AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

BTW, I think it is awful Lebron is allowing Rich Paul to talk on a podcast weekly.  Agents are much better playing in the shadows.    It just feels like Paul is getting too big for his shoes.     Nothing good comes out of saying they should trade Reeves.  Even if he is just giving his opinion.  Everyone is going to assume this is coming from Lebron due to their relationship.  May not be wrong either.

https://x.com/HeatCulture13/status/2010856299668668780

[khaled1987]

I´ll genuinely believe one of three things will happen in 2028.

Luka signs with Mavs.
Luka signs with Nuggets.
Luka signs with Real Madrid and leaves the NBA all together.

I´d at least sort my cap out in a way that I can react accordingly in 2028.

I think he will find zero joy playing in that LA circus putting ALL the blame on him largely unjustified based on the talent around him offensively and defensively.

A lot depends on his loyalty. Does he develop a sense of loyalty towards them? He will then stay at least until 2030 and let them figure out.

Otherwise,  I think he might leave in 2028 , but long time until then.

[khaled1987]

Lakers problem this season is LeBron. 

What about every year that wasn't played in the bubble since the passing of Jerry Buss? Was it also Lebron? 

Lakers have been poorly run for over a decade, but got lucky that Lebron wanted to literally just move to the City, and he forced AD trade to partner him and then all his veteran bodies. And I firmly believe that they wouldn't have won of they went through the normsl attrition of a long season. Instead they got 2 months break, and a playoffs that involved zero travel.

Since then it was consistent mediocrity. 

Pelinka isn't a good GM, and most of their fanbase knows that. However, he managed to pull the best possible trade in this decade, getting Luka, so he will earn a big trust that he doesn't deserve. Sort of like what happened with Nico himself. 


They have been communicating that they don't want to gove anything of value for good players. How they would only pay one first for a great starting C only, and not just a good one. At the moment, it feels like Pelinka is in his Danny Ainge phase, he will only make trades that he totally wins.

However, just like Ainge, there comes a point that folks don't want to deal with you. A guy like Herb can easily get 2 firsts from a contender, would Pelinka pays that? Then what? What if Giannis stays instead of asking for trade and there isn't another star player like he hope for? And what happens once Reeves is getting paid? A lot of flexibility is suddenly lost.

There is a path to build contender there with Luka, but I won't bet on it happening with their current management. Not soon at least. They won't pass the likes of Spurs, OKC or even Denver. Who have equally good franchise players, but much more depth around them (and youth in case of the other two).

[DallasMaverick]

What about every year that wasn't played in the bubble since the passing of Jerry Buss? Was it also Lebron? 

Lakers have been poorly run for over a decade, but got lucky that Lebron wanted to literally just move to the City, and he forced AD trade to partner him and then all his veteran bodies. And I firmly believe that they wouldn't have won of they went through the normsl attrition of a long season. Instead they got 2 months break, and a playoffs that involved zero travel.

Since then it was consistent mediocrity. 

Pelinka isn't a good GM, and most of their fanbase knows that. However, he managed to pull the best possible trade in this decade, getting Luka, so he will earn a big trust that he doesn't deserve. Sort of like what happened with Nico himself. 


They have been communicating that they don't want to gove anything of value for good players. How they would only pay one first for a great starting C only, and not just a good one. At the moment, it feels like Pelinka is in his Danny Ainge phase, he will only make trades that he totally wins.

However, just like Ainge, there comes a point that folks don't want to deal with you. A guy like Herb can easily get 2 firsts from a contender, would Pelinka pays that? Then what? What if Giannis stays instead of asking for trade and there isn't another star player like he hope for? And what happens once Reeves is getting paid? A lot of flexibility is suddenly lost.

There is a path to build contender there with Luka, but I won't bet on it happening with their current management. Not soon at least. They won't pass the likes of Spurs, OKC or even Denver. Who have equally good franchise players, but much more depth around them (and youth in case of the other two).

This actually sounds a lot like the rhetoric we had in Dallas when Luka was here:

“Just need a front office that can assemble the proper kind of team around Luka.”

“Just need some great defensive players around Luka.”

“Just need some great defensive players that can also hit a wide open three.”

“Just need some great defensive players that can hit open threes and put it on the floor occasionally to hit a wide open layup.”

