Which Players Would You NOT Trade for Luka?

[zero rings]

Jokic is quite a bit older than Luka, I make that trade without hesitation.

Luka is better than Shai, but I probably don't trade Shai because they're close enough to where I'm sticking with what's already proven to work in OKC.

Wemby I'm probably not trading because he's young.

Denver would be out of their minds trading Jokic. He’s so much better than Luka, and centers tend to age better than guards - especially guards that weigh 270 pounds.

Shai is a lot better than Luka, too.

When it's all said and done I think Luka ends up ahead of Jokic all-time, and with that in mind, it makes sense to make that trade especially since he's much younger.

The team that drafted Luka just announced to the entire world that he ain’t that guy. You don’t find that a little bit concerning?

[UglyBugBall]

Denver would be out of their minds trading Jokic. He’s so much better than Luka, and centers tend to age better than guards - especially guards that weigh 270 pounds.

Shai is a lot better than Luka, too.

When it's all said and done I think Luka ends up ahead of Jokic all-time, and with that in mind, it makes sense to make that trade especially since he's much younger.

The team that drafted Luka just announced to the entire world that he ain’t that guy. You don’t find that a little bit concerning?

I mostly find Nicos mental health concerning in all this. But even if he wasn't that guy now, given how Luka's responded to hecklers in the past, he sure as **** will be next season forward. This might be the best thing to ever happen to Lukas career.

[RunOKC]

Patrick Mahomes/SGA/Jokic/Wemby/Giannis

[zero rings]

When it's all said and done I think Luka ends up ahead of Jokic all-time, and with that in mind, it makes sense to make that trade especially since he's much younger.

The team that drafted Luka just announced to the entire world that he ain’t that guy. You don’t find that a little bit concerning?

I mostly find Nicos mental health concerning in all this. But even if he wasn't that guy now, given how Luka's responded to hecklers in the past, he sure as **** will be next season forward. This might be the best thing to ever happen to Lukas career.

I promise you this wasn’t just Nico’s call. The owners were clearly on board, and I’m sure other members of the organization were as well.

They think Luka is a lost cause in terms of work ethic, that he’s had his best days already, and they’re willing to bet the entire franchise on it. You shouldn’t take that lightly.

I hope Luka turns it around because he’s a mega talent, but this is absolutely damning. I’ve never seen anything like it in sports.

[bisme37]

Guys maybe we should adjust our idea of Luka's value considering his team just went out of their way to get rid of him?

The only NBA team he's played for deemed him a poorly conditioned, non-competetive, unprofessional defensive liability and approached another team about taking him so they wouldn't have to pay him a big contract. I can't really see this happening with other current top 10 players.

Just thinking out loud here.

Thank you. The Mavs are not crazy, even if they could have theoretically gotten more in a deal. They know what Luka is like better than anyone, and they decided to pull the plug.

This a total rebuke of Luka as a franchise player.

I'm seeing threads about how the league should veto the trade and the Mavs are insane. I'm as surprised by it as anyone but I can't really say I'm mad or that I don't understand it.

The Lakers somehow get a new superstar dumped in their lap every generation, which is somewhat annoying haha. But this trade is our best evidence yet that Luka really needs to get his act together if he's going to achieve a level of success in the NBA that matches his talent. Get in shape, play defense, and care. Or no supermax and no rings. I like it.

[Himothy Duncan]

Wemby is the only player I wouldn’t trade, just to see what he becomes. 25 year old Luka is better foundation piece than 30+ year old Jokic or Giannis and Luka is better than SGA, clearly.

[bisme37]

Re Tatum vs Luka: I've said this before and got eggs thrown at me, but the half of people who would apparently trade Tatum for Luka (even now??) are really.... well.. I've never gotten it and still don't get it.

First off, we all know defense is fully 50% of the game, but then when we start ranking players and assigning value it somehow only counts for like 5% of the discussion. Why? If Luka is the marginally better offensive player, and Tatum is the significantly better defensive player, doesn't that make Tatum the marginally better overall player? The math makes sense to me but I typically have a hard time getting anyone to agree lol. Drives me kinda nuts.

Then you add the fact that JT is an ultra professional, in shape, gives it all on the court every night, and has already won a title, and I can't wrap my head around thinking you'd trade Tatum for Luka. I decidedly would not.

[QingJames]

I would trade Barnes + 4 FRP in one second for Luka.
I am certain Magic would do the same with Paolo.
They basically could have had any blue-chip young guy they wanted except Wemby plus more draft capital than the Lakers gave them. Extreme incompetence in not shopping around.

