Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[hakeemfaan]

You’re misunderstanding how I’m using the term “common sense.” I think it’s obvious that this was Harrison-driven, but I don’t for one second think this was done without Kidd signing off, and we KNOW the governor signed off. I’m sure there were others in favor, too. 

Other than that, I totally agree with you. It’s not what I think they should’ve done and nothing I’m writing today is meant as a justification of this weekend’s events.

Kidd looked angry yest. What would the reason be for Harrison to say that Kidd didn’t know?  Help protect Kidd when talking to the players at the cost of looking more of a fool himself?  Nico doesn’t seem to have the empathy to take the blame to shield Kidd.  This is the same guy who has taken passive aggressive shots at Luka the last two days.  The same guy is also lying and trying to heroically shield Kidd?

[cow]

You’re misunderstanding how I’m using the term “common sense.” 

No, I'm not.  It's just colorful soliloquy on my part.  Perhaps "proximity" would have been more apt.

[BigDirk41]

Kidd looked angry yest. What would the reason be for Harrison to say that Kidd didn’t know?  Help protect Kidd when talking to the players at the cost of looking more of a fool himself?  Nico doesn’t seem to have the empathy to take the blame to shield Kidd.  This is the same guy who has taken passive aggressive shots at Luka the last two days.  The same guy is also lying and trying to heroically shield Kidd?

Kidd did look pretty mad during the press conference. I didn't get the feeling that he signed off on this, but he has probably expressed wanting AD to Nico. I doubt he wanted AD for Luka. He didn't look like a coach that was thrilled with the trade. It didn't have the feel of normal press conferences after a trade. He said what Nico wanted, but it seemed forced.

[Jym]

Kidd did look pretty mad during the press conference. I didn't get the feeling that he signed off on this, but he has probably expressed wanting AD to Nico. I doubt he wanted AD for Luka. He didn't look like a coach that was thrilled with the trade. It didn't have the feel of normal press conferences after a trade. He said what Nico wanted, but it seemed forced.

Yeah you'll never be able to convince me Kidd and Kyrie wanted this

[KillerLeft]

Kidd looked angry yest. What would the reason be for Harrison to say that Kidd didn’t know?  Help protect Kidd when talking to the players at the cost of looking more of a fool himself?  Nico doesn’t seem to have the empathy to take the blame to shield Kidd.  This is the same guy who has taken passive aggressive shots at Luka the last two days.  The same guy is also lying and trying to heroically shield Kidd?

Kidd literally patted Harrison on the leg and said "good job" (referring to how the press conference was handled, when in fact it was handled as poorly as humanly possible) as he left after only a couple of softball questions. I didn't think he looked angry at all. I think he looked like he thought it was pathetic that so many people think this is a big deal that he couldn't just talk about the game, as per usual. He made a couple of overt jokes to that effect, even. I think he is one of the most arrogant people on the planet. 

I think Harrison and Kidd are 100% aligned, have been so since the beginning, and are basically a package deal. I think there's a 0% chance this happens if Kidd doesn't also want to be out from under Luka. 0%. I bet they've talked about getting rid of Luka for a looooong time, behind closed doors. If WE get pissed watching Luka bark at the refs instead of running back on defense and all the other stuff, imagine how that feels for Kidd?

Do not confuse this as an endorsement of the decision on my part, because I was against the Kidd hire from the beginning, have complained about him nonstop, only recently coming around a bit (begrudgingly) due to some nice results. Knowing (and yes, I think I KNOW this) that he's about to try to play AD at the 4 puts me right back into the "Kidd sucks" camp, and I think it's likely I'll stay there until he's gone, but we'll see.

[KillerLeft]

Yeah you'll never be able to convince me Kidd and Kyrie wanted this

No idea about Kyrie. 

I think it's so obvious Kidd knew this was coming I don't even think it's worth discussing.

[KillerLeft]

Let me ask this: where do you guys think Nico Harrison's "basketball knowledge" or "basketball opinions" even come from?

He's here, with his job, because Cuban and Dirk wanted to hire Jason Kidd as the HC. Cuban didn't even think getting the right GM was a concern at the time, because he fancied himself the "real" GM. We all know that.

They wanted Kidd.

[khaled1987]

Right but how do we measure the team? What’s the bar for success? We know this team was at least a finals level team given Luka and Kyrie did it last year and we only improved. 

Is AD+Kyrie the same level of duo? How can we say “hey we moved on from Luka, but look we did this!”

Is it championship or bust? That’s the only thing in my mind that can somewhat soothe this ache. Even still any ring sans Luka will be hollow.

I think a final appearance, or a close WCF appearance will keep him protected. It isn't a massive failure in either those cases.

[Jym]

No idea about Kyrie. 

I think it's so obvious Kidd knew this was coming I don't even think it's worth discussing.

Maybe it's just my "Kidd thinks Kyrie is a SG" line of thought that's clouding me there.

[BigDirk41]

You may be right Killer, but I thought Kidd looked unhappy. I feel like Luka and Kyrie had a close relationship so I struggle to believe he wanted this. I can be convinced it's possible Kidd did because that's not far fetched.

[hakeemfaan]

Kidd literally patted Harrison on the leg and said "good job" (referring to how the press conference was handled, when in fact it was handled as poorly as humanly possible) as he left after only a couple of softball questions. I didn't think he looked angry at all. I think he looked like he thought it was pathetic that so many people think this is a big deal that he couldn't just talk about the game, as per usual. He made a couple of overt jokes to that effect, even. I think he is one of the most arrogant people on the planet. 

