Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[Jason Terry]

I wonder how quickly apathy will take over the anger
Before long the owners will probably wish they had some angry fans left who cared

Anecdotal but i will reach apathy once they don’t get what they want

I’ve already contacted my state senator. They will NEVER get their casino gambling in Texas. 

While it’s true the gambling thing is much bigger than the Adelsons, LV Sands Corp has far and away spent the most on lobbyists in Austin this cycle

[Jym]

interview with the jumbotron guy who got kicked out of the game yesterday
seems like a pretty reasonable guy.
season ticket holder and still plans to go to games
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDB5nW3jTNY

[mavsmagic]

Per MacMahon on The Hoop Collective, Scott Tomlin (former Director of Basketball Communications for the Mavs) was also with Dirk at Luka’s Laker debut. Of course he now works for Dirk’s foundation, but interesting nonetheless. If we’re to believe how few people were consulted/made aware of the trade, I imagine there must be some divide amongst employees who are now greatly impacted by Nico’s decision

[Jmaciscool]

Per MacMahon on The Hoop Collective, Scott Tomlin (former Director of Basketball Communications for the Mavs) was also with Dirk at Luka’s Laker debut. Of course he now works for Dirk’s foundation, but interesting nonetheless. If we’re to believe how few people were consulted/made aware of the trade, I imagine there must be some divide amongst employees who are now greatly impacted by Nico’s decision

My guess would be the vast majority (if not everyone outside of Nico/Dumont/Adelsons) are not happy right now.  Season ticket refunds, subscription fees down, lower sales, etc are going to potentially impact them financially.  I can't imagine my frustration level if I was both a fan AND had to work for the organization.

For a guy that supposedly has a strength in relationships Nico really REALLY didn't understand the relationship the fans and city had with Luka.  Which is strange since it seems so obvious to everyone else.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://woelfelspressbox.com/2025/02/buc...tokounmpo/


Bucks reject Mavs offer for Giannis allegedly.

[F Gump]

Don't care if Nico talked to every team in the league -- it was a bad bad deal. And it exposed what an awful negotiator Nico is (and he decided he would do a big one like this on his own with no help?!?!?) - someone needs to take away the keys to the car after this wreck.

[Jmaciscool]

Don't care if Nico talked to every team in the league -- it was a bad bad deal. And it exposed what an awful negotiator Nico is (and he decided he would do a big one like this on his own with no help?!?!?) - someone needs to take away the keys to the car after this wreck.

"Hey Rob buddy, I really want AD.  Give me him and all your other good stuff and you can have Luka."
"Nah bro, I'm not taking on a top 5 player when defense wins championships.  I'll give you AD, Max, and a pick, but not my best pick.  Final offer."
"Deal!  Great negotiating with you!"

[hakeemfaan]

I wonder how quickly apathy will take over the anger
Before long the owners will probably wish they had some angry fans left who cared

I remember being upset when Kidd was traded but Kidd at that time was still relatively new and he had not become the player he would. Luka was already one of the top 5, if not higher. However even then what helped was Nellie coming in, firing the previous coach, and really going on a media blitz on how upset he was that Kidd was traded.   At a minimum we need Nico gone.  The problem here is the owner also went and ran his mouth.  Were some of the things valid ? Yes. However there were also a lot of good things that Luka did here and to just badmouth him hasn’t sat well with a lot of fans. Dumont seems too arrogant to ever apologize but he needs to hire a PR firm to show some contrition and also give an assurance to fans that such monumental decisions will never be done in secrecy with majority  narrative being driven by one person. 

Coming to Nico, I just can’t give him any excuses. Whether Lindsey or he was responsible for some of the good decisions…I don’t care.  This was such a colossal blunder that there is no path forward for him with a lot of fans. Once betrayed, can never trust again.  You can’t give him a pass by saying he thought AD was good enough. That shows incompetence as a talent evaluator and team builder.  Any competent GM would ask for AD and Bron if short term was the goal. Else swapping AD and Luka adds bigger holes than what can be fixed.  Any reasonable evaluator can see that.   The other thing is Luka was still under contract.  Teams have traded for players before even without getting a clear assurance they would resign there. Toronto with Kawhi.  There was zero excuse to not open up the market.  If the end result of that was a ticked off Luka and even the Lakers offering  less than AD, you let Luka play out his contract and walk out.  There was no need to feel pressured and settle on a deal that makes no sense either short term or long term. 

Nico must go right away for the healing to begin.

[SleepingHero]

Just have a feeling that Kyrie is leaving this summer and going to the Lakers.

Not only because keeping him already puts the the Mavs in the 2nd apron, but if Nico wants KD, losing Kyrie makes the math really easy and we keep most of our team.

[mvossman]

Just have a feeling that Kyrie is leaving this summer and going to the Lakers.

Not only because keeping him already puts the the Mavs in the 2nd apron, but if Nico wants KD, losing Kyrie makes the math really easy and we keep most of our team.

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.

[WildArkieBoy]

Just have a feeling that Kyrie is leaving this summer and going to the Lakers.

Not only because keeping him already puts the the Mavs in the 2nd apron, but if Nico wants KD, losing Kyrie makes the math really easy and we keep most of our team.

As an SG, the Lakers have Austin Reeves, 26, with a 2024-25 salary of $12,976.372 on a four year contract.  Watching a very small sample, he seems good quality and complements Lebron and Luka well.

wab

[audiosway]

Just have a feeling that Kyrie is leaving this summer and going to the Lakers.

Not only because keeping him already puts the the Mavs in the 2nd apron, but if Nico wants KD, losing Kyrie makes the math really easy and we keep most of our team.

I would be shocked if Kyrie left.

[hakeemfaan]

I would be shocked if Kyrie left.

He just changed his Twitter handle to lakers purple and gold. Take it fwiw

[hakeemfaan]

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.

[Jym]

I would be shocked if Kyrie left.

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

[Smitty]

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.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

If Kyrie leaves we'll get market value for him, which is much more than we paid.

[Jmaciscool]

If Kyrie leaves we'll get market value for him, which is much more than we paid.

I'm not convinced Nico can get market value for anything.

[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

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I'm not convinced Nico can get market value for anything.

Touche, and 100% correct