Luka traded to the Lakers

[41Dirk41]

It was not ineptitude, Nico made great moves... He screwed us.

He will be paid for this trade in some way. That's sure.

[QingJames]

$100 million to Trump’s campaign from the Adelsons but no money to re-sign an instant first ballot HOFer and future top-10 all-timer.

I feel so bad for you guys.

[QingJames]

I'm done with the Mavs. This must be the most absurd trade I've ever seen - Nico should be fired and sued for damages and prosecuted for whatever the **** this thiefery is in the real world.

The marching orders come from the Adelsons, brother.

[Mr B]

I kinda like the idea of AD at the 4 with Lively and Gafford doing the heavy lifting at the 5.

That’s what I’m saying! Defensively the Mavs are light years better than they were, with AD playing the 4 next to Lively or Gaff. They’re also not done making moves I suspect. Can they get a PG? Do they make a trade for a guy like Collin Sexton?

Tell me honestly, do you really believe AD can make contender from Doncic less Mavs? Kyrie' is not the first option for the contender, never was.

Absolutely, if the team is healthy they are a contender. Being healthy is a big ask however that can be said for any contending team. The if healthy though (and motivated) is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Good luck scoring inside on their new front court. AD is also a DPOY candidate. There’s no question their defense got better with this trade.

Now does this trade put them over the top? No it doesn’t. It does keep them in the mix though with the top teams.

I expect they are going to make another trade to either acquire a scorer or another PG. Would Utah be willing to part with Collin Sexton? What about Sexton AND Jordan Clarkson? Not sure how realistic that is but my point is I feel there is another move coming. That’s why the Luka trade went down now as opposed to Thursday.

[Mr B]

Funny enough we didn't see you much earlier this year, you materialised after the trade.

This isn’t the only Mavs board my friend. I don’t post here regularly because of the toxic nature of the posters here. I’d rather talk to people who see more than just the negative. The sky is not ALWAYS falling.

But you're here today, aren't you?

As far as I know.

[Mr B]

You need at least 2 elite creators to compete against the like of OKC and BOS, suddenly we only have 1, Kai, who has never been a successful 1st option.

The Mavs are not done trading.

[Bob8]

This isn’t the only Mavs board my friend. I don’t post here regularly because of the toxic nature of the posters here. I’d rather talk to people who see more than just the negative. The sky is not ALWAYS falling.

But you're here today, aren't you?

As far as I know.

My point is, you needed Luka trade to start posting here again and it's far more toxic environment than ever here. Kinda funny, don't you think?

[Mr B]

I kinda like the idea of AD at the 4 with Lively and Gafford doing the heavy lifting at the 5.

That’s what I’m saying! Defensively the Mavs are light years better than they were, with AD playing the 4 next to Lively or Gaff. They’re also not done making moves I suspect. Can they get a PG? Do they make a trade for a guy like Collin Sexton?

We'll see...if it was AD and 3 picks I could get it...but one pick...if they don't win the title this trade is a mistake...and AD is under contract for only this+2 more years(the 3 year is PO)...what happens if he bolts? You have no picks between the years 27-30...the defense got better but i'm not sure the about the ofense...I love Kyrie but he's not a PG,he doesn't get others involved.....Will be interesting to see what Kidd comes up with but for now I'm out...this season has been a disaster so far

If it gets to that point and AD has hinted he doesn’t want to be in Dallas (when he is in the final year) then the Mavs trade his expiring contract. I’m sure there are some teams close to that 2nd apron that would like to have an expiring $62M contract.

Again, let the dust settle. The sky is not falling right now.

[Mr B]

That’s what I’m saying! Defensively the Mavs are light years better than they were, with AD playing the 4 next to Lively or Gaff. They’re also not done making moves I suspect. Can they get a PG? Do they make a trade for a guy like Collin Sexton?

Tell me honestly, do you really believe AD can make contender from Doncic less Mavs? Kyrie' is not the first option for the contender, never was.

