Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[DallasMaverick]

This is not the NFL draft where what you say is correct.  This is the NBA where everyone can seee who is a generational talent or not. This guy has been in the league now for about 7 years and has been highly productive. So people will compare hauls other teams have got in recent times for lesser talent as opposed to what the Mavs got. 

Saying you don’t have all the info is fine. If you had said far this is a really poor haul and puzzling, but let’s wait for more details, I can even see that. I don’t see that anywhere from you. IMany GMs have already come out and said they weren’t given a chance to bid. It is an espn cover article.  GMs tweeting to their pet sources saying they are shocked at this trade and the haul.  At that point it is not just mere speculation that Nico didn’t do his due diligence.

Okay. 

What you’re saying is that you can’t think of any reason why Nico would have done it the way he did.

So there’s no data that you can’t see.

I think the technical term is called “omniscience”. You possess all knowledge.

I’m just not there yet, myself.

[hakeemfaan]

A generational talent who wants to play here.

Sometimes in the hubris , many Mavs fans forget that. Cuban forgot that after 2011 when he let Tyson go and ran after Deron and Dwight. Nico looks at Kyrie and AD. Both those guys forced trades from their previous teams.

Dallas is a big market in terms of viewership but it is not a special or preferred destination for players Kyrie and Klay signed extensions or came here to play with Luka. The minute things go south they will want out.

I always go back to Larry Miller the former owner of the Jazz. He understood early on that Utah is not a preferred destination and decided he would only chase free agents who really wanted to be there.

We had a generational talent who wanted to be here. Sure it would have been even better if he were more fit and got back on defense. However he was still a generational talent who was highly productive and wanted to be here. That’s the guy we sent out forgetting that you might get talent here but those talents most likely won’t have the same loyalty to this franchise.

[Chicagojk]

Just taking emotion and common sense out, lets talk Nico's vision. i think any talk of championship window has closed. Although Nico supposedely thinks otherwise. IMO, you have a big whole on a guy who can score off the dribble and you also need a guy who can get others good looks. Ideally, you would want him being a good/very good defender. Right now, Dinwiddie/Exum don't fit that. Din can create his own shot, but not really the other two. Exum can run an offense and is a solid defender, but is probably a 15 minute player. Klay is not a good perimeter defender or shot creator. Kyrie is an amazing scorer but needs help and is not great creating looks for others.

So Lavine can score, but is not a point guard and is not a great defender. Who are some other names. I think they need to be able to shoot too. I just can't figure how they finish the roster out. You can't put this much weight on Kyrie. He will wear down quickly.

Again, I think the title is done but just curious how Nico views the holes and how he will fill them.

[hakeemfaan]

Okay. 

What you’re saying is that you can’t think of any reason why Nico would have done it the way he did.

So there’s no data that you can’t see.

I think the technical term is called “omniscience”. You possess all knowledge.

I’m just not there yet, myself.

Cut the sarcasm dude.  I already said the fact that he didn’t open this up for all bidders is incompetence.Gross incompetence.   Also there is no speculation here since other GMs are stunned. That is not me “possessing all the knowledge’. That is me reading what is reported and stunned at a basic trade process not being followed.

[Chicagojk]

It is going to hurt so bad to see Luka in shape with the Lakers. I will never root for him to get injured either. I just probably won't watch him. It took me a solid two years to be able to watch Brunson. I don't think Luka will be different. The Lakers do have interesting decisions on how they build around Luka. Lebron looks great but how do him and Luka fit together. No real rim protection now. Some pretty good shooting. It seems like they have a decision to either try to build when Lebron is here or take a long range view. It will be interesting to see how they decide to preceed.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

Okay. 

What you’re saying is that you can’t think of any reason why Nico would have done it the way he did.

So there’s no data that you can’t see.

I think the technical term is called “omniscience”. You possess all knowledge.

I’m just not there yet, myself.

You’re probably a blast at parties. Funerals even.

