Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[ThisIStheYear]

Grimes with another 30. Luka with 30 and 14 in three quarters. Nico. WTF man! What an idiot.

[KillerLeft]

From everything I am reading, given that Kyrie is an older small guard who relies (at least to some degree) on quickness, there is a reasonable chance he will never get back to what he was, and if he does it probably wont be next season.

That means your first real chance at contention is the following season when KD is 38, Kyrie is 34 coming off ACL and AD is an injury prone 33.  Between that and the toxic environment with the fans, I feel like it would have to be full bro code for KD to want to come here.

In light of this injury, the best route might be to fire Nico, showcase AD for a couple of weeks if healthy, sell off every player older than 27 in the offseason and go full tank for a year.  Then you have to try to win because you have no control over your picks after that.

I agree with you about Kyrie - call me pessimistic, but I feel like this is essentially the end of his prime. I'm no longer interested in him being around, if I'm the Mavs. 

But, you've talked yourself into this notion that Harrison wants Durant to the point where you're basically presenting it as fact. I doubt that's where this is headed (unless Kyrie is in the deal, maybe).

[ThisIStheYear]

Barring a Flagg miracle, is getting KD (while keeping PJ, Max, Lively) Nico's BEST path forward to a possible contender anytime soon? And if so, why would that door have been closed?

And (in light of the common views that KD is a step too far) is there another path, perhaps even more viable, that builds on the existing cast of depth with the idea for Kyrie to re-join the quest next season? Isn't it still there?

There are some good to very-good talents here. It's not like they necessarily all have to hate the Mavs, or jump ship. We are frustrated, but they see the setbacks are due to injuries, and injuries can go away. FAs probably only need the right amount of money to want to stay. There is the potential of a lottery pick, even if it's not a super high one.

I'm not confident in Nico, that's for sure. But while it bugs me not to see a good ending for this season, I wonder if we are too hasty to assume a completely dead future.

There’s stages to acceptance.  I think you’re in the bargaining phase.  Congrats. I’m still stuck in anger.

[Jym]

How did Nico manage to make me a Lakers fan?
This feels so dirty

I was a Laker hater before I ever had a stable team to root for.

But anyway, Go Lakers!!!
F Nico

[audiosway]

How did Nico manage to make me a Lakers fan?
This feels so dirty

I was a Laker hater before I ever had a  stable team to root for.

But anyway, Go Lakers!!!
F Nico

Right there with you. I'm watching Lakers games now.

[mvossman]

I agree with you about Kyrie - call me pessimistic, but I feel like this is essentially the end of his prime. I'm no longer interested in him being around, if I'm the Mavs. 

But, you've talked yourself into this notion that Harrison wants Durant to the point where you're basically presenting it as fact. I doubt that's where this is headed (unless Kyrie is in the deal, maybe).

I was not intending to state it as fact.  I was providing the scenario that KD is looking at if he goes to the Mavs and probably thinking to himself there are better options available.

[BolsDamols]

30/8/15 +37 He’s baaaaaack!

Crowd in Crypto loves him, and he seems to be having fun again

[WildArkieBoy]

How did Nico manage to make me a Lakers fan?
This feels so dirty

Checking on the well-being of our generational player does not make you a Lakers fan.  Have you bought a purple and gold bomber jacket or signed up as a member of a Lakers message board?  Did Nico trade you for Jack Nicholson?  

You're a hurt Mavs fan in a state of melancholy.  No shame in that.  My personal theory is that the blues don't make you sad or happy, but simply take you to the exact state of mind you're in, then lift you back up.  That process is real, but it can't be rushed or faked.  

Personally, I was making progress, sort of proud of myself, then the Kyrie injury knocked me back down a bit.  While Kyrie lost his "hermano," he's being paid $43M to rehab for a year, so it's unreasonable for me, a 77 year old man on Social Security and a small pension, to overreact.  

For me, the Mavsboard, has assumed the role of a mental health professional, a talk therapist, even a guidance counselor.  Dark thoughts are conveyed by fingers typing on a keyboard and they seem to dissipate.  Is that what is meant by venting?  And, no, you're not "dirty."

wab

[JamesConway912]

30/8/15 +37 He’s baaaaaack!

Crowd in Crypto loves him, and he seems to be having fun again

Still can’t bring myself to watch it but this is a nice thing to read. Hopefully he’ll bring them a championship and dominate the way he did for the Mavs. Luka deserves it.

[SleepingHero]

For me, the Mavsboard, has assumed the role of a mental health professional, a talk therapist, even a guidance counselor.  Dark thoughts are conveyed by fingers typing on a keyboard and they seem to dissipate.  Is that what is meant by venting?  And, no, you're not "dirty."

wab

I appreciate this sentiment. 

It does help the grieving process seeing others convey their thoughts on the board.  As to what it means to vent, I've been told it's to lower the car windows after a mysterious smell enters the cabin. Still haven't figured out where those smells come from though.

[SleepingHero]

Still can’t bring myself to watch it but this is a nice thing to read. Hopefully he’ll bring them a championship and dominate the way he did for the Mavs. Luka deserves it.

Luka was electric. 17 point first quarter, but it could've easily been 25. Basically every time he was on the court, the Lakers went on a 20-0 run it felt like.

[audiosway]

Luka was electric. 17 point first quarter, but it could've easily been 25. Basically every time he was on the court, the Lakers went on a 20-0 run it felt like.

Yeah he is looking like himself again. That combined with Kyrie’s injury was the tipping point for me today. Still in a state of limbo as a fan and not sure what to make of it. Lakers look great right now.

