2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation Part III

[sunsfan1o1]

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Shocker here! It really couldn't be much clearer how the NBA ( League Office/ Adam Silver) is going to always prop up the Flakers and collude to help Le' Douche get another championship he otherwise couldn't secure himself!

No wonder the ratings are dropping and the how the NBA in general is becoming a sadly scripted complete sh**show!!! This is also a perfect example of why this whole asinine aging superteam premise is an abject failing strategy.


And why we need to pivot to a similar premise as OKC, Houston, Memphis, etc and blow it up and rebuild through the draft with young, physical, athletic, high motor hungry young players over fielding an aging overpaid retirement boys club for aging oft injured apathetic stars.

Lakers are not winning a ring with Luka and LeBron. That pairing doesn’t even make sense. Lakers won’t contend until LeBron retires. Luka just keeps them relevant for another 7 years and after LBJ retires.

[BobbieL]

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Kellan Olson knows - he wants to blow it up

The Suns don 't have a future compared to some teams and their present is not as good as others
So overpaying for Butler would just be stupid at this point

[bwgood77]

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[bwgood77]

Maybe there wasn't an indication made by Luka's camp that they might leave, though I still think based on Nico's comments he was worried about him not signing the max...he talked about a tumultuous summer and if he doesn't sign the max extension, you are then on the clock. Maybe he got overly concerned/worried that Luka would leave and he'd have nothing. Maybe Luka wouldn't have, but I think he was scared of it.

The main reason I mention I don't think Luka said anything yet is this tweet I came across (though they could talk about him being out of shape, etc, too)..

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[BobbieL]

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pretty much

Luka is a unique player in the NBA

I remember the podcast with Reddick and LeBron and JJ posed something to LeBron about a skillset of a player or maybe it was attracting the double team, something and the first word LeBron said was "Luka"

[sunsbg]

Of course Mavs GM will try to find an excuse but everything points out to him doing very suspicious business in favour of his long time friend Pelinka. I'm convinced Luka has not requested a trade. Slovenian fans are also suggesting Luka may not sign an extension with Lakers and can go to a team like Nuggets or Spurs to team up with another Euro. There could be Luka sweepstakes in '26 offseason and if Suns FO wants to be part of it they should forget about going after Butler.

[Saberestar]

Maybe there wasn't an indication made by Luka's camp that they might leave, though I still think based on Nico's comments he was worried about him not signing the max...he talked about a tumultuous summer and if he doesn't sign the max extension, you are then on the clock. Maybe he got overly concerned/worried that Luka would leave and he'd have nothing. Maybe Luka wouldn't have, but I think he was scared of it.

The main reason I mention I don't think Luka said anything yet is this tweet I came across (though they could talk about him being out of shape, etc, too)..

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What do you think Nico Harrison is gonna say about it?

Money talks here. It's because of a cheap owner and not wanting to pay Doncic the supermax.

$350M/5 years is huge but Doncic deserves every dollar because he is a Top 4 player in the league that isn’t even in his prime yet. A player that has shown multiple times that is a winner and capable of putting a team on his back and getting them to the NBA Finals. I can't believe the trade yet.

[Qwigglez]

Yeah. You just do not trade Luka Doncic here. There is no situation where you make this deal IMO.

Imagine after the Suns went to the NBA Finals in 2021, we traded Booker to the Lakers. I feel (slightly) bad for Mavs fans.

[BobbieL]

Maybe there wasn't an indication made by Luka's camp that they might leave, though I still think based on Nico's comments he was worried about him not signing the max...he talked about a tumultuous summer and if he doesn't sign the max extension, you are then on the clock. Maybe he got overly concerned/worried that Luka would leave and he'd have nothing. Maybe Luka wouldn't have, but I think he was scared of it.

The main reason I mention I don't think Luka said anything yet is this tweet I came across (though they could talk about him being out of shape, etc, too)..

