Which Players Would You NOT Trade for Luka?

[LuckyGreen7]

As a Celtics fan, I would not trade either Tatum or Brown for Doncic. I wouldn't really want him on my team at all. He is a top 3 talent on the planet, but his lack of commitment to diet and training would drive me nuts.

...you wouldnt trade Tatum OR Brown for Luka? Cmon dude.

Nope. I want guys who put 110% effort into their craft. Luka doesn't do that. I'm in better shape sitting on the couch watching games than that guy is playing them. It shows a total lack of maturity and leadership to be the beer guzzling and sausage hogging slob he's allowed himself to become. Total waste of a generational talent. It's why he misses so many games and why he will never win a title.

[ryguy613]

Not Tatum

Edwards (not as good as Luka) and Giannis (age) sure, but not Tatum

This is an interesting one. Seems like Tatum is the tipping point where fans are going different directions. Might have to throw up a poll.

I get it from the Celtics point of view. Tatum is only slightly worse than Luka and the Celtics won a title with him. It doesn't make sense to trade him.

But that's irrelevant because a package of Brown + multiple FRPs is much better than what LAL gave up and Stevens would absolutely do that.

depends how many draft picks we're talking about. Davis is better than Brown, and i dont think its particularly close. multiple picks would probably get it done over the lakers package but again... depends how many picks.

[Ruma85]

As a Celtics fan, I would not trade either Tatum or Brown for Doncic. I wouldn't really want him on my team at all. He is a top 3 talent on the planet, but his lack of commitment to diet and training would drive me nuts.

...you wouldnt trade Tatum OR Brown for Luka? Cmon dude.

Nope. I want guys who put 110% effort into their craft. Luka doesn't do that. I'm in better shape sitting on the couch watching games than that guy is playing them. It shows a total lack of maturity and leadership to be the beer guzzling and sausage hogging slob he's allowed himself to become. Total waste of a generational talent. It's why he misses so many games and why he will never win a title.

I'm sure you are bud.

[FarBeyondDriven]

Luka is overrated. He's essentially a 6'6" overweight version of Trae. No defense, stat-padder and he needs a particular supporting cast around him to succeed. Clearly talented when the league allows illegal screens, travels, carries and push offs, which he requires to get hit shot off, but not so much if he played in any other era. Only because this is an aging league with many of its best players on the way out is he top 10. That said, I wouldn't trade Wemby, Giannis, Jokic, SGA, Tatum and maybe even Edwards for him. AD is better too but he's older and has injuries so I wouldn't quite put him there but close. Thought real long and hard about Banchero, Cade and Barnes too. There's a few guys coming out in the next couple of drafts I think will potentially be better as well

[AdamTH21]

From a team perspective?

Spurs because I don’t think I would trade Wemby for anyone. Bucks I think would bite in a hypothetical world where they could trade Dame and run Giannis/Doncic but I don’t think they move Giannis in order to run a Doncic/Dame backcourt. OKC for Shai and Denver for Jokic.

The Tatum for Doncic conversation is a super interesting one though. I think Boston accept a Brown for Doncic deal in a heartbeat.

[LuckyGreen7]

What kind of message does it send to the 15th guy on your bench who spends hours in the gym every day sweating his tits off just to keep a job and the guy who is supposed to be the leader of the team can't be bothered and is at minimum 20# overweight?

A true professional should be doing every thing possible to maximize his talents for the very short window in life they get to play pro ball. Save the partying for retirement. Think of how much better Doncic would be on both ends of the court if he took his fitness seriously?

Luka is a guy that history will look back on and say he should have won multiple titles and I don't think he wins one. There's a ripple effect when your leader doesn't lead by example.

No question he's maybe a top 5 talent all time. And he's wasting it.

[Lalouie]

jokic

[GrindCityHustle]

Luka is overrated. He's essentially a 6'6" overweight version of Trae. No defense, stat-padder and he needs a particular supporting cast around him to succeed. Clearly talented when the league allows illegal screens, travels, carries and push offs, which he requires to get hit shot off, but not so much if he played in any other era. Only because this is an aging league with many of its best players on the way out is he top 10. That said, I wouldn't trade Wemby, Giannis, Jokic, SGA, Tatum and maybe even Edwards for him. AD is better too but he's older and has injuries so I wouldn't quite put him there but close. Thought real long and hard about Banchero, Cade and Barnes too. There's a few guys coming out in the next couple of drafts I think will potentially be better as well

Wow what a take lol

[baldur]

only wemby. maybe shai and jokic too.