I think Harrison and Kidd are 100% aligned, have been so since the beginning, and are basically a package deal. I think there's a 0% chance this happens if Kidd doesn't also want to be out from under Luka. 0%. 

Do not confuse this as an endorsement of the decision on my part, because I was against the Kidd hire from the beginning, have complained about him nonstop, only recently coming around a bit (begrudgingly) due to some nice results. Knowing (and yes, I think I KNOW this) that he's about to try to play AD at the 4 puts me right back into the "Kidd sucks" camp, and I think it's likely I'll stay there until he's gone, but we'll see.

I don’t know Killer.  I looked at it and got a different vibe. Also Harrison came across as a dbag taking shots at Luka, but he is trying to take one for the team by shielding Kidd?  Not saying both sides of his personality can’t be true.   It’s just that I got a different vibe watching Kidd. Plus Nico answered a few and then left for Kidd to fend off the wolves.

[KillerLeft]

I don’t know Killer.  I looked at it and got a different vibe. Also Harrison came across as a dbag taking shots at Luka, but he is trying to take one for the team by shielding Kidd?  Not saying both sides of his personality can’t be true.   It’s just that I got a different vibe watching Kidd. Plus Nico answered a few and then left for Kidd to fend off the wolves.

Well, if you're right, that's going to come out. 

I think they're aligned and will both work here for exactly the same amount of time.

[BigDirk41]

I think a final appearance, or a close WCF appearance will keep him protected. It isn't a massive failure in either those cases.

You are probably right as far as being protected, but anything less than a championship this year with what he has done is a massive failure imo. He stated he's only concerned about the next 3-4 years. Multiple championships is the only acceptable outcome for this fiasco and I don't see it with the current team. Maybe I'll feel different after Thursday because I expect this team to look drastically different than what we currently see. That may be another all star level player or multiple really good role players. I don't think the current structure gets out of the 2nd round and possibly not the first round depending on matchup. This team will absolutely have to be top 4 to have a chance in the playoffs. They traded our cold blooded assassin. We aren't winning every series on the road ever again.

[cow]

Well, if you're right, that's going to come out. 

I think they're aligned and will both work here for exactly the same amount of time.

You might get the truth but I'd never trust anything Kidd says now or after his tenure is gone.  He'll support the organization because that's what you have to do.  He'll later say he would have never supported the trade if it were his decision because, again, that's what you have to do.   From what we heard in the press conference yesterday, it sounded like this was all Nico's doing and he didn't need to consult Kidd because they are on the same wave length.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I didn't think Kidd was mad at all watching that press conference. If anything, I would describe him as happy but he was trying to show some decorum and not act happy that Luka is gone.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

@TheDunkCentral
Luka Dončić apparently bought a $15 million house in Dallas last week and reportedly cried when he found out the Mavericks traded him, per
@ChandlerParsons

Damn.

Why didn't they bring in Dirk and be like tell your boy to start taking care of his body? It feels like once Cuban left, the entire relationship was severed.

[KillerLeft]

Agree with everything you said.  This is where I woke up this morning.  Extract everything from LA.  If you have to open dialogue with other teams to get LA to include all assets, do so.

Yes, even if we're so inclined as to choose to believe targeting Davis for a Luka swap is defendable, Harrison got out-negotiated by Rob Pelinka, and that's something I didn't know was possible, given how badly LA has been managed lately. At least he was a good agent at one point, so I guess he has more experience at this than Harrison, but it's starting to feel like the Mavs are STILL one of the only "dumb" teams left.

[SwisherPrice]

Nico's reputation is finished. Even if this works out like he is hoping for and they win the championship within the next 2 seasons, the fanbase will never completely forgive him. Sure, it may take some heat off him but he'll never be loved by the fans again. Even if they win it all, the chatter will be that they could have done it with Luka and had the chance for more in the next 5-7 years.

He is trying to pull a 2006 Miami Heat and capture lightning in the bottle for 1 championship and then be done with everything/leave the Mavs in a few years. And maybe even scarier is that Dumont trusted him to pull the trigger on the trade instead of doing some more diligence and getting the opinions of the coaching staff and key players first before coming to a decision.

If Kidd was consulted, I don't think he would have been in favor of moving Luka BUT if Nico was hellbent on doing it no matter what then Kidd was okay settling for AD and that would have been it. I doubt Kidd would have been pushing to explore other trade partners for a better haul/draft picks.

[SleepingHero]

I don’t really care what Nico says, I am forever going to be mad that we didn’t get to see this team with Luka in the playoffs

[Jym]

Nico's reputation is finished. Even if this works out like he is hoping for and they win the championship within the next 2 seasons, the fanbase will never completely forgive him. Sure, it may take some heat off him but he'll never be loved by the fans again. Even if they win it all, the chatter will be that they could have done it with Luka and had the chance for more in the next 5-7 years.

He is trying to pull a 2006 Miami Heat and capture lightning in the bottle for 1 championship and then be done with everything/leave the Mavs in a few years. And maybe even scarier is that Dumont trusted him to pull the trigger on the trade instead of doing some more diligence and getting the opinions of the coaching staff and key players first before coming to a decision.

If Kidd was consulted, I don't think he would have been in favor of moving Luka BUT if Nico was hellbent on doing it no matter what then Kidd was okay settling for AD and that would have been it. I doubt Kidd would have been pushing to explore other trade partners for a better haul/draft picks.

Also has to be terrifying for players too 
I know I'd be apprehensive about signing a long term deal if the money elsewhere was anywhere close. You know he'd trade your ass out of here on a whim without a second thought