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What do you think Nico Harrison is gonna say about it?

Money talks here. It's because of a cheap owner and not wanting to pay Doncic the supermax.

$350M/5 years is huge but Doncic deserves every dollar because he is a Top 4 player in the league that isn’t even in his prime yet. A player that has shown multiple times that is a winner and capable of putting a team on his back and getting them to the NBA Finals. I can't believe the trade yet.

If Davis were say 27 - trade make some sense. But not at his age. I mean, you have to take age into account when making trades for aging "superstars."

(Yes, I'm talking to you Ishbia - don't make me call you Dipsh*tbia again!)

[Qwigglez]

Also, I saw this. And while I know it isn't a prank, if it was... this would be the greatest prank of all time.

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[bwgood77]

Maybe there wasn't an indication made by Luka's camp that they might leave, though I still think based on Nico's comments he was worried about him not signing the max...he talked about a tumultuous summer and if he doesn't sign the max extension, you are then on the clock. Maybe he got overly concerned/worried that Luka would leave and he'd have nothing. Maybe Luka wouldn't have, but I think he was scared of it.

The main reason I mention I don't think Luka said anything yet is this tweet I came across (though they could talk about him being out of shape, etc, too)..

Read on Twitter

What do you think Nico Harrison is gonna say about it?

Money talks here. It's because of a cheap owner and not wanting to pay Doncic the supermax.

$350M/5 years is huge but Doncic deserves every dollar because he is a Top 4 player in the league that isn’t even in his prime yet. A player that has shown multiple times that is a winner and capable of putting a team on his back and getting them to the NBA Finals. I can't believe the trade yet.

He already said that he wasn't sure he would sign it, and that would have put them on the clock. He said they would have had no problem paying him the max. That didn't have anything to do with it.

[bwgood77]

What's crazy is, even if Luka was planning on signing in LA which I think is likely the case, lets go back to AD...same situation. AD was going to sign with LA in 2 years. The Lakers STILL traded Ball, Ingram, Hart and a ton of firsts and swaps for him.

So they should have gotten way more. BUT, maybe he tried, and Pelinka said "hey, we are happy to stick with AD and LeBron until 26 and will roll the red carpet out for Luka in 2026. So take it or leave it."

[Saberestar]

Maybe there wasn't an indication made by Luka's camp that they might leave, though I still think based on Nico's comments he was worried about him not signing the max...he talked about a tumultuous summer and if he doesn't sign the max extension, you are then on the clock. Maybe he got overly concerned/worried that Luka would leave and he'd have nothing. Maybe Luka wouldn't have, but I think he was scared of it.

The main reason I mention I don't think Luka said anything yet is this tweet I came across (though they could talk about him being out of shape, etc, too)..

Read on Twitter

What do you think Nico Harrison is gonna say about it?

Money talks here. It's because of a cheap owner and not wanting to pay Doncic the supermax.

$350M/5 years is huge but Doncic deserves every dollar because he is a Top 4 player in the league that isn’t even in his prime yet. A player that has shown multiple times that is a winner and capable of putting a team on his back and getting them to the NBA Finals. I can't believe the trade yet.

He already said that he wasn't sure he would sign it, and that would have put them on the clock. He said they would have had no problem paying him the max. That didn't have anything to do with it.

It makes no sense at all and I think that he is lying to the fans BUT if that would be true it's even worse because WHY do you trade him when Doncic is all in about the Mavs and the Mavs want to give him the supermax extension?

Doncic wanted to sign that contract, the salary is much higher than going to another team and he is a loyal player that wanted to stay in Dallas.

Doncic is furious about the trade. He hasn't contested any call from Harrison or Kidd. He doesn't follow the Mavs already in instagram. You have seen what his father has already said about the trade...I mean, if the Mavs FO believes that AD at 32 + 1 FRP is better than Doncic at 26 they are on hard drugs lol or just doing to the Lakers or the league a big time "favor".

