Around the NBA (Part Two)

[winforlose]

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Did he just said "Physically I can, but I tank for the Pelicans"?

The implication is he thinks he is up to more than the team does. The reality is he is too embarrassed to admit he is made of cracked glass and tissue paper.

[winforlose]

Dallas loses to Pistons so we get benefit on both ends. Unfortunately the Hornets couldn’t complete the comeback against the Clippers. Lonzo having another bad shooting night 2 of 7 for 5 points.

[winforlose]

“Chris Haynes: New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray tore his Achilles and will miss the rest of the season, league sources tell @ChrisBHaynes. 4 mins ago – via Twitter ChrisBHaynes”
Copied from hoopshype.

[Domejandro]

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[Howard Cosell]

What in Gods name is Mark Cuban doing?

[Calinks]

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This makes ZERO sense to me. I know there is probably the 2nd apron implications but what? Trading Luka? You kidding me?

[Mattya]

Just a devastating trade for the Mavs.

[winforlose]

Biggest trade in a decade and Mavs got bent over and… you can fill in the blank

[jpatrick]

What in Gods name is Mark Cuban doing?

I think working on his new pharmaceutical distribution company. He sold controlling interest in the Mavs awhile ago.

[cmoss84]

I'm getting the feeling the Mavs are not confident with Luka's health.

[Loaf_of_bread]

Lol, i woke up from a nap, turned on the tv, and thought it was a joke until i fully came to. This may be the wildest trade in NBA history.

Luka must of demanded for it & maybe has some sort of baggage that dallas just didn't want to deal with.

[cmoss84]

Does this make Gafford expendable?

[Loaf_of_bread]

Windhorse confirmed there was something about Luka that dal just didn't want to be apart of..

Could be jbutler 2.0, and they were 2 steps ahead of whatever would have gone down.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

If at the end of the season, Dallas win the title, everybody will say Cuban is a genius... Luka is injury prone, don't play defense and does not take care well of his body during off season. They got AD who play his best season ever. Big bet but it may work. Money is probably another reason.... the bad news is that it make LA and Dallas still in the race for PO.

[winforlose]

If at the end of the season, Dallas win the title, everybody will say Cuban is a genius... Luka is injury prone, don't play defense and does not take care well of his body during off season. They got AD who play his best season ever. Big bet but it may work. Money is probably another reason.... the bad news is that it make LA and Dallas still in the race for PO.

1. You are missing the larger issue. Everyone is saying LAL owed more value. Reaves and the other first would still have been too little, but it at least makes more sense.

2. There were so many better offers out there. Imagine getting Chet, JW, and 4 or 5 firsts. I believe OKC would have done that to pair Luka and SGA for the next 7 years. Houston could have given a lot, the Bucks might have moved Ginnias, ect…

3. AD is 31 and injury prone as well. They gave up pre prime Luka for late/post prime AD. This isn’t just a gamble, it is the kinda thing that kills fan base enthusiasm for a team. Remember how pissed we were with the Karl trade, well imagine it was Ant and we traded him for AD.

[minimus]

It's crazy, but... Can MIN make in background trade that gives us maybe small, but better fitting pieces?

[FrenchMinnyFan]

iI agree and disagree. Fan change their minds fast. Dallas win 10 games in a row, and they will love AD. IF i was Dallas owner, i would also not pay 345 million for Luka. But you are right on the point that Dallas could have got a better return and ask for Reaves. The other point that no one know is that they may be some hidden reasons for Dallas ( Luka injury?).

I also don't believe OKC would have move Chet. I am pissed with the KAT trade but can understand it for the money part, so i can understand Cuban point of view. Dallas can win this year or next year and will get flexibility for the coming years. I also don't believe that Luka can make a you win a title ( not enough defense) so paying 345 millions for him....I also have 2 questions : How Luka and LBJ will share the ball and who will play defense there?

[winforlose]

iI agree and disagree. Fan change their minds fast. Dallas win 10 games in a row, and they will love AD. IF i was Dallas owner, i would also not pay 345 million for Luka. But you are right on the point that Dallas could have got a better return and ask for Reaves. The other point that no one know is that they may be some hidden reasons for Dallas ( Luka injury?).

I also don't believe OKC would have move Chet. I am pissed with the KAT trade but can understand it for the money part, so i can understand Cuban point of view. Dallas can win this year or next year and will get flexibility for the coming years. I also don't believe that Luka can make a you win a title ( not enough defense) so paying 345 millions for him....I also have 2 questions : How Luka and LBJ will share the ball and who will play defense there?

I don’t think AD can replace Luka in the playoffs for Dallas. I suggested on the trade board that Dallas probably acquires Fox for P.J Washington, Lively, and Thompson. They need that extra play maker. Kyrie is good, but he can be loaded up on, and Dallas doesn’t have that same firepower without Luka. Again, the nature of the trade, not getting Reaves or the other pick suggests that Dallas is not serious about contending.

LAL has V8, DFS, and will probably trade Kneckt for some additional POA defender. Lebron might not win with Luka, but Luka is 25 and already an MVP candidate. Post LeBron a big name will sign with LAL and they will always be a free agent draw. This just seems like external forces wanted the Lakers to be better in the future and so they weighed in to make it happen. It could be Vegas (Dallas new owners are Vegas connected,) or it could be the league. I don’t know what happened here but it smells wrong.

P.S Luka when healthy and Bron with a last playoff mode push is enough firepower to compete. The question is whether they make another move to get a third scorer. This is why leaving Reaves and the pick was so important and why Dallas obviously didn’t seek full value. This deal was done for the benefit of LAL over the Mavs.

[winforlose]

It's crazy, but... Can MIN make in background trade that gives us maybe small, but better fitting pieces?

NAW for something is definitely possible. Minott for a decent 2nd might happen. You need to remember that even excluding Naz, Randle, and NAW, we have the other 5 returning rotation players, plus we need to sign Clark as he is not two way eligible moving forward. Add Minott, Miller, Dilly, Shannon, and our two picks (Det first, Utah second,) you get to 12. Bring back the other 3 you are at 15. That is without Luka.

[TimberKat]

If at the end of the season, Dallas win the title, everybody will say Cuban is a genius... Luka is injury prone, don't play defense and does not take care well of his body during off season. They got AD who play his best season ever. Big bet but it may work. Money is probably another reason.... the bad news is that it make LA and Dallas still in the race for PO.

1. You are missing the larger issue. Everyone is saying LAL owed more value. Reaves and the other first would still have been too little, but it at least makes more sense.

2. There were so many better offers out there. Imagine getting Chet, JW, and 4 or 5 firsts. I believe OKC would have done that to pair Luka and SGA for the next 7 years. Houston could have given a lot, the Bucks might have moved Ginnias, ect…

3. AD is 31 and injury prone as well. They gave up pre prime Luka for late/post prime AD. This isn’t just a gamble, it is the kinda thing that kills fan base enthusiasm for a team. Remember how pissed we were with the Karl trade, well imagine it was Ant and we traded him for AD.

I don't know if OKC wants to trade anyone right now, they are in 1st place with cheap contracts but interesting idea. Dallas wants a win now player and Davis is underrated. He has been playing great defense. I think he also age better too. DAL maybe just tired dealing with Luka's whining and injuries.

This is the supersized version of Randle for Murray