continue here. 

A process was not followed. The evaluation of the short term betterment is also suspect. 

None of this is a slight to AD and Christie. As a Mavs fan and just as a human I know they are not at fault and caught up in a terrible situation.  At the same time I can’t ever again cheer for this franchise or pay a single dime for any of their tickets or merchandise as long as Nico and the Adelsons are still ther.

[GATA]

Did race have a play in this? Luka is one of two white megastars in the NBA. Makes you wonder

[KillerLeft]

To each their own. Windy is a gem. Many of us disagree that AD for Luka makes this team better right now. Most GMs would too. Theoretically it sounds good. You are getting a terrific player who plays both sides of the ball. So you lose some points with Luka but gain more efficiency and defense 

The flip side is who replaces Luka’s ball handling, usage rate, passing, and the on demand shot creation. It’s easy to say Kyrie but we saw Kyrie after the OKC series literally shaking and saying how it was the toughest hurdle he had to cross.  This from a guy who had won a title. Luka took so much burden off him and vice versa. He was rejuvenated here.  Now you are asking him to do things he probably even can’t without breaking down. Plus you had centers as position of strength and athleticism. You might have to trade one of those to fill that gap. 

Plus AD while healthy the last two seasons is also suspect always given his overall history. Healthy or not he  also tends to disappear at times.

Trading Lively (though I would hate to give him up) for AD would have made the most sense. Sure the Lakers hang up the phone but so be it.  Looks like Nico was over his head in how to deal with Pelinka and was behaving like a friend while Pelinka behaved like a GM.  

This was only talking about the immediate future and most fans and GMs won’t agree that AD makes this team better than does Luka. Now factor in the next 7-8 years and there is no way this trade should have been done. 

The deal should have been open to all bidders. If nothing got done and the end result was even the AD deal fell through because the Lakers feel they have more leverage, then you just don’t do the deal. I would have taken the chance of Luka going for nothing. Reality is with the backlash Nico would have been fired and Luka would continue here. 

A process was not followed. The evaluation of the short term betterment is also suspect. 

None of this is a slight to AD and Christie. As a Mavs fan and just as a human I know they are not at fault and caught up in a terrible situation.  At the same time I can’t ever again cheer for this franchise or pay a single dime for any of their tickets or merchandise as long as Nico and the Adelsons are still ther.

I might be misunderstanding you, but Windhorst wasn't saying HE thinks the trade makes them better this year, he's saying THE MAVS (meaning Harrison) believe that. 

As far as I can tell, nobody but the Mavs' inner circle, Kendrick Perkins and Charles Barkley believe this. But, I do think Windhorst successfully cut to the heart of why the Mavs did what they did. He's just trying to find and explain the thought process, which I felt he did pretty well and pretty succinctly.

[rocky164]

Did race have a play in this?  Luka is one of two white megastars in the NBA.  Makes you wonder

I almost hate dignifying the post with an answer.  I don’t think race played a part, BUT AAU vs. Euro’s might be worthy of a conversation.  It’s NOT the color of their skin, but it might be the cultural environment, (drinking, especiallly smoking) in which they are accustomed.

[hakeemfaan]

I might be misunderstanding you, but Windhorst wasn't saying HE thinks the trade makes them better this year, he's saying THE MAVS (meaning Harrison) believe that. 

As far as I can tell, nobody but the Mavs' inner circle, Kendrick Perkins and Charles Barkley believe this. But, I do think Windhorst successfully cut to the heart of why the Mavs did what they did. He's just trying to find and explain the thought process, which I felt he did pretty well and pretty succinctly.

I got that. I was just talking about the Mavs or anyone even claiming that it makes the Mavs better in the short term. I am not even conceding that and laid out my case for why I don’t. 

Barkley has been critical constantly of AD and his lack of aggressiveness. Now that AD moved out of LA, Barkley loves him again?  Perkins…nuff said. Again I don’t want this to come as me hating AD.  He is a fantastic player. He was the missing piece for this team. Not for Luka though.  You just created a slightly bigger hole for now and a massive hole for the future by not replenishing the assets cupboard which we all believed they would do when they moved on from Luka. If they got Castle and picks from SA and used the picks to get Fox , there would still be holes but deals like that were probably realistic and made the most sense.  Luka loves pops as well and vice versa. That’s just one realistic deal.  The appalling thing is Nico didn’t even try.  He said his main thing was secrecy and trusted Pelinka to not leak.  So the only guy he trusts to not leak also magically has the only guy Nico really coveted?  Too much of a coincidence there. Nico behaved in a cowardly manner because he knew he would get fired if this leaked out and took a deal that didn’t give the Mavs the best chance to replenish but rather gave Nico the best chance to get a really solid player while knowing the news wouldn’t leak.

[Jym]

[GATA]

I almost hate dignifying the post with an answer.  I don’t think race played a part, BUT AAU vs. Euro’s might be worthy of a conversation.  It’s NOT the color of their skin, but it might be the cultural environment, (drinking, especiallly smoking) in which they are accustomed.

Let me frame it another way.   Say a black superstar emerged in the NHL, and a white GM traded him for less than pennies on the dollar?

[RGP1981]

Spin - Nobody knew about this trade except for Nico/Dupont and Pelinka/Jeanie.

Facts:

1. The terms of the Luka trade were made with an agreement that AD would waive his trade kicker.
   
2. If AD did not waive his trade kicker, the trade would be illegal.
   
3. AD is represented by Klutch Sports.
   
4. Klutch Sports is owned by Rich Paul, who is Lebron's puppet.
   

So how could the Lakers give an assurance that AD would waive his trade kicker... while AD, Lebron and Klutch Sports did not know about the trade??

Something sure smells fishy in Denmark.