[QingJames]

Guys maybe we should adjust our idea of Luka's value considering his team just went out of their way to get rid of him?

The only NBA team he's played for deemed him a poorly conditioned, non-competetive, unprofessional defensive liability and approached another team about taking him so they wouldn't have to pay him a big contract. I can't really see this happening with other current top 10 players.

Just thinking out loud here.

Thank you. The Mavs are not crazy, even if they could have theoretically gotten more in a deal. They know what Luka is like better than anyone, and they decided to pull the plug.

This a total rebuke of Luka as a franchise player.

I'm seeing threads about how the league should veto the trade and the Mavs are insane. I'm as surprised by it as anyone but I can't really say I'm mad or that I don't understand it.

The Lakers somehow get a new superstar dumped in their lap every generation, which is somewhat annoying haha. But this trade is our best evidence yet that Luka really needs to get his act together if he's going to achieve a level of success in the NBA that matches his talent. Get in shape, play defense, and care. Or no supermax and no rings. I like it.

He just made the finals though. Like, I would understand this argument if the Mavs were continually underperforming. But Luka just carried them to the finals. Also, as a Celtics fan, you understand how good your team is compared to other recent chip winners and that the Mavs were just totally outmatched in that finals. Swap AD for Luka in that finals and the Mavs still get obliterated.

[CptCrunch]

I wouldn't trade both Franz and Paolo, but one plus anyone else on the roster is fine.

For Houston, wouldn't trade Amen + Sengun, but one of them plus 5 unprotected picks is fine.

[zero rings]

Thank you. The Mavs are not crazy, even if they could have theoretically gotten more in a deal. They know what Luka is like better than anyone, and they decided to pull the plug.

This a total rebuke of Luka as a franchise player.

I'm seeing threads about how the league should veto the trade and the Mavs are insane. I'm as surprised by it as anyone but I can't really say I'm mad or that I don't understand it.

The Lakers somehow get a new superstar dumped in their lap every generation, which is somewhat annoying haha. But this trade is our best evidence yet that Luka really needs to get his act together if he's going to achieve a level of success in the NBA that matches his talent. Get in shape, play defense, and care. Or no supermax and no rings. I like it.

He just made the finals though. Like, I would understand this argument if the Mavs were continually underperforming. But Luka just carried them to the finals. Also, as a Celtics fan, you understand how good your team is compared to other recent chip winners and that the Mavs were just totally outmatched in that finals. Swap AD for Luka in that finals and the Mavs still get obliterated.

Did he carry them? His offensive numbers were way down across the board in the playoffs, and he was hunted on defense .

Maybe the Mavs are much better than you’re giving them credit for? That’s certainly what the front office thinks.

[KG Leonard]

Guys maybe we should adjust our idea of Luka's value considering his team just went out of their way to get rid of him?

The only NBA team he's played for deemed him a poorly conditioned, non-competetive, unprofessional defensive liability and approached another team about taking him so they wouldn't have to pay him a big contract. I can't really see this happening with other current top 10 players.

Just thinking out loud here.

Thats why i say no to Luka in Celtics, rather have a top 5-6 player that has played more games in 8 seasons than most superstars ever and he isn't seen as flawed defender whose character was judged negatively.

This trade says a lot of bad things about Luka, you don't dump a top 5 player who is young if you think there is nothing wrong with his discipline and conditioning.....

[Bank Shot]

Jokic, Wemby, and SGA. That's it.

[QingJames]

I'm seeing threads about how the league should veto the trade and the Mavs are insane. I'm as surprised by it as anyone but I can't really say I'm mad or that I don't understand it.

The Lakers somehow get a new superstar dumped in their lap every generation, which is somewhat annoying haha. But this trade is our best evidence yet that Luka really needs to get his act together if he's going to achieve a level of success in the NBA that matches his talent. Get in shape, play defense, and care. Or no supermax and no rings. I like it.

He just made the finals though. Like, I would understand this argument if the Mavs were continually underperforming. But Luka just carried them to the finals. Also, as a Celtics fan, you understand how good your team is compared to other recent chip winners and that the Mavs were just totally outmatched in that finals. Swap AD for Luka in that finals and the Mavs still get obliterated.

Did he carry them? His offensive numbers were way down across the board in the playoffs, and he was hunted on defense .

