Luka AD trade thread Part II

[Rust_Cohle]

Such a horrible trade and will likely motivate Luka even more. Luka is better than AD, AND 6 years younger. WTF. If AD gets hurt (which he will at some point) this is just extra bad. Luka already led Dallas to the Finals last year and a WCF in another. And he has absolutely dominated in the playoffs. What more do they want?

Dallas better win a championship or this is going to go down as one of the worst trades of all time.

Did the ownership have absolutely no say here? I can't imagine any owner or ownership group signing off on this. I do understand that 350+ is a ridiculous amount of money and teams like Boston are going to have to breakup the roster soon so maybe this is a new thing in the NBA.

Ownership are looking to force a move to Vegas, tank the value of the Mavs and say Dallas is no longer profitable as a city compared to all the nearby casinos of Vegas.

[Oscirus]

I guess nico really wanted anthony davis

[Ballerhogger]

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Cry me a ocean

[djsunyc]

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[srhcan]

This trade has wounded the NBA fan inside me a lot. Wish NBA had not allowed Mavs sale to that Zionist gambling cheap family and we would not have faced this day today. That family is holding the city of Dallas hostage for gambling permit and fans are exasperated. F the owners and the parrot FO and the Commissioner who is definitely in this fix.

[ConSarnit]

Such a horrible trade and will likely motivate Luka even more. Luka is better than AD, AND 6 years younger. WTF. If AD gets hurt (which he will at some point) this is just extra bad. Luka already led Dallas to the Finals last year and a WCF in another. And he has absolutely dominated in the playoffs. What more do they want?

Dallas better win a championship or this is going to go down as one of the worst trades of all time.

Did the ownership have absolutely no say here? I can't imagine any owner or ownership group signing off on this. I do understand that 350+ is a ridiculous amount of money and teams like Boston are going to have to breakup the roster soon so maybe this is a new thing in the NBA.

Ownership are looking to force a move to Vegas, tank the value of the Mavs and say Dallas is no longer profitable as a city compared to all the nearby casinos of Vegas.

Again, this angle makes no sense.

“Let’s bottom out the team so we can move it to Vegas”

“Ok, so we’re going to trade Luka for flotsam and draft picks so our team sucks?”

“No, we’re going to trade him for another all-NBA level player so we’ll still be pretty good, just not as good as before”

“So we’re going to tank the value of the team by… continuing to make the playoffs?”

How does any of the above make sense if the goal is to tank the value of the team?

[ConSarnit]

I guess nico really wanted anthony davis

This is the most logical reason but everyone wants to make it a conspiracy.

Normal NBA fan:

Luka = 97/100

Davis = 90/100

Harrison:

Luka = 95/100 (really good but lazy, out of shape, etc)

Davis = 94/100 (is more important to my “defense first” philosophy and will therefore be more impactful)

This whole thing could revolve around Harrison’s own personal team building philosophies and valuations of Luka vs Davis. Is Harrison right? No, probably not. Harrison probably overrates Davis. But it’s not outlandish to see how he feels like Davis gives them a better chance, especially if he values defense and thinks Doncic is going to eat/drink himself out of perennial MVP contention.

This is probably as simple as Harrison thinking he’s the smartest guy in the room.

[badpotato]

Such a horrible trade and will likely motivate Luka even more. Luka is better than AD, AND 6 years younger. WTF. If AD gets hurt (which he will at some point) this is just extra bad. Luka already led Dallas to the Finals last year and a WCF in another. And he has absolutely dominated in the playoffs. What more do they want?

Dallas better win a championship or this is going to go down as one of the worst trades of all time.

Did the ownership have absolutely no say here? I can't imagine any owner or ownership group signing off on this. I do understand that 350+ is a ridiculous amount of money and teams like Boston are going to have to breakup the roster soon so maybe this is a new thing in the NBA.

Ownership are looking to force a move to Vegas, tank the value of the Mavs and say Dallas is no longer profitable as a city compared to all the nearby casinos of Vegas.

Again, this angle makes no sense.

“Let’s bottom out the team so we can move it to Vegas”

“Ok, so we’re going to trade Luka for flotsam and draft picks so our team sucks?”

“No, we’re going to trade him for another all-NBA level player so we’ll still be pretty good, just not as good as before”

“So we’re going to tank the value of the team by… continuing to make the playoffs?”

How does any of the above make sense if the goal is to tank the value of the team?

