Luka AD trade thread Part II

[Archx]

Lakers press conference starting.. will be interesting to listen.

Watch on YouTube

[brackdan70]

lol, can't believe there's people still argue the reason Nico giving
please keep it, it's rare for being such pure in these era.

Maybe the Mavs just make the worst action for NBA franchise,
but this maybe the best business action they make for the owner if they finally can have their other business in Texas

For NBA, why against it when it can bring their golden team LA Lakers another golden boy and help the falling viewership for the next decade.

To think the owners wouldnt consider the implications and make the final decision is silly.

The new owners wanted and supported the Luka trade to get under the luxury tax. Its all about the money!

Blame Cuban for selling.
Blame the owner for not paying $70m/per

These are the true reason for the trade and no other teams having a player like AD.

No, the return sucks.

If I needed to sell a Lamborghini, I'm not doing so for $10000.

A decked out Winnebago on a Mercedes Chasis is probably a more accurate analogy. Overloaded with black water and grey water. Time to hit the pump station.

[did_ya_know000]

Everyone is pissed at the Mavericks but when the higher ups (in this case Adam Silver & board of governors) tells you to send Luka to Los Angeles...what are you supposed to do?

Follow the tea leaves, this plan to send Luka to L.A. begin **July 2024 ** as soon as NBC & Amazon won the NEW contracts over Discovery-Warner Brothers (aka TNT).

There are billions of dollars on the line by investors.

The NBA needs to produce ratings for advertising for the respective network partners which is why they allowed sports gambling back in 2022 and why the NBA is expanding to Mexico & Vegas.

Nico Harrison is being made out to be a bad negotiator or unintelligent or conspiring with Rob Pelinka....none of this is true. Nico had to do this trade. It was mandated.

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[ConSarnit]

Windhorst brought up the interesting possibility that Luka might not sign an extension with the Lakers. Since Luka wasn't told about the trade ahead of time, the Lakers received no guarantee that he will sign his extension. I'd be shocked if he doesn't, but who knows. He has a player option in 2 years, so it's possible he only spends a year and a half in LA.

It will be interesting to see how the Lakers can build a team around Luka in time for him to want to re-sign. They aren't exactly asset rich. If they are going to do it will have to be in free agency. The Lakers are going to have to sign a bunch of guys in the '26 off-season to make this work. Their current under contract roster for '26/27 is Vando, Knecht and Shake Milton. Not exactly a championship core.

The most optimal move would be to trade Lebron and try to get maximum value, although I'm not sure what teams would give for a 40 year old that maybe has 2 years left at most.

Lebron and Luka don't even make much sense together...both have very similar games, both are ball dominant players, and Lebron at this stage of his career isn't a good defender.

If the Lakers were really proactive they would trade Lebron to bolster the coffers so they can build around Luka. I doubt they will because they seem to pride themselves on doing right by stars at the end of their career. My guess is they cobble a team together for next year during Lebron's retirement tour and then they'll really have to go for it in the '26 off-season. Luckily for them some star or idiot GM will probably show up at their door making them an offer they can't refuse.

[Dirk2Doncic]

Two things no one can believe -

1. A team would get tired of a primadona basketball player with a drinking problem, weight issues and anger management issues

2. That a team would take this step with Luka before Zion for weight, a team would take this step with Luka before Harden for drinking and partying, and a team would take this step with Luka before Draymond for anger issues… hell if it’s injuries they did this to Luka before Embiid and if it’s off the court crazy they did this to Luka before Ja…

So either Dallas ownership is legit strict on doing it the right way or Luka a nut job OR Dallas actually believes that they can win one this year OR


Dallas is the dumbest org in nba history

Let's say Luka is an alcoholic, who's never sober. Fat and totally unconditioned. But he by miracle averages 34/9/10, 62% TS, wining scoring title, is 3rd in MVP voting, makes 5th time in a row first All Nba team and while doing all that he brings your underdog team in the Finals, beating 1st, 3rd and 4th seed without home court advantage in the process, while playing the most total minutes in Nba and has the highest usage.

Who would trade player like that? Answer is just 1. Arrogant idiot.

Yep

As a Steelers fan, for years I heard complaints from some in the fanbase of "fat Ben" and also complaints of Ben's seeming habit of largely resting his arm and taking the summer off, throwing some footballs around near training camp and he was ready to go. While some complained, I was happy with the high level of play and the 2 rings.

"I need a recovery beer" is legendary.

They aren't all going to be Tom Brady and they don't have to be.

[ConSarnit]

No plan

The plan should have been pretty simple:

1) get the Lakers offer

2) solicit offers from other teams. there would be many

3) go back to the Lakers and tell them they need to add more

Maybe but imagine the rift it would create between the Mavs org and Luka plus fans.

Not sure if the owners wanted to deal with it.

It was all about money and what the owners wanted.
Nico was just executing on their behalf.

Explain the money angle.

The Mavs could have dodged the tax this year and next by trading Kleber.

They could have stayed under the tax in 2027 by paying Luka the max and cutting costs around the margins, likely losing one of PJ, Gafford or Grimes.

There were clear paths for the Mavs to stay under the tax for the next 2.5 years. It would have cost them some depth but their core would have remained in place (Luka, Kyrie, Klay, Lively).