Maybe the Mavs are much better than you’re giving them credit for? That’s certainly what the front office thinks.

Yes he did carry them. Kyrie is quite literally the only other guy on that roster who can make anything happen in the halfcourt.

[QingJames]

Guys maybe we should adjust our idea of Luka's value considering his team just went out of their way to get rid of him?

The only NBA team he's played for deemed him a poorly conditioned, non-competetive, unprofessional defensive liability and approached another team about taking him so they wouldn't have to pay him a big contract. I can't really see this happening with other current top 10 players.

Just thinking out loud here.

Thats why i say no to Luka in Celtics, rather have a top 5-6 player that has played more games in 8 seasons than most superstars ever and he isn't seen as flawed defender whose character was judged negatively.

This trade says a lot of bad things about Luka, you don't dump a top 5 player who is young if you think there is nothing wrong with his discipline and conditioning.....

Or the Mavericks are just a terrible organization. This trade is certainly not the first mark of their incompetence.

[JayMKE]

If you’re going to move one of these untouchable guys you can never get equal value for then Luka is about as good of return as possible at being a 25 year old perennial MVP candidate coming off a finals appearance, that’s way better than typical poo poo platter of middling picks & swaps + role players to match salary. Like if you had to trade Wemby then Luka alone is better than any package they’d get from OKC or Utah.

[KG Leonard]

Jokic is quite a bit older than Luka, I make that trade without hesitation.

Luka is better than Shai, but I probably don't trade Shai because they're close enough to where I'm sticking with what's already proven to work in OKC.

Wemby I'm probably not trading because he's young.

Denver would be out of their minds trading Jokic. He’s so much better than Luka, and centers tend to age better than guards - especially guards that weigh 270 pounds.

Shai is a lot better than Luka, too.

When it's all said and done I think Luka ends up ahead of Jokic all-time, and with that in mind, it makes sense to make that trade especially since he's much younger.

This might the weirdest take on the reality, of NBA history because there is no proof Luka will become near Jokic level. He is only 4 years younger, 26 this month like SGA and Tatum. He isn't 22 years old with unlimited potential.

Dallas thinks he doesn't deserve to earn 300+ million that Jaylen Brown get from Boston. There is reason enough to believe he won't become much better after 7 years of bad defence and so many condition issues. He is closer to Embiid career so far than 3 times MVP and finals MVP.

Jokic is chasing top 15 players ever and higher so far.

[infinite11285]

...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.

We're talking about an annual MVP threat who led the league in scoring and played in the Finals just a few months ago. He put up 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists per game while being tasked with primary ball-handling duties last year. His weight doesn't concern me in the slightest. And if this move sparks enough motivation for him to fully commit to the gym, the league is in trouble.

[zero rings]

He just made the finals though. Like, I would understand this argument if the Mavs were continually underperforming. But Luka just carried them to the finals. Also, as a Celtics fan, you understand how good your team is compared to other recent chip winners and that the Mavs were just totally outmatched in that finals. Swap AD for Luka in that finals and the Mavs still get obliterated.

Did he carry them? His offensive numbers were way down across the board in the playoffs, and he was hunted on defense .

Maybe the Mavs are much better than you’re giving them credit for? That’s certainly what the front office thinks.

Yes he did carry them. Kyrie is quite literally the only other guy on that roster who can make anything happen in the halfcourt.

The Celtics didn’t have anyone on their roster who can cook like Luka in the half court, and they won the title in dominating fashion. There’s more to basketball than just hero ball.

And again, just looking at the numbers, Luka wasn’t really cooking that hard. His counting stats and efficiency were way down. The best thing the Mavs had going for them in the playoffs was their size and team defense, which Luka was not a part of.

[QingJames]

Did he carry them? His offensive numbers were way down across the board in the playoffs, and he was hunted on defense .

Maybe the Mavs are much better than you’re giving them credit for? That’s certainly what the front office thinks.

Yes he did carry them. Kyrie is quite literally the only other guy on that roster who can make anything happen in the halfcourt.

The Celtics didn’t have anyone on their roster who can cook like Luka in the half court, and they won the title in dominating fashion. There’s more to basketball than just hero ball.

And again, just looking at the numbers, Luka wasn’t really cooking that hard. His counting stats and efficiency were way down. The best thing the Mavs had going for them in the playoffs was their size and team defense, which Luka was not a part of.

Brother you're not trying to pretend Luka doesn't have one of the all-time best offensive records in the postseason, right?