Replace Shai with Luka on the Thunder. What happens?

[mademan]

Shai is just more dependable, and thats a big deal. 82 games + 16 playoffs...I dont think Luka, even at his best, is better enough than Shai (if he's better at all, which there's not much evidence of), to overcome the dependability gap. OKC gets worse but is possibly better in the playoffs if they get the best version of Luka

[Mephariel]

Worse. Shai is just better for their team. He seems like he is always in shape and leads by example. I can't imagine OKC tolerating out of shape Luka and worse defensive effort.

[Mephariel]

Guaranteed dynasty (at least a 3-peat), something SGA won’t accomplish.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I guarantee if Lakers called Presti and asked for a Shai/Luka swap, Presti would hang up.

Just like the Celtics would have hang up if Lakers asked for Tatum.

The Wolves reportedly wouldn't trade Edwards for Luka either.

Luka has to prove he can lead by example on defense in the playoffs before thinking about a dynasty. He also has to stay in shape.

[bbms]

I feel very comfortable about my early post in this thread.

Seen Luka getting Ts after being frustrated by cason playing actual defense on him just says It ALL

Theres a massive gap in maturity and leadership between those two, really.

Luka wouldn't endure last years nembhardt without losing composure

[Mavrelous]

I feel very comfortable about my early post in this thread.

Seen Luka getting Ts after being frustrated by cason playing actual defense on him just says It ALL

Theres a massive gap in maturity and leadership between those two, really.

Luka wouldn't endure last years nembhardt without losing composure

He endured Wallace just fine last year, let's not act like Luka didn't blow the Thunder out in RS both with the Mavs and Lakers inclusig in your home floor, and knocked them out of the PO, enjoy the November win against a much lower talent Lakers, but that doesn't erase previous examples.

[greekman]

where's the option NOT A PLAYOFF TEAM and MUCH WORSE

[greekman]

JDUB and Chet are overrated. the only player being underrated in the thread is SGA

[greekman]

82 of the 110 ppl that voted think luka is better or at minimum the same as SGA ? LOL. I thought realgm users knew basketball

[Archx]

Did anyone watch today’s game and think Luka would be better for the thunder?

Sga is the leader they need - reeves is worse when Luka is there and sga kinda makes it work with his guys

Luka is the ball stopper which is fine and he is the alpha which is fine and SGA does interviews with the whole team is a part of the team.. sga is a no nonsense leader that raises the level of play with his guys and no matter what you say… the best guys are worse when next to Luka.

Brunson, Reeves, KP etc - all better without Luka

Kyrie is the only star that was “better”

Okc also plays team defense - that’s not Luka’s thing either

Let's pretend Reaves and Luka (when on the floor together) didn't have the best ORTg in NBA history prio to this game. Let's pretend that was not the case, then yes you're right. Luka is very bad for his team and Shai is the best.

But on the other hand...Just be careful because if OKC punts the next game you know the Lakers armada of fans will be out in full force and you guys won't hear the end of it

[Chokic]

JDUB and Chet are overrated. the only player being underrated in the thread is SGA

Not an sga fan but I dont get the talk about sga being a beneficiary of a great okc team. Okc was a good treadmill team at best before he got there and elevated them to an all time great team. Hes elevated his own play to levels nobody ever expected and thus raised the play of his teammates bc the amount of attention that he draws.

[Johnny Firpo]

82 of the 110 ppl that voted think luka is better or at minimum the same as SGA ? LOL. I thought realgm users knew basketball

That's not even the question, my man. You could not even get the question right, apparently.

[SA37]

As good as Luka is, I think part of what makes OKC so special is they all get along so well. There is intangible, off-the-court stuff that matters. On the court, I am not sure OKC is as potent without SGA's defense and exchanging Luka's 3-point bombs for Shai's mid-range game.

OKC would still be very good with Luka.

[jg77]

Shai is simply the better player.

[falcolombardi]

I feel very comfortable about my early post in this thread.

Seen Luka getting Ts after being frustrated by cason playing actual defense on him just says It ALL

Theres a massive gap in maturity and leadership between those two, really.

Luka wouldn't endure last years nembhardt without losing composure

He endured Wallace just fine last year, let's not act like Luka didn't blow the Thunder out in RS both with the Mavs and Lakers inclusig in your home floor, and knocked them out of the PO, enjoy the November win against a much lower talent Lakers, but that doesn't erase previous examples.

This is next level cope

[Mavrelous]

I feel very comfortable about my early post in this thread.

Seen Luka getting Ts after being frustrated by cason playing actual defense on him just says It ALL

Theres a massive gap in maturity and leadership between those two, really.

Luka wouldn't endure last years nembhardt without losing composure

He endured Wallace just fine last year, let's not act like Luka didn't blow the Thunder out in RS both with the Mavs and Lakers inclusig in your home floor, and knocked them out of the PO, enjoy the November win against a much lower talent Lakers, but that doesn't erase previous examples.

