RealGM

This is fascinating on many levels, but take a look at the characters:
Adelson
Buss
Pelinka
Harrison
Paul
James

This has all of the makings of a poker game or private game bet gone wrong. I can absolutely see a scenario where Adelson/Buss were involved in some type of private poker game and stakes were crazy. Or maybe even on golf course. You lose we get Luka type scenario. The egos involved to pull something like that are there. No other explanation outside of Nico being paid behind the scenes makes sense. I really think though this was some type of lost bet. What do you guys think?

Their GM was just very high on AD...

Because mavs with Davis are more competitive

My theory is it happened exactly as it is described.

Because the Mavs don't think Luka can win a championship as the 1st option and they don't think he will ever win an MVP and they think he's stagnated because of the success early in his career.

Only theory I can come up with is they think Luka is a legit alcoholic.
That’s it. That’s all I got. If it’s not that (or something similar) then their GM is just a moron.

Pelinka and Harrison extramarital relationship, a powerful third party threatening to leak it unless the deal is made. Third party could be Klutch.. but I'm not sure what their incentive is, I didn't get that far.

Homer38 wrote:Their GM was just very high on AD...

Definitely very high on something

Luka in LA = Lots of money for the league next 10 years, league was involved

The Las Vegas relocation plot sounds reasonable to me. The owners have been unsuccessfully lobbying the Texas government for years to let them build a casino stadium (lol). They probably got fed up with waiting and are going to try to move the team to LV where they can get their stadium built without a hitch. Trading Luka devalues the team, giving them financial justification for a relocation.

The Mavs had concerns/frustrations with Luka's conditioning, competitiveness and professionalism and had a looming supermax in July they didn't want to pay, especially with the current cap restrictions. So they flipped him for an All NBA HOF center and a future first. It makes plenty of sense if you stop trying to make it not make sense. Yes I know everyone hates my opinions on this matter and no I don't know why I can't shut up about it.

Collusion.

Even if all the reports are true that they wanted to get ahead of the storm and were sick of his bs.

No reason to not put him on the market and create a bidding war to get as much back as possible, and only give the lakers a try. No excuse for that.

He has lakers connections.

It reeks of collusion.

AT BEST its a guy in Nico that thinks he's way smarter than what he actually is and he sees this as a great trade and everyone else is wrong. He didn't even need to see other offers. His stats tell him this is it.

Either way mavs are screwed

If they actually did it for legit reasons, maybe they know Doncic has an addiction to massage parlors, and decided to get a head of it.

Nico Harrison convinced himself that his data and projections were smarter than anyone else and convinced his inexperienced ownership that putting all their eggs in the Luka basket was somehow a bad bet.

Ownership doesn't like Luka, the GM has connections to AD and they really think he might be the missing piece. I expect them to make another deal. They are most likely going to blow it all up in 2 to 3 years and start from scratch. Honestly, it doesn't make sense other than they don't like the fact that Luka drinks, smokes and doesn't get into shape. They didn't want to pay him the super max either. The Luka revenge tour is going to be insane and don't think for one second the athletic staff and JJ along with LeBron won't whip Luka's ass into shape. The man just became the face of the franchise.

bisme37 wrote:The Mavs had concerns/frustrations with Luka's conditioning, competitiveness and professionalism and had a looming supermax in July they didn't want to pay, especially with the current cap restrictions. So they flipped him for an All NBA HOF center and a future first. It makes plenty of sense if you stop trying to make it not make sense. Yes I know everyone hates my opinions on this matter and no I don't know why I can't shut up about it.

What makes sense about doing this in the dark of night and not putting him on the market first to get as much as you can for luka?

cooper flagg or aj dybantsa will end up being a maverick.. you heard it hear first

bisme37 wrote:The Mavs had concerns/frustrations with Luka's conditioning, competitiveness and professionalism and had a looming supermax in July they didn't want to pay, especially with the current cap restrictions. So they flipped him for an All NBA HOF center and a future first. It makes plenty of sense if you stop trying to make it not make sense. Yes I know everyone hates my opinions on this matter and no I don't know why I can't shut up about it.

Max Christie is improving and will be a solid starter, but to not get two 1st round picks in this deal is insane.

I have one more theory I have not seen yet. Luka is the culprit.

He is European. Europeans have a soft spot for big teams you dream about playing for as a kid. To say I played for the greatest team after I retire. Its a thing thrust me. For Europeans there are only two big teams in the NBA, LA and Chicago. Rest no one cares about as a big team really. Not even Boston. He wanted to have also a time out to heal his calf and just wing LA first year.

Also as a European, he wants to be liked by the fans. He doesnt want to go Jimmy Butler style. He told Nico he wont sign next deal and only wants to go to LA. LA said great. Have AD. Everyone has to to be silent about it under contract...