AD is the first option IMO. Kyrie will be 2nd. Klay will be 3rd.

That’s the way I see it too. People seem to forget that AD is averaging 25/11/4 this season at over 30 min a game.

I think that minutes per game comes down a little (to 25-30 min max). That’s what they play Gaff and Lively and it seems to be working for them (until Lively’s foot injury).

[41Dirk41]

That’s what I’m saying! Defensively the Mavs are light years better than they were, with AD playing the 4 next to Lively or Gaff. They’re also not done making moves I suspect. Can they get a PG? Do they make a trade for a guy like Collin Sexton?

Tell me honestly, do you really believe AD can make contender from Doncic less Mavs? Kyrie' is not the first option for the contender, never was.

Absolutely, if the team is healthy they are a contender. Being healthy is a big ask however that can be said for any contending team. The if healthy though (and motivated) is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Good luck scoring inside on their new front court. AD is also a DPOY candidate. There’s no question their defense got better with this trade.

Now does this trade put them over the top? No it doesn’t. It does keep them in the mix though with the top teams.

I expect they are going to make another trade to either acquire a scorer or another PG. Would Utah be willing to part with Collin Sexton? What about Sexton AND Jordan Clarkson? Not sure how realistic that is but my point is I feel there is another move coming. That’s why the Luka trade went down now as opposed to Thursday.

From Luka to Clarkson and Sexton

Seriously my friend. Stop.

[Bob8]

That’s what I’m saying! Defensively the Mavs are light years better than they were, with AD playing the 4 next to Lively or Gaff. They’re also not done making moves I suspect. Can they get a PG? Do they make a trade for a guy like Collin Sexton?

Tell me honestly, do you really believe AD can make contender from Doncic less Mavs? Kyrie' is not the first option for the contender, never was.

Absolutely, if the team is healthy they are a contender. Being healthy is a big ask however that can be said for any contending team. The if healthy though (and motivated) is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Good luck scoring inside on their new front court. AD is also a DPOY candidate. There’s no question their defense got better with this trade.

Now does this trade put them over the top? No it doesn’t. It does keep them in the mix though with the top teams.

I expect they are going to make another trade to either acquire a scorer or another PG. Would Utah be willing to part with Collin Sexton? What about Sexton AND Jordan Clarkson? Not sure how realistic that is but my point is I feel there is another move coming. That’s why the Luka trade went down now as opposed to Thursday.

Basketball is not just about adding players. Team with Lively/Gafford and AD on the court would need exactly player like Luka or bad spacing would kill offense. Kyrie is absolutely wrong guard for that lineup, Sexton is not saving anything, he's not Pg either and you don't want to pair Kyrie and Sexton anyway, because you will lose all advantage AD brings in D.

I guess you forgot who was the main player in more or less all Mavs playoff wins. Even prime AD couldn't do staff Luka did and he will be 32 in a month.

[Mr B]

I kinda like the idea of AD at the 4 with Lively and Gafford doing the heavy lifting at the 5.

That’s what I’m saying! Defensively the Mavs are light years better than they were, with AD playing the 4 next to Lively or Gaff. They’re also not done making moves I suspect. Can they get a PG? Do they make a trade for a guy like Collin Sexton?

Mavs are in a tough spot to do any more trades. Salary wise, they basically traded all they could. Unless Nico decides to do a complete reshuffle but bench has been solid when Luka was playing.

Also keep in mind, Mavs paid extra 2nd round pick to the Jazz to get rid of Doncic. So yeah, the entire thing is incredible and i'm not sure what else they can do to get a good playmaker next to Kyrie because Kyrie is a 2 not a 1. On top of it all, defense with Luka was actually really good this year, so trade like this wasn't needed at all.

We are not privy to what was going on behind the scenes with Luka. Maybe he’s actually put on weight since he’s been out? Maybe Luka has hinted he wants out? We honestly really don’t know.

