Luka to Lakers. AD to Mavs.

[TheSuzerain]

Most stunning trade in NBA history.

Can't believe it.

Big enough to get its own thread.

[sco]

Luka is an uber talent, but IMO he's doesn't take the game seriously enough. Bad fit with LBJ, but if there was ever a guy who body shame him.

ESPN said that he was up for a $343 million deal and they thought his lack of conditioning led to too many injuries.

AD/Kyrie pairing seems like a better fit for winning. They may have enough assets to bring in a 3rd star to balance out the roster. They can probably turn Gafford or Lively/Washington/Pick(s)/Thompson/young guys into someone good...Zach?

[Shill]

Lakers must be practicing witchcraft.

[Ctownbulls]

Luka is an uber talent, but IMO he's doesn't take the game seriously enough. Bad fit with LBJ, but if there was ever a guy who body shame him.

ESPN said that he was up for a $343 million deal and they thought his lack of conditioning led to too many injuries.

AD/Kyrie pairing seems like a better fit for winning. They may have enough assets to bring in a 3rd star to balance out the roster. They can probably turn Gafford or Lively/Washington/Pick(s)/Thompson/young guys into someone good...Zach?

Better fit for winning? Luka took them to the finals last year, is entering his prime, and is a generational talent. The trade is a joke.

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[Jcool0]

Luka is an uber talent, but IMO he's doesn't take the game seriously enough. Bad fit with LBJ, but if there was ever a guy who body shame him.

ESPN said that he was up for a $343 million deal and they thought his lack of conditioning led to too many injuries.

AD/Kyrie pairing seems like a better fit for winning. They may have enough assets to bring in a 3rd star to balance out the roster. They can probably turn Gafford or Lively/Washington/Pick(s)/Thompson/young guys into someone good...Zach?

No.

[kodo]

I have to believe Luka said he won't automatically resign in Dallas and become a UFA. That means he's gone after next season, the expiring year players lose almost all their value. If they can flip AD for picks down the line, this might be how they rebuild. I still think they should have an open bidding war for Luka instead of this silent auction.

I have to imagine they could have gotten someone younger? Joker, SGA, Wemby aren't being traded for Luka. Boston has no need to rock the boat. But couldn't they have gotten Ant, Ja, Cade, etc?

This further emphasizes why Free Agency is a joke for getting your franchise player. Lakers are almost at the 2nd apron and they got who would have been the biggest FA in the past 7 years. Nobody lets superstars walk in FA for nothing.

[Ctownbulls]

I have to believe Luka said he won't automatically resign in Dallas and become a UFA. That means he's gone after next season, the expiring year players lose almost all their value. Dallas GM probably didn't think he could compete with an LA in UFA, even w/ the supermax for Dallas Luka stands to gain far more in sponsorship opportunities.

If they can flip AD for picks down the line, this might be how they rebuild. I still think they should have an open bidding war for Luka instead of this silent auction.

I have to imagine they could have gotten someone younger? Joker, SGA, Wemby aren't being traded for Luka. Boston has no need to rock the boat. But couldn't they have gotten Ant, Ja, Cade, etc?

This further emphasizes why Free Agency is a joke for getting your franchise player. Lakers are almost at the 2nd apron and they got who would have been the biggest FA in the last few years a year early. Nobody lets superstars walk in FA for nothing.

They could have gotten 5 unprotected FRPs and a young star.

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[Jcool0]

I have to believe Luka said he won't automatically resign in Dallas and become a UFA. That means he's gone after next season, the expiring year players lose almost all their value. If they can flip AD for picks down the line, this might be how they rebuild. I still think they should have an open bidding war for Luka instead of this silent auction.

I have to imagine they could have gotten someone younger? Joker, SGA, Wemby aren't being traded for Luka. Boston has no need to rock the boat. But couldn't they have gotten Ant, Ja, Cade, etc?

This further emphasizes why Free Agency is a joke for getting your franchise player. Lakers are almost at the 2nd apron and they got who would have been the biggest FA in the past 7 years. Nobody lets superstars walk in FA for nothing.

No one is going to give Dallas significant picks for an over 30 injury prone center.

[Howling Mad]

32 year old Kobe + 25 year old Chris Paul

or

40 year old Lebron + 25 year old Luka Doncic

[dougthonus]

I have no problem believing the Mavs didn't want to pay Luka due to some internal knowledge/conflict.

The really hard part here is why not just canvas the league. If Luka publicly demanded a trade, you'd have gotten more for him than this. How did you not get both the Lakers unprotected picks in this deal and a swap option?

[rosenthall]

I have to believe Luka said he won't automatically resign in Dallas and become a UFA. That means he's gone after next season, the expiring year players lose almost all their value. If they can flip AD for picks down the line, this might be how they rebuild. I still think they should have an open bidding war for Luka instead of this silent auction.

