Luka traded to the Lakers

[Dirk2Doncic]

Dumbest, most shocking, most gut wrenching trade in NBA history.

This started with Mark Cuban who hired a shoe saleman to be his GM after pushing out a legit NBA basketball GM who brought us Dirk who's coattails the most overrated owner in NBA history Mark Cuban rode.

Nico Harrison proved himself an ignorant tone deaf crepe in the press conference.

It's the most stunning thing I have ever witnessed in sports. And by far the worst sports experience of my life.

The Dallas Mavericks are dead to me.

[blabla]

From a paywalled piece from an ex-Mavs front office member (https://www.roycewebb.com/p/the-luka-doncic-trade-my-perspective):

Dončić would never have been traded by the Mavericks' old regime.
When he sold most of his stake in the Mavericks in December 2023, Mark Cuban said that he would remain in control of basketball operations. If he did, that ended quickly. Within months, it was clear that Cuban had been dislodged, and general manager Nico Harrison, the former Nike executive originally hired by Cuban, had taken the reins, under the franchise’s new governor, Patrick Dumont.

Even though I pushed for it when I was in Dallas, I never believed Cuban would trade Dončić. Cuban, you see, adored Dirk Nowitzki, the man who brought the Mavericks their first and only NBA title. And in Cuban's eyes, Luka was the natural successor to Dirk.

In 2020, Cuban was quoted saying, “If I had to choose between my wife and keeping Luka on the Mavs, catch me at my lawyer’s office prepping for a divorce.”

Jokes aside, not once in my time in Dallas did I get the feeling that Cuban’s dedication to building the team around Luka wavered. Every move the Mavs made appeared tailored to fit Dončić's playstyle and mitigate his weaknesses. He was truly the franchise player.
-----------------
The timing of this decision is terrible.

In December, Dončić came on strong after missing several games because of injury and fitness concerns. He had started the season as the betting favorite for Most Valuable Player, and he was working his way back into that conversation.

Then he injured his left calf in Dallas’ Christmas Day game. At the time, the Mavs were fourth in the West, and far better when Dončić played.

My gut says that if Luka were currently playing and racking up triple-doubles, with the Mavs still winning instead of finishing January in ninth place in the West, either this trade would not have been made or the return would've been much, much higher.

Dealing an injured player leads to lower returns, as the questions mount: How serious is the injury, and how long will recovery take? Could his team be hiding something? Is there maybe something else wrong with his body? These questions matter in the real world.

Somehow the Mavs chose the lowest point — by far — in Dončić's trade value arc to move him.
----------------
Nico Harrison surrounded himself with yes men, and the Mavericks’ franchise and fans paying for it.

My time with the Mavericks overlapped with Nico's time as GM for about one year — his first year in charge of an NBA front office.

In that time I realized that Nico did not have a good grasp of which front-office members actually understood basketball. Nor was he able to comprehend that certain people just kept parroting what he was saying, with the goal to be liked by Nico and thus to be promoted.

In some ways, this trade marks the culmination of those developments. With critical voices drowned out and only sycophants rising up the ranks, the people now close to Nico weren't the type that would provide any pushback on this historically awful trade idea.

[Dirk2Doncic]

From a paywalled piece from an ex-Mavs front office member (https://www.roycewebb.com/p/the-luka-doncic-trade-my-perspective):

Dončić would never have been traded by the Mavericks' old regime.
When he sold most of his stake in the Mavericks in December 2023, Mark Cuban said that he would remain in control of basketball operations. If he did, that ended quickly. Within months, it was clear that Cuban had been dislodged, and general manager Nico Harrison, the former Nike executive originally hired by Cuban, had taken the reins, under the franchise’s new governor, Patrick Dumont.

Even though I pushed for it when I was in Dallas, I never believed Cuban would trade Dončić. Cuban, you see, adored Dirk Nowitzki, the man who brought the Mavericks their first and only NBA title. And in Cuban's eyes, Luka was the natural successor to Dirk.

In 2020, Cuban was quoted saying, “If I had to choose between my wife and keeping Luka on the Mavs, catch me at my lawyer’s office prepping for a divorce.”

Jokes aside, not once in my time in Dallas did I get the feeling that Cuban’s dedication to building the team around Luka wavered. Every move the Mavs made appeared tailored to fit Dončić's playstyle and mitigate his weaknesses. He was truly the franchise player.
-----------------
The timing of this decision is terrible.