[palindromotto]

I am a long time guest reader on this board (and the old Mike Fisher board, I started reading the blog something around 2006/2007, good times...). Followed the Mavs for years, cherished the championship 2011, was equally depressed after they did not bring back the core team to try again 2012. Then suffered through the next ten years of mediocrity, until they drafted Doncic. With Doncic as the franchise player, the team made the Western Conference in 2022, and the NBA finals last year. In my eyes, this puts to rest any discussion about whether he was worth the supermax extension. If you compare the success the Mavs team had with Doncic to almost any other NBA franchise and the salary they pay their top player, he was worth every penny (sure, not my money, but in terms of return on investment I think this is clear). As a fan, I want to have players I can root for, and Doncic was a player who could fill the role that Nowitzki had previously - of course very different persons and style, but they were drafted (or should say they started playing as a rookie) in Dallas, and developed into the franchise player here. For me, with the trade of Doncic, the link to the previous era is gone, out of the window went a tradition of sticking with your franchise player no matter what, which ran at least from 1998. This feels a bit like a TV series in which they kick out the main character in mid season, which to me seems a suicidal move in regard to fan adherence. But what tops it out is that while AD is a great player, I think it is clear that he can’t replace Doncic, and there won’t be any chance of another NBA finals run in the next 2-3 years, before the window for AD and KI closes (if that long). So in the end, this is a rebuild move, but without getting the assets necessary and possible for a rebuild in the near future. Thus, I think the management has deliberately set the franchise up for the next ten years (or more) of mediocrity. While I have no problem with not following the Mavs with its current management and owners, I hope this message board will stay in one form or the other. I learned a lot about basketball and the NBA here, and really enjoyed reading the thoughtful comments and interesting discussions. For now, so long and thanks for all the fish…

[ThisIStheYear]

Dennis Lindsey. I’ve been trying to figure out how the same Nico who made all the right moves to build last year’s team could destroy the franchise for 10 years in just one season. Then, I realized, he didn’t make those moves. That was Dennis Lindsey. He’s in Detroit now and they’ve improved a lot and unlike the Mavs, have a future. No, this is the Nico who twiddled his thumbs over a couple of offseasons while the Brunson situation unfolded. This is the Nico whose basic idea of basketball culture is AAU. He’s the one who’s killed the franchise. This Nico is awful. Bring back Lindsey-not that it would matter.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Luka thanks the city of Dallas.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

[BigDirk41]

Luka thanks the city of Dallas.

Nothing in his statement about the Mavs.

Class act. Luka has always said the right things. I truly feel bad for him. I don't think he ever thought this would happen.

[Jym]

[Chicagojk]

Hey everyone...I found one.

https://x.com/nbatv/status/1886184474884374860?s=46&t=xNHF873rjt7IFVxyn62T2g

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I wish someone would’ve asked if they plan to continue to reshape the roster before the trade deadline.

[hakeemfaan]

Hey everyone...I found one. 

https://x.com/nbatv/status/1886184474884374860?s=46&t=xNHF873rjt7IFVxyn62T2g

As the first comment said he hated on AD all this time and rightfully so. We see the warts of Luka.  At least you never wondered if Luka was on the court. Many a games you watch AD and you question if he is even giving his all. LeBron had to constantly get on him. Barkley used to get ion him for the same reason. 

But hey, he is a 2 way player.  So it’s all good.

[Chicagojk]

Whatever Nico says to the press is irrevlevant. I do agree making a joke was in poor taste. He can't say what he really thinks. That is either he believes we have seen the best of Luka already and/or his body will not age gracefully. That is it. I believe anything else, you keep him. I think he is wrong. It wouldn't surprise me if he is legendary wrong. That are his thoughts though.

[SleepingHero]

Reading Luka’s statement kills me man.


LD forever man.

[KillerLeft]

Has Cuban made a peep yet?

[SleepingHero]

Whatever Nico says to the press is irrevlevant.  I do agree making a joke was in poor taste.  He can't say what he really thinks.  That is either he believes we have seen the best of Luka already and/or his body will not age gracefully.  That is it.  I believe anything else, you keep him.  I think he is wrong.  It wouldn't surprise me if he is legendary wrong.  That are his thoughts though.

He will be legendarily wrong. It hurts so bad.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Has Cuban made a peep yet?

saw he told a reporter he wasn’t involved in this.

https://www.9news.com/article/sports/nba...7856351e1b#