Post#1491 » by FarBeyondDriven » Sun Feb 2, 2025 9:49 am
If Luka only wanted to sign with the Lakers it doesn't matter what the other teams were offering so opening up the bids to them is a moot point. But let's pretend every team was given a chance to bid knowing Luka wasn't signing long-term, can any of them beat AD as far as players going to to Dallas? The answer is a resounding no. Heck, let's pretend Luka would sign an extension with whoever and the bidding was open. What team can beat AD as the main part of their offer that they're willing to trade? SGA, Jokic, Giannis, Wemby and Tatum would be off the table and those are the only players better than AD if we're being honest. So who else would be someone that could be the main player going back in a trade that would feasibly excite the Mavs but that also had the cap to sign him to a massive extension? Only guys I can come up with might be in the conversation are Edwards, Banchero, Ball, Cade, Fox, Sabonis, Haliburton, Ja, Zion, JJJ, KAT, and Fox. Now you see why this trade happened?
The Mavs in an open market could have likely gotten a slightly lesser player, a couple of other young players and several 1st round picks. But it wasn't an open market due to Doncic's demands. So they end up getting arguably the best player they could have hoped for, one young player, and just one first. Oh, and the Mavericks have to be top 3 favorites now to win the West. Remember, nothing says they're done making moves either. If they were willing to do something major like this, for all we know they have something else in the works just like everyone assumes the Lakers do as well.