In December, Dončić came on strong after missing several games because of injury and fitness concerns. He had started the season as the betting favorite for Most Valuable Player, and he was working his way back into that conversation.

Then he injured his left calf in Dallas’ Christmas Day game. At the time, the Mavs were fourth in the West, and far better when Dončić played.

My gut says that if Luka were currently playing and racking up triple-doubles, with the Mavs still winning instead of finishing January in ninth place in the West, either this trade would not have been made or the return would've been much, much higher.

Dealing an injured player leads to lower returns, as the questions mount: How serious is the injury, and how long will recovery take? Could his team be hiding something? Is there maybe something else wrong with his body? These questions matter in the real world.

Somehow the Mavs chose the lowest point — by far — in Dončić's trade value arc to move him.
----------------
Nico Harrison surrounded himself with yes men, and the Mavericks’ franchise and fans paying for it.

My time with the Mavericks overlapped with Nico's time as GM for about one year — his first year in charge of an NBA front office.

In that time I realized that Nico did not have a good grasp of which front-office members actually understood basketball. Nor was he able to comprehend that certain people just kept parroting what he was saying, with the goal to be liked by Nico and thus to be promoted.

In some ways, this trade marks the culmination of those developments. With critical voices drowned out and only sycophants rising up the ranks, the people now close to Nico weren't the type that would provide any pushback on this historically awful trade idea.

Nico Harrison is a complete and total scumbag.

Not a good look from Kidd in the presser either.

This franchise is now a fraud. Dirk made the Mavs, then Luka. Luka gone, no more Mavs. All you who wanted Luka gone or are still hopeful are delusional.

After this current cast of characters led by a small aging although fun to watch and talented robin player and a soon to be aging robin big man fades away the Dallas Mavericks will enter the dark ages similar to the 90s.

No Batman, no ring. There are a few exceptions in NBA history but those are exceptions not the rule.

It's OVER for this franchise. Franchises in sports don't recover from this level of stupidity and arrogance. Not for a long long long long time.

[Mavrelous]

A good read which summarizes my mindset
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/mavericks-features-profiles/2025/2/3/24357991/an-open-letter-to-dallas-mavericks-gm-nico-harrison

[41Dirk41]

Boycott every home games.

I want to see AAC empty, let this moron watch alone "his" Dallas Mavericks.

Please. Do it.
Every NBA fans will thank you for sure.

[arkuo]

If Dallas got 3 first rounders from LA, would it balance out value-wise?

Anthony Davis
Max Christie
2031 First
2033 First
2035 First

[tribulations]

Dumbest, most shocking, most gut wrenching trade in NBA history.

This started with Mark Cuban who hired a shoe saleman to be his GM after pushing out a legit NBA basketball GM who brought us Dirk who's coattails the most overrated owner in NBA history Mark Cuban rode.

Nico Harrison proved himself an ignorant tone deaf crepe in the press conference.

It's the most stunning thing I have ever witnessed in sports. And by far the worst sports experience of my life.

The Dallas Mavericks are dead to me.

I've been in a funk for 2 days. Keep coming back to these threads and doom scrolling.

Mods pls ban me

[Dirk2Doncic]

Shoe salesman claims "defense wins championships" then talks of "culture" in a diva league to "justify" his nepotism trade for his aging often injured buddy. Disgusting on so many levels.

The truth is, defense AND offense wins championships.

I guess this moran has never heard of Larry Bird and doesn't know who the statue outside AAC represents.

Adam Silver also demonstrated himself a fraud in this (which I already knew).

Easy to build "culture" with your buddy Nico.

As a Steelers fan, I used to hear fellow fans complain of "fat Ben" when he was in his prime. I always thought the extra padding was an advantage in some ways. I think the same of Luka too, the extra mass aids in absorbing contact which provides some advantage with his style of play. I don't know if super slim Luka would be optimal as some seem to want.

Fat Luka just dragged your nobody chump behind to an NBA finals you "defense wins championships" claiming shoe selling moran.

You could find "reasons" to "justify" trading most young NBA superstars including MJ and Dirk. It's called the growth and maturing process.

What an absolute disgrace and fraud of a league on so many levels under the fraud Adam Silver's watch.

[MassimoPayne]

"defense wins championships" but signed Kyrie and Klay.
"luka not healthy" but traded for Anthony day-to-davis
"win now" but traded away the nba's best playoff peformer since decades. Luka took **** Dwight Powell, DFS and Maxi to the Western Finals...

