Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[Dahlsim]

genuinely trying to understand what went through his. brain.   

Yeah I'm doing the same thing.  I think he did a solid for all his LA/Nike buddies and all the powers that be including the Gambling powers.  

At the same time I can see how he could rationalize that he didn't really abuse Dallas fans as badly as they would think because he left Kidd with a talented roster despite the shady dealings.

[mvossman]

Yes but those injuries and illnesses are part of the season just like the salary cap is part of the game.  They had to calculate do we like our chances of having this roster healthy at the right time and what does our roster flexibility look like next year if we don't win it this year? 

What I said is I think Luka has a better chance, I meant sooner or later, than he did with this team this year and based on the way things were trending with this roster in the near future.  Yes the Mavs made an awesome run last year however as much as I despise what Nico did, he has a point about Luka's trending condition, the pending money trap and projecting the roster in the short term.  They got a guy like Klay for the near term run for example.  For a guy about to demand that massive supermax spot in your salary, repeat injuries to he calf has to concern a team.  
Look at the Sixers now with Embiid.    

If you're looking at Luka's chance at getting back to finals with this Mavs roster standing pat this year, you have to look at the improved OKC team which wasn't even full strength yet.  Did you favor this years Luka Mavs over the Western contenders this year?  I just don't see that with Luka's trending condition they would be favored over the top contenders in the West.   

Its also true that this team was going to need better defense. I think they made nice moves to improve it, but AD and the youngster they got with him make this a better defensive team, probably elite when healthy.  

Even if they somehow emerged from the West with Luka this year and Luka was able remain healthy (which he wasn't last season) did they really catch up to the best of the east, Boston, now CLE, Bucks, Knicks?   Not saying they didn't have a chance but I don't think they could feel good about their chances.

I mean they were underdogs in every series last season as well.  I think if Lively gets fully healthy by the playoffs the team would have been better than last years team.  I was not ready to claim OKC better than Dallas until they beat us in a playoff series.  We seemed to have their number (I believe after our last game we were responsible for 7 of their last 11 losses).  And I don't think Boston is the team it was last year.  Jrue seems to be falling off a cliff a bit, and they have age/injury concerns in the frontcourt.  

The thing that it feels like some people are forgetting is just how good Luka is in the playoffs.  They have been the underdog in every playoff series in the Luka era, and they have won every series that they were not completely outmatched talent wise.  As they increased the talent on this team, it seems like that was going to happen less and less.  With Luka in the playoffs, you didn't have to be the best team, you just had to be in the ballpark talent wise, and he could take you home.  We just gave that up and I don't think we will see it again in a Mavs uniform for a long, long time.

[Dahlsim]

The thing that it feels like some people are forgetting is just how good Luka is in the playoffs.  They have been the underdog in every playoff series in the Luka era, and they have won every series that they were not completely outmatched talent wise.  As they increased the talent on this team, it seems like that was going to happen less and less.  With Luka in the playoffs, you didn't have to be the best team, you just had to be in the ballpark talent wise, and he could take you home.  We just gave that up and I don't think we will see it again in a Mavs uniform for a long, long time.

I agree actually, Luka is the type generational super star that seems to have that ability to just raise his game and carry a team to victory. 
Super clutch and unbelievable floor general.  I wouldn't have traded him and certainly not for the value they received and without a bidding war.    
All that being said, I simply made the case that there was a case to be made for this current roster being better balanced to challenge the top contenders in the league this season and maybe for the next couple of seasons.  Part of the case was based on the idea that the roster was very Luka dependent and the supermax was only going to lock in that dependency so they really needed to believe that he would maintain a low injury risk profile and high availability. 
 
Luka was not showing them the determination to keep his body and availability high through the NBA grind.    
Mostly though, I see it as a dirty deal because Luka's value should have been sky high.

[SleepingHero]

@eleesalw
i’ve never seen a trade so disastrous that the broadcast is pleading for the safety of the front office when they return home LMAO

[david75090]

They're not wrong. Nico better not ride in any motorcades through downtown Dallas in a convertible with the top down. Sh!t could get real.

[SleepingHero]

@MikeACurtis2
Jason Kidd on what he expects the environment to be like at AAC on Saturday:

"With things that have taken place, our sympathy goes to the fans and understanding they could be upset. But at the same time, as a coach with the guys that I have, I have to put them in a position to be successful against Houston. That's all I'm focused on. It's freedom of speech. That's why they're called fans. But for us, it's a matter of getting us to move forward & that's what we have to do."

[SleepingHero]

@MikeACurtis2
Klay Thompson on what he's expecting in Saturday's game vs. Houston, the 1st home game since Luka Doncic was traded:

“Probably a lot of heartbreak amongst the fans. Probably some boos. As a professional, you have to embrace everything & remember we're paid to play this game & perform at the highest level. I don’t know what to expect. I know Luka was so dear to every Mavs fan’s heart, but we just gotta win & do it on a consistent basis & give ourselves a chance to win the whole thing. I think it’ll alleviate all the fans' pain & anger. It’s going to be weird, but that’s what we signed up for.”