[ryguy613]

Luka is overrated. He's essentially a 6'6" overweight version of Trae. No defense, stat-padder and he needs a particular supporting cast around him to succeed. Clearly talented when the league allows illegal screens, travels, carries and push offs, which he requires to get hit shot off, but not so much if he played in any other era. Only because this is an aging league with many of its best players on the way out is he top 10. That said, I wouldn't trade Wemby, Giannis, Jokic, SGA, Tatum and maybe even Edwards for him. AD is better too but he's older and has injuries so I wouldn't quite put him there but close. Thought real long and hard about Banchero, Cade and Barnes too. There's a few guys coming out in the next couple of drafts I think will potentially be better as well

bro, what? lol. An overweight version of Trae just dragged a mediocre Mavs roster to the Finals last year? Do you hear yourself?

[ryguy613]

What kind of message does it send to the 15th guy on your bench who spends hours in the gym every day sweating his tits off just to keep a job and the guy who is supposed to be the leader of the team can't be bothered and is at minimum 20# overweight?

A true professional should be doing every thing possible to maximize his talents for the very short window in life they get to play pro ball. Save the partying for retirement. Think of how much better Doncic would be on both ends of the court if he took his fitness seriously?

Luka is a guy that history will look back on and say he should have won multiple titles and I don't think he wins one. There's a ripple effect when your leader doesn't lead by example.

No question he's maybe a top 5 talent all time. And he's wasting it.

I think youre overestimating how much that matters. Shaq was rarely in shape. Worked out well enough for him. Jokic struggles to stay in shape.... worked out well enough for him. If you are an exceptional, generational, talent, you can win at the highest level in spite of those issues. Its not ideal but its FAR from a stopper.

[One Last Shot]

Luka single-handedly destroyed and outscored a 64-win squad in a game 7 at their home-court and finished them before halftime then lead his team to NBA Finals while having like 5 injuries last playoffs. That fat dude is really special. Maybe just Wemby, not sure about Jokic.

[Godymas]

Hmm, some players are apples vs. oranges

Jokic - do you want to retool the roster around an easier player to potentially build around? Then you do the trade. In terms of offensive ability they can kind of give you the same 30 point triple double.

Giannis - I’d say no because of the two way impact. Giannis is the perfect franchise player imo. Basically new Steph Curry.

SGA - This is also a question of do you think having a better passer and playmaker is better for the team vs. the isolation scoring of SGA? SGA is a better defender, but there is a world where this could happen.

Wemby - You would never trade him for Luka, ever.

Paolo - this one is interesting, I’m leaning towards no right now, but Luka’s ability to run the offense is interesting. Paolo’s physical assets and skills are ridiculous though for his age.

I think everyone else is a pretty much yes. That means every single young potential “superstar”. Luka is a guaranteed superstar.

[Pacernation]

Wemby, Jokic and maybe SGA, that's it.

[kazyv]

celtics are being delusional in this thread. unless he's got a time machine and gets to bring back 25 year old larry bird, there is no celtic player stevens wouldn't trade for luka in a heartbeat

ant? probably traded. giannis is a tough one, but probably traded as well. pretty much the only untouchable players are Jokic and SGA, maybe Wemby

[bstein14]

As a Pistons fan I wouldn't trade Cade for him... Mainly because Cade is locked into a deal for 5 years and Luka is a FA in 2026 and I have my doubts he'd stay with a team like Detroit. Cade's proven he's at least a young perennial all-star type and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being considered a fringe top 10 player soon.

[ITYSL]

Jokic and Wemby are the two I definitely wouldn't trade.

Giannis, SGA and Tatum I'm pretty sure I wouldn't trade.

[makubesu]

Luka is overrated. He's essentially a 6'6" overweight version of Trae. No defense, stat-padder and he needs a particular supporting cast around him to succeed. Clearly talented when the league allows illegal screens, travels, carries and push offs, which he requires to get hit shot off, but not so much if he played in any other era. Only because this is an aging league with many of its best players on the way out is he top 10. That said, I wouldn't trade Wemby, Giannis, Jokic, SGA, Tatum and maybe even Edwards for him. AD is better too but he's older and has injuries so I wouldn't quite put him there but close. Thought real long and hard about Banchero, Cade and Barnes too. There's a few guys coming out in the next couple of drafts I think will potentially be better as well

Wow what a take lol

He knows you need a big guys like Marvin Bagley III

[DaddyCool19]

The team has good defensive bigs. If the GM cares so much for defense, why didn't he go for someone like Jaylen Brown and X? Brown is under contract for a while, is more durable than AD and could've replaced Luka positionally.

I think Boston would've been all over it, as they most likely prefer Tatum over Brown.

[brutalitops]

Joker/Wemby/Shai/Giannis

But then again I didn't think Dallas would trade Luka for anything. Let alone the 5th best center in the league and a future first