Just my two cents about it.

[kennydorglas]

Amazing how the Lakers always "find" those trades to get them over the hump.
Crazy.
NBA is done.

[Qwigglez]

Just for statistical data, Mavs are 13-9 this season with Luka. 13-14 without him.
2023-24 season:
33.9 points per game, 9.8 assists, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals. .487% FG, .382% 3PT, .786% FT
2024-25 season:
28.1 points per game, 7.8 assists, 8.3 rebounds, 2 steals, .464% FG, .354% 3PT, .767% FT

I'd probably theorize Luka's numbers dropped because the Mavs built a better team around him this season.

Also want to note that the Mavs were 3-7 without Kyrie. Pairing AD with Kyrie, along with having Gafford and Lively at center is going to be nasty. The Mavs have quality role players at the wing with Klay, PJ Washington, Naji Marshall, and now Max Christie. I think the Mavs roster balance looks really good. Still don't think you should trade a generational player like Luka... but the Mavs are still contenders with this trade for the next two seasons. Oh, and last thing, Mavs are 3-0 WITHOUT Luka facing the Thunder. The game Luka played, Mavs lost by 14, the team was fully healthy.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Amazing how the Lakers always "find" those trades to get them over the hump.
Crazy.
NBA is done.

IF you happen to be the Lakers!!! And are propped up by the commissioner and League office

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[TeamTragic]

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I love when a team comes out and does something so stupid that it makes the Suns decisions slightly more forgiving.

[bwgood77]

What do you think Nico Harrison is gonna say about it?

Money talks here. It's because of a cheap owner and not wanting to pay Doncic the supermax.

$350M/5 years is huge but Doncic deserves every dollar because he is a Top 4 player in the league that isn’t even in his prime yet. A player that has shown multiple times that is a winner and capable of putting a team on his back and getting them to the NBA Finals. I can't believe the trade yet.

He already said that he wasn't sure he would sign it, and that would have put them on the clock. He said they would have had no problem paying him the max. That didn't have anything to do with it.

It makes no sense at all and I think that he is lying to the fans BUT if that would be true it's even worse because WHY do you trade him when Doncic is all in about the Mavs and the Mavs want to give him the supermax extension?

Doncic wanted to sign that contract, the salary is much higher than going to another team and he is a loyal player that wanted to stay in Dallas.

Doncic is furious about the trade. He hasn't contested any call from Harrison or Kidd. He doesn't follow the Mavs already in instagram. You have seen what his father has already said about the trade...I mean, if the Mavs FO believes that AD at 32 + 1 FRP is better than Doncic at 26 they are on hard drugs lol or just doing to the Lakers or the league a big time "favor".

Just my two cents about it.

They obviously would have paid it to him. All salaries are going up. It's just a percentage of the cap and what you have to pay players. It's not like they'd save money not paying it. It makes sense he unfollowed them and stuff but he is certainly happy to be going to LA and has always wanted to play there.

I think the value is way off obviously. But they likely view AD as similar value as KD was 2 years ago at 34 who got 4 unprotected firsts, Bridges, who was worth 4-5 more firsts, Cam and Crower. So they probably figure AD was worth a good 7 or 8 firsts himself. The Lakers felt AD was worth a lot too giving up Ball, Ingram, Hart and a bunch of firsts and swaps for him. He's 3 years younger than KD was.

AD obviously isn't better than Luka but there was obvious risk in him leaving in a year and a half...more likely than not. He won't be losing money going to LA all things considered.

[bwgood77]

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It's amazing how if the Mavs do get high picks in 3 of those years, the 3 teams to get them will be Houston, OKC and SA, the 3 teams with the brightest futures already.

And as much as I want to trade Book to Houston for our 27, 29 and their 29 pick (with those swap rights with DAL), if I'm Houston, I keep those picks and just keep rolling in new young studs on rookie contracts. Those picks look golden.