No one can provide an adequate reason why this trade was done to "save money"

[Michael Bradley]

I'm not a conspiracy theory guy, sometimes owners/GM's make bad trades for stupid reasons, but I can't wrap my head around this one. It benefits the league far too much. The talk for the past few months about the NBA has been declining ratings. "No one is talking about the NBA right now" or there's no buzz around the regular season. Then boom, this happens. Suddenly a player who in any logical sense would either be a complete untouchable or would be traded for a king's ransom just happens to be moved for a 32 year old injury plagued star and to the 2nd biggest market in the US months after Adam Silver came out and blamed the World Series for the early season viewership decline (a World Series that included.....Los Angeles and New York). Nico makes this trade without even shopping Luka to other teams to get the best package, and apparently he's friends with Pelinka, so it's a complete conflict of interest on top of being a bad basketball trade. The entire sports world is now talking about the NBA just days before the SuperBowl.

Like I said, maybe it's just a bad trade by a bad exec, and unfortunately for Mavs fans they are the ones who suffer for it, but all of this is just all too convenient.

[Mavrelous]

The look on Luka's face when asked about Nico is priceless...

[LakersSoul]

The plan should have been pretty simple:

1) get the Lakers offer

2) solicit offers from other teams. there would be many

3) go back to the Lakers and tell them they need to add more

Maybe but imagine the rift it would create between the Mavs org and Luka plus fans.

Not sure if the owners wanted to deal with it.

It was all about money and what the owners wanted.
Nico was just executing on their behalf.

Explain the money angle.

The Mavs could have dodged the tax this year and next by trading Kleber.

They could have stayed under the tax in 2027 by paying Luka the max and cutting costs around the margins, likely losing one of PJ, Gafford or Grimes.

There were clear paths for the Mavs to stay under the tax for the next 2.5 years. It would have cost them some depth but their core would have remained in place (Luka, Kyrie, Klay, Lively).

No one can provide an adequate reason why this trade was done to "save money"

They didnt want to pay Luca $70m/per year SuperMax deal.

Luka makes $43 this year so the increase would have been $27 more per year.

As for this year, they removed injured Kleber and his $11million and added a healthy Max on a great contract. They went from luxury tax to under the cap.

[bledredwine]

Lakers press conference starting.. will be interesting to listen.

Watch on YouTube

Wtf everyone? He doesn't look fat at all. The way people spoke about him, I thought he'd be a fluffy 300 pounder.
He looks as lean as he always does.

There's 100% something else going on beneath this service; if it be injuries/health knowledge, Las Vegas casino related, underground deals, bribing, collusion etc.

[sikma42]

Lakers press conference starting.. will be interesting to listen.

Watch on YouTube

Wtf everyone? He doesn't look fat at all. The way people spoke about him, I thought he'd be a fluffy 300 pounder.
He looks as lean as he always does.

There's 100% something else going on beneath this service; if it be injuries/health knowledge, Las Vegas casino related, underground deals, bribing, collusion etc.

Luka looks dazed and confused. Guess it makes sense..lot happens in a short period of time


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[LakersSoul]

Lakers press conference starting.. will be interesting to listen.

Watch on YouTube

Wtf everyone? He doesn't look fat at all. The way people spoke about him, I thought he'd be a fluffy 300 pounder.
He looks as lean as he always does.

There's 100% something else going on beneath this service; if it be injuries/health knowledge, Las Vegas casino related, underground deals, bribing, collusion etc.

He doesnt look 270. More like 245 level.

[JXL]

Lakers press conference starting.. will be interesting to listen.

Watch on YouTube

Wtf everyone? He doesn't look fat at all. The way people spoke about him, I thought he'd be a fluffy 300 pounder.
He looks as lean as he always does.

There's 100% something else going on beneath this service; if it be injuries/health knowledge, Las Vegas casino related, underground deals, bribing, collusion etc.

Its funny how angles and clothing make someone look slimmer.

Know he's trying to lose the buddha belly after the calf injury and ramping up his conditioning, but he does look chubby regardless.

[jg77]

Luka sounds like he's out of breath at the press conference.

[tribulations]

Pelinka: "it's a gift"

[Archx]

The look on Luka's face when asked about Nico is priceless...

Anytime Nico was brought up he looked like he wants to pick up a fight but ultimately rather stayed diplomatic. I'm sure Pelinka warned him about this.

[Castle Black]

Luka legit looks dead inside. Dude does NOT want to be there

Read on Twitter

[Mavrelous]

The look on Luka's face when asked about Nico is priceless...

Anytime Nico was brought up he looked like he wants to pick up a fight but ultimately rather stayed diplomatic. I'm sure Pelinka warned him about this.

I LOLed, it was the perfect mix of rage and hatred...

[LakersSoul]

The plan should have been pretty simple:

1) get the Lakers offer

2) solicit offers from other teams. there would be many

3) go back to the Lakers and tell them they need to add more

Maybe but imagine the rift it would create between the Mavs org and Luka plus fans.

Not sure if the owners wanted to deal with it.

It was all about money and what the owners wanted.
Nico was just executing on their behalf.

Explain the money angle.

The Mavs could have dodged the tax this year and next by trading Kleber.

They could have stayed under the tax in 2027 by paying Luka the max and cutting costs around the margins, likely losing one of PJ, Gafford or Grimes.

There were clear paths for the Mavs to stay under the tax for the next 2.5 years. It would have cost them some depth but their core would have remained in place (Luka, Kyrie, Klay, Lively).

No one can provide an adequate reason why this trade was done to "save money"

https://youtu.be/MkGgi3P8lG0?feature=shared

Jalen Rose agrees with me.
Owners "didnt want to pay him"

[Castle Black]

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