So… when do folks start to think that maybe the problem is Luka?

[FireNicoHarrison]

And after accomplished those points we reached the NBA Finals for the 3rd time in our history... Maybe the problem is not Luka, right?

[khaled1987]

This actually sounds a lot like the rhetoric we had in Dallas when Luka was here:

“Just need a front office that can assemble the proper kind of team around Luka.”

“Just need some great defensive players around Luka.”

“Just need some great defensive players that can also hit a wide open three.”

“Just need some great defensive players that can hit open threes and put it on the floor occasionally to hit a wide open layup.”

So… when do folks start to think that maybe the problem is Luka?

Which player can drag a bad team and a bad front office into winning championships? 
Not even MJ was able to do it. Closest was probably 2007 Lebron? 

Which player do you think can replace Luka in current Lakers and would win a ring with them with next 2 years? 


He is a legit franchise player who was won us the West at the age of 25.

There was a time when we overrated him a bit, putting him on different tier of a player to someone like Dirk for example, or ahead of a name like Jokix from current stars.

[mvossman]

This actually sounds a lot like the rhetoric we had in Dallas when Luka was here:

“Just need a front office that can assemble the proper kind of team around Luka.”

“Just need some great defensive players around Luka.”

“Just need some great defensive players that can also hit a wide open three.”

“Just need some great defensive players that can hit open threes and put it on the floor occasionally to hit a wide open layup.”

So… when do folks start to think that maybe the problem is Luka?

This is so lacking in context.

Folks were talking like this because the team was lacking in talent and assets to get that talent.  When you don't have talent you have to focus on fit.

They acquired one high level starter to put next to him, who they then traded away for negative assets

They developed a second high level starter and then let him walk away.

The irony is that the build around Flagg is very similar to the build around Luka.  You want a mobile defensive center, 3&D wings and a POA defender.  They biggest difference is they need a high level PG to put next to flag where Luka needed a high level secondary creator.

[Chicagojk]

Gearing up for a tough night for team tank.  Denver comes back and wins at New Orleans last night.   Now they come to Dallas for a back to back with an injured Jokic (others?).   Dallas has played two of their best games this year against Denver.  Do they go 3-0?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/BennettDurando/status/2011295528643150196


David Adelman speaking on Trey Murphy III. I think he'd be a great fit in Detroit.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/Justintohoops/status/2011280885543587859


OKC finally gets revenge, and blows out the Spurs at home, 119-98

[Mavs2021]

Gearing up for a tough night for team tank.  Denver comes back and wins at New Orleans last night.   Now they come to Dallas for a back to back with an injured Jokic (others?).   Dallas has played two of their best games this year against Denver.  Do they go 3-0?

Also shows there is no hope for these Pelicans. I really don´t understand how they are this bad. Looked at their schedule. They have 10 games left against tanking teams, including the next two. That would get them to 19 wins. Almost impossible to get below them for the Mavs.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Gearing up for a tough night for team tank.  Denver comes back and wins at New Orleans last night.   Now they come to Dallas for a back to back with an injured Jokic (others?).   Dallas has played two of their best games this year against Denver.  Do they go 3-0?

Denver had impressive road wins at Philadelphia and Boston with a depleted roster. I wouldn't look past them at all. Payton Watson has been playing out of his mind, as well as Jamal Murray.

[JamesConway912]

This actually sounds a lot like the rhetoric we had in Dallas when Luka was here:

“Just need a front office that can assemble the proper kind of team around Luka.”

“Just need some great defensive players around Luka.”

“Just need some great defensive players that can also hit a wide open three.”

“Just need some great defensive players that can hit open threes and put it on the floor occasionally to hit a wide open layup.”

So… when do folks start to think that maybe the problem is Luka?

The level of disrespect here is obscene. You rarely ever post anything of substance but this is dumb even for your standards.

Winning it all is hard in the NBA. Luka lead us to multiple deep playoff runs, made the Finals early in his career and NEVER wanted to go. All that despite being surrounded with completely amateurish GMs / decision makers at the upper levels.

The moment Luka left town ths organizatin crumbled immediatedly.

Guys like you will turn on Flagg as well in a few years if he is not able to bring a chip to DAL before aged 25.

YUCK