This is all lies. I don't why but I don't believe a single word.

[Dirk2Doncic]

"defense wins championships" but signed Kyrie and Klay.
"luka not healthy" but traded for Anthony day-to-davis
"win now" but traded away the nba's best playoff peformer since decades. Luka took **** Dwight Powell, DFS and Maxi to the Western Finals...

This is all lies. I don't why but I don't believe a single word.

That presser was insult to any thinking person's intelligence.

It's stupidity and or propaganda on a level I have NEVER seen in sports.

How ANYONE can have ANY respect for Nico Harrison after that presser...

[Baz]

Dumbest, most shocking, most gut wrenching trade in NBA history.

This started with Mark Cuban who hired a shoe saleman to be his GM after pushing out a legit NBA basketball GM who brought us Dirk who's coattails the most overrated owner in NBA history Mark Cuban rode.

Nico Harrison proved himself an ignorant tone deaf crepe in the press conference.

It's the most stunning thing I have ever witnessed in sports. And by far the worst sports experience of my life.

The Dallas Mavericks are dead to me.

I feel you friend, in all my life following sports this has definitely hurt me more than anything else on a level I never could've imagined. It is the the most cruel mutiny of a beloved player who was just getting started and in turn it felt like us fans were also maliciously targeted by the chump who pulled the trigger on this. I don't see how it won't bother me forever. It's possible there was collusion by the NBA and Lakers and in a way it's more comforting if that was the case because it's hard to come to terms with one absolute scumbag destroying the team you loved with his own arrogance and utter idiocy. It's got to be the biggest fumble I've ever seen in sports and it had to happen to us of all the top pro teams in the world.

[arkuo]

Dumbest, most shocking, most gut wrenching trade in NBA history.

This started with Mark Cuban who hired a shoe saleman to be his GM after pushing out a legit NBA basketball GM who brought us Dirk who's coattails the most overrated owner in NBA history Mark Cuban rode.

Nico Harrison proved himself an ignorant tone deaf crepe in the press conference.

It's the most stunning thing I have ever witnessed in sports. And by far the worst sports experience of my life.

The Dallas Mavericks are dead to me.

I feel you friend, in all my life following sports this has definitely hurt me more than anything else on a level I never could've imagined. It is the the most cruel mutiny of a beloved player who was just getting started and in turn it felt like us fans were also maliciously targeted by the chump who pulled the trigger on this. I don't see how it won't bother me forever. It's possible there was collusion by the NBA and Lakers and in a way it's more comforting if that was the case because it's hard to come to terms with one absolute scumbag destroying the team you loved with his own arrogance and utter idiocy. It's got to be the biggest fumble I've ever seen in sports and it had to happen to us of all the top pro teams in the world.

I wouldn't call it a fumble if the man who orchestrated it did it on purpose. This was pre-planned. Anytime you cause a grown man to lose out on $116M, it's personal.

What and how it became personal is the question.

[Bob8]

Dumbest, most shocking, most gut wrenching trade in NBA history.

This started with Mark Cuban who hired a shoe saleman to be his GM after pushing out a legit NBA basketball GM who brought us Dirk who's coattails the most overrated owner in NBA history Mark Cuban rode.

Nico Harrison proved himself an ignorant tone deaf crepe in the press conference.

It's the most stunning thing I have ever witnessed in sports. And by far the worst sports experience of my life.

The Dallas Mavericks are dead to me.

I feel you friend, in all my life following sports this has definitely hurt me more than anything else on a level I never could've imagined. It is the the most cruel mutiny of a beloved player who was just getting started and in turn it felt like us fans were also maliciously targeted by the chump who pulled the trigger on this. I don't see how it won't bother me forever. It's possible there was collusion by the NBA and Lakers and in a way it's more comforting if that was the case because it's hard to come to terms with one absolute scumbag destroying the team you loved with his own arrogance and utter idiocy. It's got to be the biggest fumble I've ever seen in sports and it had to happen to us of all the top pro teams in the world.

It was Nico's idea, Pelinka laughed at him first. It's hard to believe, but there are many **** in life just because people are stupid, ignorant and arrogant. Sad part is that Nico **** up mostly Mavs fans, owners don't care much, Nico will be out soon and Luka will play in a bigger market, easily making up money he has lost. Fans on the other hand can't go anywhere.