Great post. Pushing bills trough leg takes time, arena lease ends in 2031. Prepping relocation is not 1 year effort and Dallas just shortened their window with this trade - if we hear any rumblings about Mavs being moved it will be around 2027 - right around when MAvs roster situation will start looking very bleak.
On team value - this data will come in, but by simple virtue of not having Luka team evaluation will drop down.

[Bob8]

I guess nico really wanted anthony davis

This is the most logical reason but everyone wants to make it a conspiracy.

Normal NBA fan:

Luka = 97/100

Davis = 90/100

Harrison:

Luka = 95/100 (really good but lazy, out of shape, etc)

Davis = 94/100 (is more important to my “defense first” philosophy and will therefore be more impactful)

This whole thing could revolve around Harrison’s own personal team building philosophies and valuations of Luka vs Davis. Is Harrison right? No, probably not. Harrison probably overrates Davis. But it’s not outlandish to see how he feels like Davis gives them a better chance, especially if he values defense and thinks Doncic is going to eat/drink himself out of perennial MVP contention.

This is probably as simple as Harrison thinking he’s the smartest guy in the room.

Problem is that Luka is better player and 6 years younger player than AD. Nobody half sane can choose 32 years old player over 6 years younger, especially if younger player was drafted by you and had the best season of his life, winning scoring title and bringing you in the Finals half a year ago.

[TeamTragic]

Just heard through Goldsberry that the original trade was AD/Knecht/2 FRP.

Rob got the Mavs to lower their offer

[lilfishi22]

When Cuban sold the majority of the team, there were these weird stories that he would still be in charge of the basketball operations. I think we all thought that was bs, because why would a billionaire buy a very expensive toy and then let the former owner play with it.

Have Cuban or the new owner ever clarified that? That is was all bs? If not, shouldn't we also be mad at Cuban? If they want us to believe that bs story, Cuban is still in charge and therefore responsible for this trade. Has Cuban said anything since the trade went down? Is he okay with this?

We already have Parsons saying he texted Cuban and Cuban didn't understand it.

That was such a telling clip. Owners couldn't care less about the team and seemingly and look at it like an investment. Then you have Rob Pelinka who completely made Nico his bitch.

Seriously, imagine someone telling you to take less for Luka you actually complying. But then again this was Nico when he worked for Nike, so no one should be shocked.

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Seth/Steph, I can understand a slip of the tongue (unless it was repeated) but using a KD preso for Steph is LOL

[lilfishi22]

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None of this excuse the Mavs from not going into an open auction process.

More than half the league would be happy to take a fat, injured Luka and give up more than what Lakers did

[Tracymcgoaty]

Such a horrible trade and will likely motivate Luka even more. Luka is better than AD, AND 6 years younger. WTF. If AD gets hurt (which he will at some point) this is just extra bad. Luka already led Dallas to the Finals last year and a WCF in another. And he has absolutely dominated in the playoffs. What more do they want?

Dallas better win a championship or this is going to go down as one of the worst trades of all time.

Did the ownership have absolutely no say here? I can't imagine any owner or ownership group signing off on this. I do understand that 350+ is a ridiculous amount of money and teams like Boston are going to have to breakup the roster soon so maybe this is a new thing in the NBA.

Ownership are looking to force a move to Vegas, tank the value of the Mavs and say Dallas is no longer profitable as a city compared to all the nearby casinos of Vegas.

Again, this angle makes no sense.

“Let’s bottom out the team so we can move it to Vegas”

“Ok, so we’re going to trade Luka for flotsam and draft picks so our team sucks?”

“No, we’re going to trade him for another all-NBA level player so we’ll still be pretty good, just not as good as before”

“So we’re going to tank the value of the team by… continuing to make the playoffs?”

How does any of the above make sense if the goal is to tank the value of the team?

Because they just went from having a 5-10 year window with luka to at best 1-2?

Are they really gonna extend AD who'll be on the wrong side of 30 being injury prone?

They most def shortened their window by a whole lot.

Wouldn't be surprised if the Mavs are in the gutter in about 2 years.

[clippertown]

Such a horrible trade and will likely motivate Luka even more. Luka is better than AD, AND 6 years younger. WTF. If AD gets hurt (which he will at some point) this is just extra bad. Luka already led Dallas to the Finals last year and a WCF in another. And he has absolutely dominated in the playoffs. What more do they want?

Dallas better win a championship or this is going to go down as one of the worst trades of all time.

