Luka AD trade thread Part II

[Enzo954]

Wait a minute.....Since the Lakers are legit contenders now, does this mean that Bronny James has a chance to become an NBA champion???? God help us!

[Castle Black]

This. Feels like collusion by Nico and his old buddy Rob Pelinka.

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[The Corey's]

You're not firing the commissioner for protecting the integrity of the game.

No matter what you or anyone else says. This trade has destroyed the integrity and credibility of the game.

It's that bad. You'll be hearing about this for decades. Worse than the frozen envelope theory in the NBA lottery.

The NBA commish is a dictator pretty much with unilateral power to do what they want. And the way the League is set up it's the best option to have just one person in charge. The team owners are a in a group and the players are in a union with both sides agreeing to the CBA so the league operates. The owners can by majority vote to have the commissioner outed. Silver has been around for a long time though, serving as Sterns right hand man and groomed to be his successor. He is very deeply rooted in the league history and while imo he's been bad, the changes he's made come with the backing of team owners and the union.

The trade is very odd though. The fact there wasn't any leaks and 3 teams were involved means it happened very quick. Luka might have a more serious injury but medicals must have been waved by LAL given how quick it happened. There 100% was discontent with AD on the team btw. Luka is a much better player but who fills the 4/5 rotation now for LAL? Lebron will want to compete surely. Or there's a plan to trade him next.

DAL side makes 0 sense though unless the injury is more severe. I don't believe the owners wouldn't shell out for his extension and alienating the fans by doing this was surely a given.

1 first round pick is criminal. Even if one of his legs fell off.

No matter the rationale no one should take the position that the Mavs got enough. They did not.

[Camby_Bamby]

Damn. Thread moved. Anyway, Luka is nearly 300 pounds and monopolizes the offense while playing no defense. Also cries on every possession. Mavs saw this up close. AD puts his hard hat on every night and rescues his team from questionable perimeter defensive effort while expecting to get 25+ on offense. One team got duped.

The hole is already dug Camby just lay in it at this point.

You’re actually a Lakers fan, so I’ll take it easier on you. One of the few that has the balls to criticizes laziness and bad play. You’ll have a field day

[Castle Black]

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[CallMeKahn]

You know it's a collosal eff up when Anthony Davis is treated as the main scrub is one of the worst trades in the history of the world.

[JustBuzzin]

Both teams get worse. Good news for the rest of the west.

.

Luka got Kyrie to the Finals last year with role players. What you think he gone do with LeBron?

Y'all better bash the Lakers now because I think people forgot who Luka is and how he can lift a team. LeBron in that Pippen role sheesh good luck.

Irving fits a lot better alongside Luka than a 40 year old LeBron… not to mention they still don’t have a center.

It's 2025 and people still doubt the Lakers. The cycle continues.

If you think the Lakers are done and rolling with this frontcourt you are sadly mistaken. The center is coming and at this point it wouldn't shock me if it's an actual game changer.

Stop doubting the Lakers they have a proven winning formula for decades. The cycle continues.

[jokeboy86]

I have a feeling Mavs ownership is begging/pleading and probably paying Cuban to not say anything publicly about this trade and may not want him saying anything publicly for the rest of the season. In fact their best bet is to pay him not to show up to any more games because he wears his emotions on his sleeve when he's at the games and he obviously will not appear happy not seeing Luka or seeing Luka in a Lakers uniform that first time.

Speaking of Cuban whether you believe the rumor that Luka wasn't going to resign or not if anything it's clear that Luka probably had an allegiance to Cuban and who knows what has transpired between he and the Mavs front office relationship with Cuban not being in the picture and running things.

[Ballerhogger]

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Going be awkward ngl

[CobraCommander]

Lol at the thought of that the Lakers don’t care what Lebron thinks. Jennie Buss was messaging Lebron and he forced them to draft and sign his non NBA skill level son who averaged a measly 4pts to a 4 year guaranteed deal lmao

It’s Luka - AKA 25 year old Lebron

[PierceFan4ever]

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If Anthony Davis doesn’t drop at least 40 and 15 against Jaxson Hayes then I don’t respect him

[TheGOATWill]

Steep villain arc for Luka? I like it. Never saw it coming.

[Castle Black]

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[The Explorer]

I don't see how Lakers defense holds up longt term without Davis. Doncic and James and Reaves are all awful defenders. Lots of whining to refs and not getting back on defense incoming.

[BigDan245]

It's a stupid trade for Dallas because of it's future or lack their of. If they don't win now, they are in worlds of trouble.

On the contrary, if the Lakers struggle this year, they have a 26 year old superstar to build around.

[ArksNetsSince99]

I find out right at the beginning, I slept 10 hours , woke up and I still cannot believe it , I’m I ok ?

[Jcity08]

This. Feels like collusion by Nico and his old buddy Rob Pelinka.

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It is and Adam Silver will ignore it likely.

[bwgood77]

Only way this makes any sense is if Luka told Dallas internally that he wants out and would only sign an extension in LA

No, it still doesn't make sense. If you wanted to trade him, announce it now and take offers into the summer. This is at best a quarter for a dollar, and probably closer to 15 cents. You'd get more than this for only one year of Luka.

It doesn't still make sense to me, so one would think that this has to be some Luka said he's only going to LA (why, I don't know), trade me there before I'm a few agent, and at least get something because I won't re-sign with anyone else.

Problem is that Marc Stein reported that Luka did not internally request a trade, sooo....

My guess is that technically Marc Stein may be right in that he did not request a trade, but I believe they let it be known they were planning to become a free agent and that they are interested in signing in LA and would tell other possible suitors the same. Like they put the writing on the wall or put enough of a scare into the front office that they feared maybe him walking and them getting nothing and them having no leverage with other teams and declining leverage with the Lakers. Still seems like they should have asked for the other pick, Reaves, Knecht, etc, but I don't know about salaries and what the Lakers would have thought. It would be weird to be the team that makes the call to trade Luka and then also ask for a ton, even though they should have and would have gotten it.

[Iwasawitness]

You're not firing the commissioner for protecting the integrity of the game.

No matter what you or anyone else says. This trade has destroyed the integrity and credibility of the game.

It's that bad. You'll be hearing about this for decades. Worse than the frozen envelope theory in the NBA lottery.

People are really starting to overrate this trade for the Lakers.

Really? Let me reiterate my own point from 1am.

The Clippers sent Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks and four first-round pick swaps in exchange for Paul **** George.

You was saying? George is worth all that but Luka is only worth a single pick a half decade from now and the pushing 32 year old David who is good for 30 missed games a year?

Give me a break. It really is that bad.

I'm not saying the Mavericks didn't get fleeced, they absolutely did. But I don't think the Lakers benefit from this trade as much as people think.

For one thing, they still don't have a center. Unless they can manage to find one via trade before the deadline, they aren't in any better of a position now than they were before.

Second, and probably more importantly, Luka and LeBron aren't a good fit. They'll be more compatible than Westbrook/LeBron was due to Luka being able to spread the floor but at the end of the day, you still have two ball dominant players who don't play defense and one of them is 40 and the other has trouble staying on the court.

Lakers have their superstar player after LeBron retires but if people think this is going to lead them to a deep playoff run... they may find themselves disappointed.

[Iwasawitness]

Wait a minute.....Since the Lakers are legit contenders now, does this mean that Bronny James has a chance to become an NBA champion???? God help us!

I don't think they're legit contenders.