[arkuo]

Remember how Scottie Pippen hated Jerry Krause? This is the type of hate I can see from Luka to Nico. And understandably so.

[Baz]

Dumbest, most shocking, most gut wrenching trade in NBA history.

This started with Mark Cuban who hired a shoe saleman to be his GM after pushing out a legit NBA basketball GM who brought us Dirk who's coattails the most overrated owner in NBA history Mark Cuban rode.

Nico Harrison proved himself an ignorant tone deaf crepe in the press conference.

It's the most stunning thing I have ever witnessed in sports. And by far the worst sports experience of my life.

The Dallas Mavericks are dead to me.

I feel you friend, in all my life following sports this has definitely hurt me more than anything else on a level I never could've imagined. It is the the most cruel mutiny of a beloved player who was just getting started and in turn it felt like us fans were also maliciously targeted by the chump who pulled the trigger on this. I don't see how it won't bother me forever. It's possible there was collusion by the NBA and Lakers and in a way it's more comforting if that was the case because it's hard to come to terms with one absolute scumbag destroying the team you loved with his own arrogance and utter idiocy. It's got to be the biggest fumble I've ever seen in sports and it had to happen to us of all the top pro teams in the world.

I wouldn't call it a fumble if the man who orchestrated it did it on purpose. This was pre-planned. Anytime you cause a grown man to lose out on $116M, it's personal.

What and how it became personal is the question.

I too believe it was planned maliciously, maybe I picked the wrong word. My gut has said from the beginning that it was an intentional move towards Vegas and Nico is the puppet. But the details we've got so far combined with some little clues over the years and his disaster press conference raise the probability that Nico did this himself & has complete power with owners who don't know **** about ball and just followed his lead. Either way he's a chump and I wish him all the worst for destroying the Mavericks.

[arkuo]

I feel you friend, in all my life following sports this has definitely hurt me more than anything else on a level I never could've imagined. It is the the most cruel mutiny of a beloved player who was just getting started and in turn it felt like us fans were also maliciously targeted by the chump who pulled the trigger on this. I don't see how it won't bother me forever. It's possible there was collusion by the NBA and Lakers and in a way it's more comforting if that was the case because it's hard to come to terms with one absolute scumbag destroying the team you loved with his own arrogance and utter idiocy. It's got to be the biggest fumble I've ever seen in sports and it had to happen to us of all the top pro teams in the world.

I wouldn't call it a fumble if the man who orchestrated it did it on purpose. This was pre-planned. Anytime you cause a grown man to lose out on $116M, it's personal.

What and how it became personal is the question.

I too believe it was planned maliciously, maybe I picked the wrong word. My gut has said from the beginning that it was an intentional move towards Vegas and Nico is the puppet. But the details we've got so far combined with some little clues over the years and his disaster press conference raise the probability that Nico did this himself & has complete power with owners who don't know **** about ball and just followed his lead. Either way he's a chump and I wish him all the worst for destroying the Mavericks.

Nico strikes me as a narcissist with a big ego. So he's type to try all these big moves so he can be remembered by it as the only one who did it. But God damn. If it doesn't work, your name is going down the toilet. His name and his grandchildren's name, that is. They'll carry that cross for a long time if it doesnt work out.

[MassimoPayne]

it is so hard to process man. I am a Mavs since 20 years and went trough ups and down, but I certainly can't enjoy the Mavs and support a Nico Harrison team at this point. On the other hand as much as I love Luka i can't really root for the Laker either. I am completely lost and in a empty state of mind. This just sucks and somehow does not get better after a few days. I did not know that I can feel so bad just because of a sports move. I walk around like someone died. Honestly

[Sandy333]

AD will be back with Lakers sooner than you think. He wants no part of being here.

[arkuo]

Nico and the new owners treated this like a business acquisition.

You flip things with value and in their minds they get to achieve their goal at the shortest possible amount of time.

But doing that, you look past the team culture and how the ripple effect would be for fans. I think that is where much of the clamor is right now. The manner of how it was executed was cold AF.

[arkuo]

AD will be back with Lakers sooner than you think. He wants no part of being here.

LMAO Nico sends his application to the witness protection program if this happens.

He moves to a new country with a new identity. No way you go shopping on a weekend without looking behind your back every 10 seconds. Dumont and Adelson are fine. They roll with an entourage. Nico doesn't pull up with 5 Range Rovers of private security.