Did the ownership have absolutely no say here? I can't imagine any owner or ownership group signing off on this. I do understand that 350+ is a ridiculous amount of money and teams like Boston are going to have to breakup the roster soon so maybe this is a new thing in the NBA.

Ownership are looking to force a move to Vegas, tank the value of the Mavs and say Dallas is no longer profitable as a city compared to all the nearby casinos of Vegas.

But first they need to buy-out Mark Cuban, who has deep ties to Dallas and still owns enough of the team to slow down a move out of Texas. If Cuban actually loved Luka, then this trade may have been a dig at him. They say Sheldon laughed when the trade was brought up to him. Maybe he was thinking about Mark at that moment.

I also think they are responding to no-gambling law change in Texas not hitting the legislative session this round. This may be a lesson for TX electors as well. It just goes to show how non-basketball lovers should never get to own a team.

[brackdan70]

I guess nico really wanted anthony davis

This is the most logical reason but everyone wants to make it a conspiracy.

Normal NBA fan:

Luka = 97/100

Davis = 90/100

Harrison:

Luka = 95/100 (really good but lazy, out of shape, etc)

Davis = 94/100 (is more important to my “defense first” philosophy and will therefore be more impactful)

This whole thing could revolve around Harrison’s own personal team building philosophies and valuations of Luka vs Davis. Is Harrison right? No, probably not. Harrison probably overrates Davis. But it’s not outlandish to see how he feels like Davis gives them a better chance, especially if he values defense and thinks Doncic is going to eat/drink himself out of perennial MVP contention.

This is probably as simple as Harrison thinking he’s the smartest guy in the room.

Yeah it’s not as crazy as it’s made out to be. There should have been another pick but after seeing the reports that a second pick wasn’t included because Mavs didn’t allow a convo with Luka’s agent, it makes sense.

[JustBuzzin]

A Lakers vs Mavs playoff series would probably break Finals records.

[brackdan70]

Ownership are looking to force a move to Vegas, tank the value of the Mavs and say Dallas is no longer profitable as a city compared to all the nearby casinos of Vegas.

Again, this angle makes no sense.

“Let’s bottom out the team so we can move it to Vegas”

“Ok, so we’re going to trade Luka for flotsam and draft picks so our team sucks?”

“No, we’re going to trade him for another all-NBA level player so we’ll still be pretty good, just not as good as before”

“So we’re going to tank the value of the team by… continuing to make the playoffs?”

How does any of the above make sense if the goal is to tank the value of the team?

Because they just went from having a 5-10 year window with luka to at best 1-2?

Are they really gonna extend AD who'll be on the wrong side of 30 being injury prone?

They most def shortened their window by a whole lot.

Wouldn't be surprised if the Mavs are in the gutter in about 2 years.

I think clearly the concern with Luka’s fitness level and his ability to stay healthy came into play. Is it really a 5-10 year window?…I’d say 5 max unless Luka 100% changes his ways…which is possible sure, but signs don’t look good.
There are plenty of positives for the Mavs in the way of flexibility. Avoid a possible franchise breaking supermax as well.

[levon]

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None of this excuse the Mavs from not going into an open auction process.

More than half the league would be happy to take a fat, injured Luka and give up more than what Lakers did

The Mavs wanted Anthony Davis because they had a directive to compete now. Who else were they going to get better? AD is an elite two-way win-now player, Max is going to be a 10+ year role player or better, and is starting caliber today.

People are basically advocating they trade for a bunch of picks and middling players, fringe stars with the hopes of someday trading for a guy like the one they traded for. Ownership didn't want to do a teardown rebuild now.

If Nico Harrison leaks this, Doncic and his group are going to be depressing trade offers left and right. This isn't a free market and doesn't behave like one. It's a market in which the disgruntled player puts both feet on the scale (no fat joke intended). Now you're stuck getting the best deal out of the worst deals available to you.

[web123888]

Anthony Davis isn’t in the same universe as Luka Doncic regardless of his elite defense and conditioning / fitness, and Doncic’s lack thereof.

Davis is a #2 option who has never led a team past the first round. As the top dog he basically led teams to lottery appearances. Kyrie is also a good #2, but a terrible and unaccomplished #1 option.

Luka is a historically dominant playoffs player particularly at such a young age. A true offensive franchise carrying titan of whom there are really only 2-3 of in the entire league.

[JellosJigglin]

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None of this excuse the Mavs from not going into an open auction process.

More than half the league would be happy to take a fat, injured Luka and give up more than what Lakers did

More than half the league has a player better than AD?