02-26-2023, 01:07 AM
(02-25-2023, 01:25 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: For all of the hand-wringing about the Kyrie pursuit - and I joined KL at the time as regarding the worst-case scenario as Cuban re-signing him to a 5-year max and subjecting the team to years of turmoil followed by a nasty exit, not to mention possibly losing Luka - but some savvy observers kept piping up, "Players love him." Kyrie has had a tremendously positive effect on this team. It's like he's the anti-Rondo. The team's offensive chemistry is the best it's been in years after a few short games, and Luka seems to be adapting to the major change. He's a very intelligent and experienced player who may even end up having a positive effect on team defense over time. Heaven help me, I *like* Kyrie the Mav, a great deal.
Since the trade, for me, things have very obviously and reasonably reversed - the worst-case scenario is that we aren't able to keep him this summer. Wow. If he stays, there will almost certainly be headaches and heartaches at some point, but keeping him, if we can, is still going to be the right decision.
There was never a doubt in my mind that he’d play hard, make the team better, more fun and raise the ceiling…for the rest of this season.
What I didn’t expect is that I would enjoy that part as much as I am. It’s a lot of fun to follow them right now, and will continue to be for the rest of the season, at least.
I still would not have done the trade because of my debilitating fear of what comes next, once you are truly in business with a guy like that, but hey… It’s done now, so that is a conversation for next year.