Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[F Gump]

Where are you getting your numbers?  Everything I see is $116mm.

Frankly, you're apparently getting your numbers from people who are too stupid to know, or who want to exaggerate the situation, and are comparing 5 years to 4. 

The simple way to see it

5 years, starting 2026-27
If signed this summer with DAL, 4+1 using Designated Player rule - 35%, 35%, 35%, 35%, (35%)
Otherwise, 2+1 signed in 2026-27 and 3+1 signed in 2028-29 - 30%, 30%, 35%, 35%, (35%)

5% of the cap for 2 years totals $16M or so.

[The Jom]

The 5 years to 4 difference is hard to quantify in dollars.

Loved the Ant quote, by the way. Don’t care if he’s 300 lbs!

[Radical Mavs]

Secret deal under the table where he agrees to sign for the vet minimum.

Just to get traded on midnight sunday.

[Radical Mavs]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQQLWI9QWKg&ab_channel=HoopReports

[cow]

With thing we often overlook when talking about length of contracts is the risk involved on the player end. Luka might be able to get close to his super max but if he has a career ending injury the day after he signs his initial new contact, the financial cost would be tremendous.

[SleepingHero]

Not gonna happen.  When I traded Luka - sorry, when Nico traded Luka - he knew this would probably be Luka's last season since he's so out of shape.  It's not like Luka is someone who's going to work hard every day at staying fit - he's not Shaq.

Also, loving the KD trade ideas, was trying to figure out how to get that to work so great input guys!  Just need some help getting some more second round picks in order to meet the NBA trade rules requiring second rounders to be included in every trade.

Lol. Hi Nico. 

I figured you needed some help running the team given the last 3 weeks of choices you made. 

Also screw you.

[audiosway]

Still missing watching my boy Luka. LA is already being hard on him. I see some guys on the real gm forum calling him Fat Mamba. He looks rough right now. It's hard to watch. Can't play back to back and is clanking shots like crazy. I know he's having to get used to a lot with a new team, shock of being traded, the most out of shape I've ever seen with him, favoring the calf still. I do hope he can turn it around.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

It's funny how life is. You can be on top of the world one minute, then the trajectory changes in the blink of an eye, and shit gets real. Luka and Wemby are experiencing this at the moment. I hope both get through their challenges.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/FirstTake/status/189259935...wcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.as.com%2Fnba%2Fluka-doncic-misses-first-lakers-game-already-amid-departure-rumors-he-never-wanted-to-be-a-laker-n%2F


August 2nd deadline to get Luka signed to
extension.

[michaeltex]

“The pressure is on the organization (the Lakers) between now and August 2 to get Luka to sign that extension,” claims Windhorst. “That’s where the pressure is. Because Luka doesn’t have his incentive to sign in LA. He never said ‘I want to be a Laker’.


So you're telling me there's a chance...



I know coming back to DAL probably isn't in the cards, but I'd sure like to see him somewhere other than LALs. IMO, LA media is going to eat him alive.

[DallasMaverick]

https://x.com/FirstTake/status/189259935...wcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.as.com%2Fnba%2Fluka-doncic-misses-first-lakers-game-already-amid-departure-rumors-he-never-wanted-to-be-a-laker-n%2F


August 2nd deadline to get Luka signed to
extension.

So, maybe it was worth giving up that additional first-round pick from the Lakers to keep them from discussing an extension before the trade happened.

[DanSchwartzgan]

https://x.com/FirstTake/status/189259935...wcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.as.com%2Fnba%2Fluka-doncic-misses-first-lakers-game-already-amid-departure-rumors-he-never-wanted-to-be-a-laker-n%2F


August 2nd deadline to get Luka signed to
extension.

I wonder how we will feel about AD/Christie/2029 if Luka doesn't extend.  How will LA feel?  Are the post-Lebron Lakers really that attractive a destination?

Would LA trade him immediately or take the chance on getting "Brunsoned" the next summer.    