I do know that Nico was right about defense winning Championships.

[Bob8]

That’s what I’m saying! Defensively the Mavs are light years better than they were, with AD playing the 4 next to Lively or Gaff. They’re also not done making moves I suspect. Can they get a PG? Do they make a trade for a guy like Collin Sexton?

Mavs are in a tough spot to do any more trades. Salary wise, they basically traded all they could. Unless Nico decides to do a complete reshuffle but bench has been solid when Luka was playing.

Also keep in mind, Mavs paid extra 2nd round pick to the Jazz to get rid of Doncic. So yeah, the entire thing is incredible and i'm not sure what else they can do to get a good playmaker next to Kyrie because Kyrie is a 2 not a 1. On top of it all, defense with Luka was actually really good this year, so trade like this wasn't needed at all.

We are not privy to what was going on behind the scenes with Luka. Maybe he’s actually put on weight since he’s been out? Maybe Luka has hinted he wants out? We honestly really don’t know.

I do know that Nico was right about defense winning Championships.

You're trading 25 old superstar because he gained weight? And you got back 32 years old player made of glass? Narrative about being afraid of Luka's conditioning died in the moment they traded for much older and more injury prone player.

I don't believe you honestly believe that ****.

[HMFFL]

Does Luka have alteratanive plans in the future or something, like, wanting to raise his daughter back home?

Something doesn't seem right about this at all.

Sent from my SM-S928U1 using RealGM mobile app

[arkuo]

Reading the reactions here, you'd think Dallas traded Luka for Eric Dampier.

AD is no slouch. I get that emotions are high after the trade. But with the reactions, you'd think AD is some scrub averaging 5 pts a game.

[Mr B]

This just happened last week apparently

Watch on YouTube

And that is with an unhappy AD. And with AD playing out of position. He now gets to move back to his natural position of PF. He also has two defensive centers (not just 1) to play alongside. Having Lively, Gaff, and PJ should help keep AD’s minutes down which should also help his health.

We will see though. Just have to let this thing play out.

[Bob8]

Reading the reactions here, you'd think Dallas traded Luka for Eric Dampier.

AD is no slouch. I get that emotions are high after the trade. But with the reactions, you'd think AD is some scrub averaging 5 pts a game.

No, but you might check how old he is and how many games has he missed in last 5 years.

[Bob8]

This just happened last week apparently

Watch on YouTube

And that is with an unhappy AD. And with AD playing out of position. He now gets to move back to his natural position of PF. He also has two defensive centers (not just 1) to play alongside. Having Lively, Gaff, and PJ should help keep AD’s minutes down which should also help his health.

We will see though. Just have to let this thing play out.

Playing Pf without spacing will help his game?

[41Dirk41]

Reading the reactions here, you'd think Dallas traded Luka for Eric Dampier.

AD is no slouch. I get that emotions are high after the trade. But with the reactions, you'd think AD is some scrub averaging 5 pts a game.

You don't see the point here, if you want to trade Luka it's ok (well not so much but it's a GM choice) but for that package is a joke.

AD is very good (when he is healthy) but no where Luka trade value. Harrison screwed us.

If you are ok to be the Lakers bitch good for you. no problem.

[Mr B]

And I just find out that if AD waives his trade kicker, we are below the taxline.
Third most richest owner in the league and we had to move our franchise player to allow them to save money.

At the end of the day the Mavs did not want to attach themselves to an albatross contract. With Luka’s lack of conditioning there’s no guarantee that he’s not going to continue to be injury prone. There’s also no guarantee that Luka doesn’t prefer to play in Europe. I’ve always thought that the real threat to losing Luka would be his desire to play in Europe. He’d still make hundreds of millions of dollars. If he ever wins a title in the NBA that could be it for him and he decides to go back and play closer to home.

I figure it will be next week sometime before we starting hearing what really happened with Luka and Mavs.