[FireNicoHarrison]

So i was totally right... And some of the guys who isolated me now watch Lakers games and cheer for them.

Fanboys.

[KillerLeft]

I was not intending to state it as fact.  I was providing the scenario that KD is looking at if he goes to the Mavs and probably thinking to himself there are better options available.

Right, but I still think it's so far fetched it's not even worth talking about, and all of a sudden KD is being accounted for in every post. 

I just think maybe we've gotten over our skis on that one a little.

[mvossman]

Right, but I still think it's so far fetched it's not even worth talking about, and all of a sudden KD is being accounted for in every post. 

I just think maybe we've gotten over our skis on that one a little.

Maybe.  There was a lot of smoke during the trade deadline.  Then we have the recent rumor that Nico looked into sending PJ + Gaff for Butler (what a terrible fit that would have been).  Nico has a history of going after guys he has a prior relationship with and KD has a history of teaming up with buddies (like Kyrie).  I think the Kyrie news is going to make Nico even more likely to double down (shout out to Dan) on his win now strategy and KD is known to be very available in the offseason.  If they don't trade for KD I don't think it will be from a lack of trying.

[Chicagojk]

I never thought KD was likely. It is going to take a lot..good players, depth and picks. Although, desperation causes you to do weird things. I really think Nico thought this roster was a contender THIS year. I think he was wrong. The lack of playmaking was a real glaring weakness. I expected a Deni Avidjia type of trade this summer (two picks and a solid player going out). Now? Our bigs aren't going to work if we don't have good guard play. We don't have that now. So next year is probably out as well. So your four year window is now a two year window that is now at least a year out with older players. I am afraid of reckless moves this summer. At the same time, good moves have to be made. Tough to have confidence of them doing the right things to even give them a chance moving forward.

[ThisIStheYear]

Turns out Kyrie previously had screws in the same knee he reinjured this week. I didn’t know. And he’s playing the most minutes of any player in the NBA since the Luka trade. My God. The level of Nico and Maverick’s stupidity runs even deeper than I thought.  They are all time idiots not deserving of a single dollar from you, and only deserving of scorn.

[ballsrchr]

Let me explain further. When Kyrie was in Boston the team found out he was trying to get KD to Boston and that's why he gets booed when he plays there.

I don't think Kyrie came to Dallas and resigned with the purpose of trading Luka. I think he and Klay had probably talked about playing together with KD and AD as they did playing with team USA.

Klay and KD had played together with GS as well. Then, KD and Kyrie played together in Brooklyn.

I think over time Kyrie saw the discontent with Nico and Kidd toward Luka and just saw the opportunity to get AD and KD in Dallas. He has great respect for Kidd as a coach since he is playing for his hero. He also learned from his time in Boston to keep things more close to the vest. That would make a lot of sense as to why Nico said no one could know they were trading Luka.

These guys from the player empowerment movement are close and have known each other since high school. They want to win and if they see opportunities to play together they want to do it.

Klay would be mad if he had come to Dallas to play with Luka and then Luka gets traded less than a year later. Kyrie said after the trade that it was a ruthless business. He acted very nonchalant at the presser after the game when he was asked about it. Sure, it's a business. But, it's not every day that a player like Luka is traded.

A lot of this is circumstantial I know. However, the pieces have always been there. KD and Kyrie wanted to play together and with AD. Klay and KD played together. Nico has known all of these guys since they were teenagers. Cuban brought in Nico because of his relationships with players in getting big names. Kidd was brought in to coach since he can handle big egos.

I think once Kyrie saw the relationship eroding with Luka and the team he stepped in.

Look at it this way, if you are getting complaints from management at your job over a period of say a couple of years about your performance would you be shocked if they fired you? Luka looked devastated like he had no idea there was a problem. Then, to find out Kyrie was the go between?

Maybe this is all tin foil hat stuff. I've found that usually if there is smoke there is a fire somewhere.

On a lonely hill with a big tin foil hat.  That is quite some convoluted thinking you have.  Most of the time I agree with you, but naw, not on this one.  I just think Nico is an idiot and/or caved to the new owners.

I'm not through yet!  Let me explain.  All the pieces are there, and a lot of it is circumstantial.  But I think this is the first steps in moving the Mavs to a city I won't name, where they will be known as the--Las Vegas High Rollers.  Yeah...I have posted that before.

[Jym]

On a lonely hill with a big tin foil hat.  That is quite some convoluted thinking you have.  Most of the time I agree with you, but naw, not on this one.  I just think Nico is an idiot and/or caved to the new owners.

I'm not through yet!  Let me explain.  All the pieces are there, and a lot of it is circumstantial.  But I think this is the first steps in moving the Mavs to a city I won't name, where they will be known as the--Las Vegas High Rollers.  Yeah...I have posted that before.

I'd feel strangely better if it was some grand plan
Gotta say this just feels like incompetence mixed with a major ego to me

[audiosway]

On a lonely hill with a big tin foil hat.  That is quite some convoluted thinking you have.  Most of the time I agree with you, but naw, not on this one.  I just think Nico is an idiot and/or caved to the new owners.

I'm not through yet!  Let me explain.  All the pieces are there, and a lot of it is circumstantial.  But I think this is the first steps in moving the Mavs to a city I won't name, where they will be known as the--Las Vegas High Rollers.  Yeah...I have posted that before.

And that very well could end up being the case. I don't think they move the team.

If I'm wrong I'll own it. No biggie there. The only other real alternative is that Nico is either incompetent or just got so far in his bubble of thinking he couldn't get out if it.