(02-09-2025, 01:14 PM)hakeemfaan Wrote: Apart from just how the trade was executed, to me there is zero agreement with anyone who finds no fault with Nico’s and now Dumont’s  maturity and words post the trade.

(02-09-2025, 12:49 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: This is kind of where I am, too. 

A big part of me is happy my team is out of the Luka business, because I was getting really worn down by his flaws, and was starting to wonder if the best of him was over. Seems crazy to say that about a 25 year old, but I just saw some footage of his first promo shoot in a Lakers uniform and he looks pretty bad, imo. If I didn't know of him and saw him on the street, I'd never guess he was a professional athlete, even at his height. Even American football wouldn't cross my mind, because I don't think he has a single visible muscle in his entire upper body. I know these things aren't "the point," but basketball is a running, jumping, change of direction sport. It's a bigger problem than we've been allowed to properly acknowledge around here that he doesn't take the condition of his body seriously. When he was in his early 20's, he had more energy than the opponent at the ends of games. That's how they got all those amazing, come from behind, game-winning, legendary moments. These past couple of years, it has always seemed like he was the FIRST player to get worn down. 

It was starting to irritate me to no end that he was showing up to training camp INJURED because he refused to miss anything team Slovenia related. I like that he has pride in his country and wants to be for them what he can, but the Mavs have made Luka and his family wealthy for generations, even if he never gets another contract. Dirk loved his country, too, but he learned pretty early on that if something had to be missed, it was the team Germany summer activities, not the Mavs stuff. I'm sure that was tough for him in some ways, but it was the right thing to do. The Mavs were his EMPLOYER. 

One of the things that came out this past week was that for the past TWO seasons, the Mavs have been forced to make up a phantom injury to report so that Luka could miss games for a couple of weeks to get into shape. DURING THE SEASON. Two years in a row. Knowing that, I have zero issue with Dumont choosing the "if you want to take a vacation" wording. Imagine paying a dude like $52 million to play basketball, and he can't even take it seriously enough to be ready for the season. Now, imagine that you're noticing during those two weeks that the dude isn't actually DOING what he needs to do to GET in said shape. Imagine thinking that the dude doesn't even care that he's letting his team down and doesn't appear to feel any obligation to hurry back and show his team that he's committed or apologetic about having to use their season to get ready for their season. I'm sorry, but that would irritate me, too. It irritates me now, and I'm just a fan. I cannot imagine how frustrating that must be for the guy PAYING him, or for the dozens of people depending on Luka for the professional reputation and livelihoods. The coaches, marketing folks, season ticket sales people...hell, the other PLAYERS. I feel like I understand those Naji Marshall "we need you, 77 - come back soon" tweets in a different way after learning this. 

And, the thing with the refs...it gets shaken off around here all the time as "minor," "cultural," "no big deal"...no. It's major. We watched this dude sell his teammates out in big moments FOR YEARS by choosing to complain about not getting foul calls instead getting back on defense like a professional basketball player is supposed to do. Sometimes, this was a game-long phenomenon. Either his ego/entitlement is gone beyond repair or he was so out of shape he was looking for an excuse to take a breather during live play. Maybe both. But, I'm sorry - that makes him EXTREMELY unlikable. It's unforgivable, really, and being a Mavs fan had become burdened by doing mental gymnastics in an attempt to reconcile what I believe to be right or wrong with the desire to like/defend/root for this child. Speaking of children, I don't have any, but if I did, I would have serious concerns with them idolizing Luka Doncic. 

I'm sorry, but that's my opinion, and I have zero difficulty understanding why they wouldn't want to give this kid the largest FULLY GUARANTEED contract in the history of a sport that's growing more and more punitive to teams who don't manage their contracts intelligently. 

Having said all that, it's ALSO my opinion that there is GREATNESS in Luka. I still remember passionately convincing my Dad, who had lost all interest in the Mavs during the years following Cuban's decision not to let the 2011 team defend their title, to take the Mavs back up again BECAUSE of Luka. "This kid is going to be one of the greatest of all time," I told him. And, part of me wonders if Luka is a year away from starting to mature and take his career seriously before it's too late. If he does, this change of direction for the franchise is going to look silly, as most are assuming it will. But it had gotten to the point where the hope of him doing that was all I had to hang onto as a Mavs fan. What this trade tells us is that the people who see Luka every day, see what he's doing and NOT doing, had basically given up on that hope. I'm not saying they're right, but they do have more info than we. 

Even if he doesn't "figure it out," I'm 1000% sure there will be moments of greatness in the near and medium future that make us miss him. It's going to suck when he has the next 45 point triple double in a Lakers uniform, and doubly so if/when it happens against the Mavericks. I loved this kid and his game so much I named my dog after him. I used to routinely force conversations about him into social situations that didn't call for it (not so much these past couple of years). I'm having some very complicated feelings about all of this, and don't blame people a bit for being emotional, or for not wanting to accept or even consider any possible reasons for making this change. It shocked all of us. I wouldn't have done this. It probably wouldn't have OCCURRED to me to do this. 

And, like everyone else, I'm super down on what the trade actually looked like. AD is obviously an amazing player, and I think Max Christie might be a real prize, too, but it feels like they should've gotten more. Quite a bit more. 