Yes, LAL could work out a S&T with someone else in 2026 and recoup some assets.  But, recall that a S&T hard caps a team at the first apron.  So those kinds of deals aren't as easy to construct as they once were and the return won't be what it might have been with all the best teams already up against one of the aprons.  And you know someone will have or create cap space for Luka giving him a viable threat to walk which also holds down a S&T return.  

So, if he doesn't extend, I think they have to trade him.  Does he let them know something in June/July or does he wait until August?  I personally think LA works this out...its LA, they always land on their feet.  Luka has to put up with the rest of this year and the Lebron farewell tour in 25/26.  But, at that point LA will have ton's of space with which to rebuild.

But, you start to see the issue with getting a better return from them for Luka.  You also see the risk of an open auction.  Luka simply says "I'm not committing to anyone" and suddenly you can't even get AD/Christie/2029 type value.

[michaeltex]

If Luka doesn't sign the extension, can LAL offer more on a 2+1 extension than other teams?

If he doesn't sign and spends this summer trying to turn back the clock by dedication to getting in shape, then Luka could actually turn into a key trade piece to launch a post-LBJ rebuild. Like Herschel Walker to Minnesota.

But if Luka doesn't have that dedication, then he'd be smart to sign an extension and see how it goes in LA for the next 2-3 years, because Portly Luka isn't going to be as much demand.

I'm thinking the latter unless he spends the offseason in LA, away from home cooking, hookas, and beers with buddies. Although, for someone who professes to want to retire to his Slovenian farm, I'm not sure a summer in LA moves the needle.

On a side note, I watched a YouTube video by some guy over in Europe who said that Luka just doesn't have the mindset to be diamond-focused on getting a ring. The premise is that the Euro, and especially Balkan, countries have a culture that more about enjoying the journey more than the actual destination. He says they would rather be happy with their life than hang everything on one win-lose scenario. I don't know if any of our Euro members are still posting, but I'd be interested in their take. I'll try to find the link and post it later.

[mvossman]

If Luka doesn't sign the extension, can LAL offer more on a 2+1 extension than other teams?

If he doesn't sign and spends this summer trying to turn back the clock by dedication to getting in shape, then Luka could actually turn into a key trade piece to launch a post-LBJ rebuild. Like Herschel Walker to Minnesota.

But if Luka doesn't have that dedication, then he'd be smart to sign an extension and see how it goes in LA for the next 2-3 years, because Portly Luka isn't going to be as much demand.

I'm thinking the latter unless he spends the offseason in LA, away from home cooking, hookas, and beers with buddies. Although, for someone who professes to want to retire to his Slovenian farm, I'm not sure a summer in LA moves the needle.

On a side note, I watched a YouTube video by some guy over in Europe who said that Luka just doesn't have the mindset to be diamond-focused on getting a ring. The premise is that the Euro, and especially Balkan, countries have a culture that more about enjoying the journey more than the actual destination. He says they would rather be happy with their life than hang everything on one win-lose scenario. I don't know if any of our Euro members are still posting, but I'd be interested in their take. I'll try to find the link and post it later.

Isn't Jokic Balkin?

[Winter]

If Luka doesn't sign the extension, can LAL offer more on a 2+1 extension than other teams?

If he doesn't sign and spends this summer trying to turn back the clock by dedication to getting in shape, then Luka could actually turn into a key trade piece to launch a post-LBJ rebuild. Like Herschel Walker to Minnesota.

But if Luka doesn't have that dedication, then he'd be smart to sign an extension and see how it goes in LA for the next 2-3 years, because Portly Luka isn't going to be as much demand.

I'm thinking the latter unless he spends the offseason in LA, away from home cooking, hookas, and beers with buddies. Although, for someone who professes to want to retire to his Slovenian farm, I'm not sure a summer in LA moves the needle.

