(02-26-2025, 09:33 AM)michaeltex Wrote: Luka had an OK game considering the emotional level attached to it. 6-17 (1-7) for 13 points is not very efficient, but he had his usual 10+ assists and 15 rebounds, so he had a Luka-type game. Despite the Luka-hype it was Hachimura, Reeves and LBJ who carried the team, especially LBJ in the 4th quarter.

Hoping DAL is more full strength for the next meeting. If you can add AD and one of the other two bigs, then this might be a different contest. But you play with the team you have at the time.

But it's done and Luka got his "revenge". Maybe everybody can just move on now?

(02-26-2025, 10:22 AM)mvossman Wrote: Don't count on it.  This will probably go on for a very long time.  It will take either a championship, Luka completely falling off a cliff, Nico getting fired or the team getting sold for this to completely go away.

(02-26-2025, 11:42 AM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: How long did it take us to get over them trading Kidd? Losing Nash? Breaking up the championship team? Losing Brunson? (and for those with longer fandom than me, losing Perkins and trading Aguirre for Done-tley?) 

Add whatever that would be all together and at least double it. That should answer the question of how long it will take Mavs fans to really get over it. And it would require Nico being replaced during that time-span, and perhaps also the team getting sold again. That's long enough of a time that it will be irrespective of Luka's achievements or whether the AD Mavs win a championship. And the time frame will also be extended if Kyrie walks on them this summer, or if they dump any of PJ, Christie, or Lively to get KD.

(02-26-2025, 01:38 PM)nicholasthefan Wrote: I can’t speak for other people, but I can say for myself. I’m struggling right now because we don’t have any homegrown young star to actually latch onto so it just feels like a team full of players in Mavericks jerseys.

(02-26-2025, 08:48 AM)FireNicoHarrison Wrote: Probably he just needs time but he doesn't look so happy in LA... I am not surprise if he will not resign there honestly... mostly if Denver will have cap space...

Luka, please screw the Fakers.

(02-26-2025, 03:43 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: I would love to have an off the record beer with Carlisle about the Luka trade.  Him and Luka did not really get along and Carlisle relished the opportunity to play Luka since he left as the Mavericks coach.  I really wonder what he thoughts would be off the record.  I could see him saying, heck no you don't trade Luka.  You fire me (coach), GM and anyone before your organization trades that caliber of player.  I can also see him saying that there are some concerns and he can see the merit.  I would guess his comments off record would be more like the first one, but I am sure he would have strong opinions.

(02-26-2025, 01:38 PM)nicholasthefan Wrote: I disagree. Maybe the Steve Nash thing is kind of similar. The only difference is that we had another homegrown young star to latch onto with Dirk. 

I can’t speak for other people, but I can say for myself. I’m struggling right now because we don’t have any homegrown young star to actually latch onto so it just feels like a team full of players in Mavericks jerseys.

(02-27-2025, 08:50 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: If I can squint hard enough, I can sort of buy that this new team can be very good.  Could is the key word, because the fit and play style is a little unconvential.    What brings me back to reality is two things:

1) I think at least one more move has to be made, and I can't identify that direction now.

2) I look at the LAL roster and think, what are we even doing here?

(02-27-2025, 12:43 PM)joshuadx89 Wrote: I've read this board for a few years now but never posted.  This probably isn't great use of my first post but did want to chime in on the trade and the aftermath.

A little background.   Like many 90's kids I grew up a Bulls fan.   Continued following the Bulls through the Derrick Rose/Noah years but my fandom of the NBA in general fell off a lot towards the end of the 2010's.  

Fast forward a bit to when the Mavs drafted Luka.  My at the time 7-year-old son fell in love with basketball, and almost instantly was a Luka/Mavericks' fan.   Over the last 7 years he and I have bonded a ton over sports.   His love of Luka made us both Mavericks' fans.   We watched as many games as we could on the east coast.  That culminated last year when we watched our favorite team go to the NBA Finals.    My son has grown into a 13 almost 14-year-old with an absolute love of the game.   He's modeled his game after his favorite player.  So much so I had a stranger ask me if he was my kid at his last game this year.  When I said yes, he told me he plays like little Luka.  

When the trade happened, I found out through text from a friend I play old guy basketball with.   When my son woke up and I told him, he was devastated.    I thought back to being 13 or 14 and being completely in love with this sport and wondered how I'd feel if I woke up and found out the Bulls had traded Michael Jordan.   We've continued to watch the Mavericks when possible.  It's not the same.   We've also continued to watch Luka.  Its also not the same.   Luka looks wrong in a Lakers jersey.   The entire thing is wrong.   The sad part is its fairly obvious Luka still wants to be in Dallas.   I will hold out a sliver of hope that he comes back after next year.   

All of that said, I think the Mavericks' front office came across clueless and classless when trading Luka.

(02-27-2025, 10:18 AM)mvossman Wrote: As for LA, they had very little time to adjust to the trade.  They backed out of the Williams trade post TDL.  But we know what the template is.  They need to get a starting P&R center who is also a high level defender (Hayes is a perfect backup).  Then they need to surround their three creators with 3&D guys.  They probably should trade Rui for a better defender.