RealGM

sco wrote: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?

sco wrote: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?

kodo wrote: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.

kodo wrote: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.

kodo wrote: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.

rosenthall wrote: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.

rosenthall wrote:

kodo wrote: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.

2weekswithpay wrote: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.

MissileMike wrote: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 wrote: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.