On a side note, I watched a YouTube video by some guy over in Europe who said that Luka just doesn't have the mindset to be diamond-focused on getting a ring. The premise is that the Euro, and especially Balkan, countries have a culture that more about enjoying the journey more than the actual destination. He says they would rather be happy with their life than hang everything on one win-lose scenario. I don't know if any of our Euro members are still posting, but I'd be interested in their take. I'll try to find the link and post it later.

Your last paragraph was something I've thought about. He never seems to really talk up the championship stuff... it's as if he doesn't care about that as much as he wants to be comfortable and have fun competing.

I don't know. I agree with Dan in that LA will likely figure this out. But the real question is how will Doncic play and will he be comfortable if the fan base turns on him a bit. He's had it easy his whole career. LA may not be his thing. I can easily imagine that he would like to play in Denver with Jokic and if he chose to leave, but that kind of crystal ball placement is hard to come by. I think he has to live up to expectations in LA, and that may be becoming a problem.

This trade is still dynamic. We really may not understand this trade for several months.

[michaeltex]

Isn't Jokic Balkin?

Yes, he is. And the point was made that he had to change his attitude to really be successful by NBA standards. 

But even so, as soon as the season ends, he's outta here. Remember how he had to be coerced into attending the victory parade after DEN's last championship? He was ready to get back to family and horses as soon as the confetti finished falling.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Your last paragraph was something I've thought about. He never seems to really talk up the championship stuff... it's as if he doesn't care about that as much as he wants to be comfortable and have fun competing.

I don't know. I agree with Dan in that LA will likely figure this out. But the real question is how will Doncic play and will he be comfortable if the fan base turns on him a bit. He's had it easy his whole career. LA may not be his thing. I can easily imagine that he would like to play in Denver with Jokic and if he chose to leave, but that kind of crystal ball placement is hard to come by. I think he has to live up to expectations in LA, and that may be becoming a problem.

This trade is still dynamic. We really may not understand this trade for several months.

It's also conceivable that we'll never know.

[cow]

I wonder how we will feel about AD/Christie/2029 if Luka doesn't extend.  How will LA feel?  Are the post-Lebron Lakers really that attractive a destination?

By all accounts Luka wanted to be he here and there is little chance he'd turn down the supermax so my feelings don't change at all.  Nothing will change my feelings about trading Luka for nickels on the dollar because the GM was incompetent and had a petty grudge against a generational talented who wanted to be here.  And we should never take for granted someone who wants to be here and this franchise should never talk or expect loyalty again.  I don't really care how LA would feel but the Lakers will always be a destination franchise because of location and legacy.

[michaeltex]

If Luka doesn't sign the extension, can LAL offer more on a 2+1 extension than other teams?

If he doesn't sign and spends this summer trying to turn back the clock by dedication to getting in shape, then Luka could actually turn into a key trade piece to launch a post-LBJ rebuild. Like Herschel Walker to Minnesota.

But if Luka doesn't have that dedication, then he'd be smart to sign an extension and see how it goes in LA for the next 2-3 years, because Portly Luka isn't going to be as much demand.

I'm thinking the latter unless he spends the offseason in LA, away from home cooking, hookas, and beers with buddies. Although, for someone who professes to want to retire to his Slovenian farm, I'm not sure a summer in LA moves the needle.

On a side note, I watched a YouTube video by some guy over in Europe who said that Luka just doesn't have the mindset to be diamond-focused on getting a ring. The premise is that the Euro, and especially Balkan, countries have a culture that more about enjoying the journey more than the actual destination. He says they would rather be happy with their life than hang everything on one win-lose scenario. I don't know if any of our Euro members are still posting, but I'd be interested in their take. I'll try to find the link and post it later.

Link to "Outside the NBA" video referenced in final paragraph.

[mvossman]

I wonder how we will feel about AD/Christie/2029 if Luka doesn't extend.  

I feel if that is the best package they could get, then they were better off taking the risk on Luka.