[ThisIStheYear]

How could the trade make Dallas better? First, AD would need to raise his 3pt game tremendously, or Lively would, and become a stretch player. There’s no championship to be won without playing 4 guys on the floor who can knock down a three. Second, Christie needs to stay an efficient 15 point per game player, maybe a little better even. The Lakers have sort of already completed their rebuild. They just need their new center to be as good as they think he is. They have a good mix of players, can keep 4 shooters on the floor, and have been playing better since AD went out with more spacing in the offense.

[Chicagojk]

Rookie Luka. I actually don't remember some of these dunks and I probably saw 95% of Luka games.

https://x.com/UsherNBA/status/1887613006349021654

My favorite Luka is the Luka who can change directions and use quickness (with bulk on occassion). You can make a case it is smart not to try to jam everything with what it does to your body. I do miss it though.

[KillerLeft]

My favorite Luka is the Luka who can change directions and use quickness (with bulk on occassion). 

I 100% agree. My favorite Luka was the one from the bubble, and the year after, when he was light and quick enough to get by people without a screen. This was working iNSANELY well in Carlisle's offense, which pulled defenders out of the paint, and made so many Mavs drivers seem gifted. 

The bigger/slower Luka got, the more we started hearing about how he HAD to have a vertical spacer, to the point where that's ALL the offense became. No variety, clogged lane on every play. To Luka's credit, he developed a LETHAL set of mid-range 1-on-1 counters, but I had become worried that our 25 year old star had become the 32 year old, future version of himself much earlier than ideal. It had almost gotten to the point where if his three wasn't falling he was going to hurt the offense more than help for long stretches. If you believe he was a year away from beginning to take conditioning, flexibility and diet seriously, then you were probably assuming he'd get that first step back at some point. But, if he's already 32 year old Luka (at 25) for good...what's he going to look like at 28?

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/MavsHighlights/status/1887894732711276803

[SleepingHero]

@Abrahamcondone
Luka Doncic Has Officially Deactivated His Twitter Account

[SleepingHero]

@Abrahamcondone
Luka Doncic Has Officially Deactivated His Twitter Account

This trade absolutely broke Luka bro.


And it’s horrible because nobody but the front office wanted this. I hope Luka can see how bad the fan base is hurting right now along with him.

[cow]

@Abrahamcondone
Luka Doncic Has Officially Deactivated His Twitter Account

Smart considering the media coverage in LA is way different than Dallas.

[DallasMaverick]

@Abrahamcondone
Luka Doncic Has Officially Deactivated His Twitter Account

Probably wise to avoid saying too much.

Easy to say something bridge-burning in the emotion of the moment that he might regret later.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDallasNation
NICO HARRISON NOW HAS “FULL-TIME SECURITY” PROTECTING HIS HOME FOLLOWING THE LUKA DONCIC TRADE

[audiosway]

@TheDallasNation
NICO HARRISON NOW HAS “FULL-TIME SECURITY” PROTECTING HIS HOME FOLLOWING THE LUKA DONCIC TRADE

That's not cool. We all are hurt by the Luka trade but forcing this is not the way to go.

[audiosway]

I 100% agree. My favorite Luka was the one from the bubble, and the year after, when he was light and quick enough to get by people without a screen. This was working iNSANELY well in Carlisle's offense, which pulled defenders out of the paint, and made so many Mavs drivers seem gifted. 

The bigger/slower Luka got, the more we started hearing about how he HAD to have a vertical spacer, to the point where that's ALL the offense became. No variety, clogged lane on every play. To Luka's credit, he developed a LETHAL set of mid-range 1-on-1 counters, but I had become worried that our 25 year old star had become the 32 year old, future version of himself much earlier than ideal. It had almost gotten to the point where if his three wasn't falling he was going to hurt the offense more than help for long stretches. If you believe he was a year away from beginning to take conditioning, flexibility and diet seriously, then you were probably assuming he'd get that first step back at some point. But, if he's already 32 year old Luka (at 25) for good...what's he going to look like at 28?

I was concerned about that too. I still keep going back to something Luka said at the Lakers presser. "I haven't been thinking about basketball much lately". That reminds me of all of the talk of Jokic would be just fine going back to his horse ranch. Granted Jokic did finally get himself in shape to play.

Not to say that Luka doesn't care about basketball. He obviously does. But, you have to wonder "did Dallas know something we don't". You can be a dog on the court and not have the drive get better every day by any means necessary. Both things can be true.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

@Abrahamcondone
Luka Doncic Has Officially Deactivated His Twitter Account

SOFT

[omahen]

 "I haven't been thinking about basketball much lately". 

I think you are totally missunderstanding this part. Quite obvious he meant he was not thinking about basketball in those hours after the trade. His presser was like two days after the trade.