But, what I've come to realize pretty clearly as I've worked through all of this for a week is that I'm not mourning the loss of Luka, I'm mourning the loss of the IDEA that was "the Luka Doncic era" in Dallas. What really sucks is that this was a young team a week ago and now it's an old team. I mean, technically, they might have actually brought their average age DOWN in this trade, as Christie is younger than Luka, AD is basically the same age as Kleber and Morris, if you want to count him, was in his early 70's. All the other youth is still here. But, idk...there's something deflating for me going from being built around a 25 year old to being built around two 31 year olds overnight, out of nowhere. I think being robbed of a perceived, possible future is the issue here, for me. But, if the Mavs feel like they KNOW how that future was going to play out, and they must have thought they did because this was a drastic step, idk...we might look back and realize they did us a favor last weekend. 

Crazy times to be a Mavs fan, no matter how it plays out.

(02-09-2025, 01:29 PM)JamesConway912 Wrote: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

Despite his flaws Luka lead this team to the WCF twice and once to the Finals. AD was THE guy before. It didn’t get New Orleans far. He was great in LA and is still a stud but once LeBron had lost a step the Lakers became irrelevant quickly.

This team’s window of winning a title has just closed. Luka was THE reason we were capable of putting teams like OKC, Minny and PHX away in past postseason runs.

(02-09-2025, 01:24 PM)Jym Wrote: Sounds like they purposely ran off people who were close to him in the hopes of getting him to force his way out 

(02-09-2025, 01:40 PM)hakeemfaan Wrote: I get all that and that’s why I hate folks just saying that if you are critical of Dumont and Nico, you are a casual and not seeing the full picture. No. We see it and it is not an easy decision at all to make. I do not envy them.  The way they went about it though and what they got back and their behavior/comments post the trade have been ridiculous. 

(02-09-2025, 01:39 PM)mavsmagic Wrote: Long time lurker on this board, but had to reply to this. Seeing fans switch up and buy the narrative the FO is trying to sell is super disappointing. Luka is 25. No superstar had it all together and figured it out at 25. Not even Dirk. 

(02-09-2025, 02:02 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: For me, this isn't revisionist history or buying the FO narrative.

I had a rant on this very forum about how "I cannot stand Luka Doncic" just last year.  He is the biggest crybaby in the entire NBA.  Doing dollar signs at the refs when he has a bad game is unacceptable.  I don't think he is a bad human being.  He just behaves like an impulsive teenager.

I dont think he's been criticized enough because he's this adorable European kid.  I brought up several times the criticism James Harden faced.  Harden's behavior was never this bad. 

TBH, I'm surprised at the number of 40-60yr old fans who were in love with him.  I always assumed it was the younger generation and European fans that idolized him.

(02-09-2025, 12:49 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: But, what I've come to realize pretty clearly as I've worked through all of this for a week is that I'm not mourning the loss of Luka, I'm mourning the loss of the IDEA that was "the Luka Doncic era" in Dallas. What really sucks is that this was a young team a week ago and now it's an old team. I mean, technically, they might have actually brought their average age DOWN in this trade, as Christie is younger than Luka, AD is basically the same age as Kleber and Morris, if you want to count him, was in his early 70's. All the other youth is still here. But, idk...there's something deflating for me going from being built around a 25 year old to being built around two 31 year olds overnight, out of nowhere. I think being robbed of a perceived, possible future is the issue here, for me. But, if the Mavs feel like they KNOW how that future was going to play out, and they must have thought they did because this was a drastic step, idk...we might look back and realize they did us a favor last weekend. 

Crazy times to be a Mavs fan, no matter how it plays out.

(02-09-2025, 02:17 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: Your entire point is that Luka is a better at basketball than Harden so all his issues don't count.

(02-09-2025, 02:17 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: Your entire point is that Luka is better at basketball than Harden so all his issues don't count.

I agreed it was a bad basketball trade.

Im arguing that I have no problems with trading Luka Doncic and I have the exact same concerns as Nico and Dumont.  I don't understand why people are getting worked up about their comments.

(02-09-2025, 02:17 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: Your entire point is that Luka is better at basketball than Harden so all his issues don't count.

I agreed it was a bad basketball trade.

Im arguing that I have no problems with trading Luka Doncic and I have the exact same concerns as Nico and Dumont.  I don't understand why people are getting worked up about their comments.

(02-09-2025, 02:25 PM)mvossman Wrote: Because it seems like a total lack of class and another signal to the players that this organization has no trouble screwing its players and then throwing them under the bus.

(02-09-2025, 02:48 PM)loki Wrote: I'm definitely not as distraught about the trade as I was initially. It's still a terrible deal, but the way Luka was trending with his health and declining ability to get to the rim had me beginning to question the wisdom of a supermax extension as well. I have 3 major issues at this point.

1) Nico got worked over. This should have been the easiest negotiation ever. You want Luka? Give me every asset you legally can or don't call back.
2) The abrupt change in direction. Over the last two years they traded 1st round picks or pick swaps in 27, 28, 29, and 30. You can't follow that up by moving your star for a guy 6 years older.
3) Dirk overcame his demons to eventually win in 2011. Luka was robbed of the chance to do the same.

It could get rough in a few years when Kyrie/AD fall off and the Mavs start shipping out lottery picks, but until then I'll just to try to enjoy the new-look team. I can't force myself to root for someone else, nor can I swear off the Mavs entirely. I think there's still a chance for them to contend, although the lack of spacing and ability to generate open 3's may be too much to overcome.

(02-09-2025, 01:39 PM)mavsmagic Wrote: Seeing fans switch up and buy the narrative the FO is trying to sell is super disappointing. Luka is 25. No superstar had it all together and figured it out at 25. Not even Dirk.