This is next level cope

Sure sure...

[CobraCommander]

Did anyone watch today’s game and think Luka would be better for the thunder?

Sga is the leader they need - reeves is worse when Luka is there and sga kinda makes it work with his guys

Luka is the ball stopper which is fine and he is the alpha which is fine and SGA does interviews with the whole team is a part of the team.. sga is a no nonsense leader that raises the level of play with his guys and no matter what you say… the best guys are worse when next to Luka.

Brunson, Reeves, KP etc - all better without Luka

Kyrie is the only star that was “better”

Okc also plays team defense - that’s not Luka’s thing either

Let's pretend Reaves and Luka (when on the floor together) didn't have the best ORTg in NBA history prio to this game. Let's pretend that was not the case, then yes you're right. Luka is very bad for his team and Shai is the best.

But on the other hand...Just be careful because if OKC punts the next game you know the Lakers armada of fans will be out in full force and you guys won't hear the end of it

So Luka would make okc better when just last year he got traded for being fat and people were wondering if he had the work ethic to lead the lakers.::

No one ever wondered about sga..: and he has a ring, fmvp, mvp and super max..

[Archx]

Did anyone watch today’s game and think Luka would be better for the thunder?

Sga is the leader they need - reeves is worse when Luka is there and sga kinda makes it work with his guys

Luka is the ball stopper which is fine and he is the alpha which is fine and SGA does interviews with the whole team is a part of the team.. sga is a no nonsense leader that raises the level of play with his guys and no matter what you say… the best guys are worse when next to Luka.

Brunson, Reeves, KP etc - all better without Luka

Kyrie is the only star that was “better”

Okc also plays team defense - that’s not Luka’s thing either

Let's pretend Reaves and Luka (when on the floor together) didn't have the best ORTg in NBA history prio to this game. Let's pretend that was not the case, then yes you're right. Luka is very bad for his team and Shai is the best.

But on the other hand...Just be careful because if OKC punts the next game you know the Lakers armada of fans will be out in full force and you guys won't hear the end of it

So Luka would make okc better when just last year he got traded for being fat and people were wondering if he had the work ethic to lead the lakers.::

No one ever wondered about sga..: and he has a ring, fmvp, mvp and super max..

There is a lot of inside stuff coming out on Nico and what was going on in that front office and how things were being done. So, if you didn't read any of it, it's hard to discuss with non Mavs fans. I'm just going to leave it that. You can interpret yourself why he was traded because i know you already made up your mind.

But i will say this, last year is completely irrelevant because of so many different factors but it is clear pre-trade Dallas team was a deep team and a healthy squad could compete with OKC like they did a year before when they defeated them.

[MoneyTalks41890]

I think we’re done here.

[GeorgeMarcus]

Offense: Luka >> Shai
Defense: Luka <= Shai
Passing / Rebounding etc.: Luka >>> Shai

OKC would be a dynasty with Luka.

I disagree with a lot in your post but I simply con't accept the fact that you put a <= on defense. In what world could they ever be seen as defensive equals

[CobraCommander]

Let's pretend Reaves and Luka (when on the floor together) didn't have the best ORTg in NBA history prio to this game. Let's pretend that was not the case, then yes you're right. Luka is very bad for his team and Shai is the best.

But on the other hand...Just be careful because if OKC punts the next game you know the Lakers armada of fans will be out in full force and you guys won't hear the end of it

So Luka would make okc better when just last year he got traded for being fat and people were wondering if he had the work ethic to lead the lakers.::

No one ever wondered about sga..: and he has a ring, fmvp, mvp and super max..

There is a lot of inside stuff coming out on Nico and what was going on in that front office and how things were being done. So, if you didn't read any of it, it's hard to discuss with non Mavs fans. I'm just going to leave it that. You can interpret yourself why he was traded because i know you already made up your mind.

But i will say this, last year is completely irrelevant because of so many different factors but it is clear pre-trade Dallas team was a deep team and a healthy squad could compete with OKC like they did a year before when they defeated them.

That’s fair but the fact is Luka was traded, his best team lost in the finals, and Luka doesn’t have a mvp or
Finals mvp and Luka made a big deal out of getting in shape over the off season because he was clearly OUT of shape last year and - sga hasn’t been traded, is on a Supermax
Deal, he has a ring, fmvp,
Scoring title and mvp in the year Luka was traded and
Bounced in first round.:..::: and somehow people still think Luka is the superior player: sga again out played Luka tonight - head to head - Luka shot 20 times and got 19 points in a blow out - sga blew out Luka with 30
Points on 18’shots…. There is a reason okc is the champ and sga the mvp:.. it’s weird that in spite of facts Luka fans think sga is the inferior player

So I guess when Luka does what sga did last year sga fans gonna have a good reason to say sga is still better than Luka