I have to imagine they could have gotten someone younger? Joker, SGA, Wemby aren't being traded for Luka. Boston has no need to rock the boat. But couldn't they have gotten Ant, Ja, Cade, etc?

This further emphasizes why Free Agency is a joke for getting your franchise player. Lakers are almost at the 2nd apron and they got who would have been the biggest FA in the past 7 years. Nobody lets superstars walk in FA for nothing.

If the plan is to trade AD for a bunch of picks to rebuild, why not just do the same with Luka, who has higher trade value?

I haven't fully checked, but is there any precedent for a 1st team All NBA player at the beginning of their prime who just took their team to the finals getting traded mid-season? Seems like this has literally never happened before, at least in the modern era.

[dougthonus]

If the plan is to trade AD for a bunch of picks to rebuild, why not just do the same with Luka, who has higher trade value?

I haven't fully checked, but is there any precedent for a 1st team All NBA player at the beginning of their prime who just took their team to the finals getting traded mid-season? Seems like this has literally never happened before, at least in the modern era.

Yeah, just put Luka on the open market and worst case scenario, you now have forced the Lakers into giving you every pick they have and upped their offer.

[2weekswithpay]

I have to believe Luka said he won't automatically resign in Dallas and become a UFA. That means he's gone after next season, the expiring year players lose almost all their value. If they can flip AD for picks down the line, this might be how they rebuild. I still think they should have an open bidding war for Luka instead of this silent auction.

I have to imagine they could have gotten someone younger? Joker, SGA, Wemby aren't being traded for Luka. Boston has no need to rock the boat. But couldn't they have gotten Ant, Ja, Cade, etc?

This further emphasizes why Free Agency is a joke for getting your franchise player. Lakers are almost at the 2nd apron and they got who would have been the biggest FA in the past 7 years. Nobody lets superstars walk in FA for nothing.

If the plan is to trade AD for a bunch of picks to rebuild, why not just do the same with Luka, who has higher trade value?

I haven't fully checked, but is there any precedent for a 1st team All NBA player at the beginning of their prime who just took their team to the finals getting traded mid-season? Seems like this has literally never happened before, at least in the modern era.

I don't know if the Mavs can tank. They own their 2025 and 2026 pick but the 2027 pick is owned by the Hornets. 2028 is a pick swap with OKC, the 2029 pick is owned by the Nets, and the 2030 is a pick swap with the Spurs.

Hard to tank if you don't own your picks.

[dougthonus]

I don't know if the Mavs can tank. They own their 2025 and 2026 pick but the 2027 pick is owned by the Hornets. 2028 is a pick swap with OKC, the 2029 pick is owned by the Nets, and the 2030 is a pick swap with the Spurs.

Hard to tank if you don't own your picks.

Ironically, their pick situation makes this makes this move even more non-sensical. AD is going to give you his best over the next 2 years. He's got a long history of breaking down. You own your picks in the years AD's value is peaked and you don't own your picks when he is going to age out.

[MissileMike]

So yeah the trade is a sham, something sketchy going on...

But now, if you're the lakers, can you trade Lebron? Does he have a no-trade clause?

[Stratmaster]

Both players are hurt right now. Did anybody know how "real" the injuries are? I don't follow the West enough to know the inside scoop there.

Doncic doesn't play good defense. As I am reading up on this, it sounds worse than that. Like he doesn't even PLAY defense. The Mavs supposedley believe defense wins chips and that without improving there the team peaked last season. (Again...all this is from a Google education. I see the Mavs twice a season).

But still...this seems crazy to me. I have to feel like Doncic and the Mavs were simply done with each other and that LA is where Luka wanted to be and told them they could either trade him there or he could go there in free agency.

[2weekswithpay]

So yeah the trade is a sham, something sketchy going on...

But now, if you're the lakers, can you trade Lebron? Does he have a no-trade clause?

Yes Lebron has a NTC

[2weekswithpay]

Both players are hurt right now. Did anybody know how "real" the injuries are? I don't follow the West enough to know the inside scoop there.

Doncic doesn't play good defense. As I am reading up on this, it sounds worse than that. Like he doesn't even PLAY defense. The Mavs supposedley believe defense wins chips and that without improving there the team peaked last season. (Again...all this is from a Google education. I see the Mavs twice a season).

But still...this seems crazy to me. I have to feel like Doncic and the Mavs were simply done with each other and that LA is where Luka wanted to be and told them they could either trade him there or he could go there in free agency.

They reported that Luka was going to return just before or after the all-star break. AD is only out for like a week.

I don't believe Luka's injuries are a big deal unless they're hiding something and he has degenerative knees like Kawhi.

[MrSparkle]

It’s gonna be funny and sad watching the Mavs miss the playoffs, as Kyrie pouts and Davis/Klay hit the injury reserve.

[RagingBull316]

Too bad David Stern's not around anymore to block this trade. This is worse then the Chris Paul to the Lakers trade.