[RGP1981]

I almost hate dignifying the post with an answer.  I don’t think race played a part, BUT AAU vs. Euro’s might be worthy of a conversation.  It’s NOT the color of their skin, but it might be the cultural environment, (drinking, especiallly smoking) in which they are accustomed.

He might have a point though. I do NOT think that race was a factor in this trade at all. However, with the exception of Klay, the Mavs will be running out a lineup of players whose skin tones are closer to Nico's own, which could indicate his preference?

Kyrie/Spencer - Grimes/Klay - PJW - AD - Lively/Gafford

[bubbler86]

I might be misunderstanding you, but Windhorst wasn't saying HE thinks the trade makes them better this year, he's saying THE MAVS (meaning Harrison) believe that. 

As far as I can tell, nobody but the Mavs' inner circle, Kendrick Perkins and Charles Barkley believe this. But, I do think Windhorst successfully cut to the heart of why the Mavs did what they did. He's just trying to find and explain the thought process, which I felt he did pretty well and pretty succinctly.

Tony Kornhieser is on the "Mavs are better" bandwagon.

[DanSchwartzgan]

 
Kyrie/Spencer - Grimes/Christie - PJW/Klay - AD - Lively/Gafford

FIFY

BTW, I'm not sure the trade is illegal without AD waiving his trade kicker.  We are $6.2mm under the apron after the trade.  The kicker is 15% of the 'remaining' value of the contract.  We are partway through the season, so the kicker isn't 15% of $43 million.  It is 15% of the remaining pro-rated value.  There is about 43% of the season left, so the impact would be 43% of the bonus or something under $3 million.  As I've said, I think (hope) this is more about trade flexibility than getting under the tax.

[Chicagojk]

bad fan fiction:

So you really think Nico and Pelinka spent weeks talking about Luka without ever asking what happens to Lebron now that it is Luka's franchise? Sure you can keep him and hope to fill in the gaps, but with limited assets is that really a contender? So how about we get first bidding if they decide to reset? Unfortunately, I think it needs to be all of Gafford, PJ, Klay plus pick (s). Could you keep one of PJ or Klay? Nico is in all in mode and Lebron is the biggest all in bet left on the table.

Ok, just crazy talk I know. Just something that popped into my mind

[BigDirk41]

bad fan fiction:

So you really think Nico and Pelinka spent weeks talking about Luka without ever asking what happens to Lebron now that it is Luka's franchise?  Sure you can keep him and hope to fill in the gaps, but with limited assets is that really a contender?    So how about we get first bidding if they decide to reset?  Unfortunately, I think it needs to be all of Gafford, PJ, Klay plus pick (s).  Could you keep one of PJ or Klay?  Nico is in all in mode and Lebron is the biggest all in bet left on the table.

Ok, just crazy talk I know.  Just something that popped into my mind

I'm not a huge LeBron fan but I respect the hell out of his game and the career he's put together. I will never get over trading Luka the way Nico did it and the shitty negotiating, but if we can get LeBron, you have to do it. That dude can play until he's 45 if he wants. He's a freak of nature. That would make losing Luka more tolerable since they are similar players.

[SleepingHero]

My one sliver of hope is that in 4 years from now Luka takes a page out of Lebron's book and returns to Dallas to win a ring for us. Its not like he left on his own accord. It's not like hes been vilified by the fans.

Quite the opposite. The fan reaction from this is the likes of which I've never seen in Dallas sports. I hope Luka sees this and remembers that he is loved here.

[BigDirk41]

My one sliver of hope is that in 4 years from now Luka takes a page out of Lebron's book and returns to Dallas to win a ring for us. Its not like he left on his own accord. It's not like hes been vilified by the fans.

Quite the opposite. The fan reaction from this is the likes of which I've never seen in Dallas sports. I hope Luka sees this and remembers that he is loved here.

I don't think Nico survives this. He is truly hated in DFW now.

[Deebo]

My one sliver of hope is that in 4 years from now Luka takes a page out of Lebron's book and returns to Dallas to win a ring for us. Its not like he left on his own accord. It's not like hes been vilified by the fans.

Quite the opposite. The fan reaction from this is the likes of which I've never seen in Dallas sports. I hope Luka sees this and remembers that he is loved here.

The gm coach and probably owners would have to be gone.  Unlikely.

[cow]

My one sliver of hope is that in 4 years from now Luka takes a page out of Lebron's book and returns to Dallas to win a ring for us. Its not like he left on his own accord. It's not like hes been vilified by the fans.

Quite the opposite. The fan reaction from this is the likes of which I've never seen in Dallas sports. I hope Luka sees this and remembers that he is loved here.

I wouldn't count on it.  LeBron was born and raised in Akron so his ties were stronger than Luka ever would be to Dallas.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
Brian Windhorst says it’s not guaranteed that Luka Dončić will sign an extension with the Lakers

Now that the supermax is off the table, Luka can really go anywhere he wants. Money isn’t that big of a difference now.

[msf4717]

My one sliver of hope is that in 4 years from now Luka takes a page out of Lebron's book and returns to Dallas to win a ring for us. Its not like he left on his own accord. It's not like hes been vilified by the fans.

Quite the opposite. The fan reaction from this is the likes of which I've never seen in Dallas sports. I hope Luka sees this and remembers that he is loved here.

The franchise just took $120mill off Luka's next contract via text and you think he might come back?

To that end, the fans will love him anywhere he goes.

[SleepingHero]

I wouldn't count on it.  LeBron was born and raised in Akron so his ties were stronger than Luka ever would be to Dallas.

True.


Although Luka did establish some sort of roots here. He cried when he left. I think he does have a connection to Dallas. And after seeing this outcry and support from the fans, I think he will notice it.

I don’t know bro. I’m on copeium