Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[JamesConway912]

Not surprised that Kyrie was against trading Luka. He witnessed him for 1,5 seasons and they had it figured out how to play alongside each other effectively.

Man it just gets worse and worse. There’s just absolutely no hope left.

Shams also reported that Luka saw himself as a „lifer“ in Dallas and that he never wanted to leave. He’ll most likely stay with the Lakers now according to Shams.

[F Gump]

Shams also reported that Luka saw himself as a „lifer“ in Dallas and that he never wanted to leave. He’ll most likely stay with the Lakers now according to Shams.

Shams is great at telling us about transactions as they happen, and doing so quickly, but when he gets outside that lane, he's not that great.

His note that "Luka saw himself as a 'lifer' in Dallas" is not news, and in fact is about a month behind everyone else. And his predictions as to what will happen in the future are not that special, as in this case where "He’ll most likely stay with the Lakers now" is just stating the obvious. Just saying, so we don't read more into this than we should because "Shams said it."

[audiosway]

Is your theory that Kyrie signed an extension with Dallas (after being traded) and Klay signed with Dallas in the off season (after GS didn't offer him what he wanted) with the sole end game of convincing Nico to trade Luka for AD and then to go after KD?

That seems far fetched, so trying to make sure I'm understanding it correctly.

Let me explain further. When Kyrie was in Boston the team found out he was trying to get KD to Boston and that's why he gets booed when he plays there.

I don't think Kyrie came to Dallas and resigned with the purpose of trading Luka. I think he and Klay had probably talked about playing together with KD and AD as they did playing with team USA.

Klay and KD had played together with GS as well. Then, KD and Kyrie played together in Brooklyn.

I think over time Kyrie saw the discontent with Nico and Kidd toward Luka and just saw the opportunity to get AD and KD in Dallas. He has great respect for Kidd as a coach since he is playing for his hero. He also learned from his time in Boston to keep things more close to the vest. That would make a lot of sense as to why Nico said no one could know they were trading Luka.

These guys from the player empowerment movement are close and have known each other since high school. They want to win and if they see opportunities to play together they want to do it.

Klay would be mad if he had come to Dallas to play with Luka and then Luka gets traded less than a year later. Kyrie said after the trade that it was a ruthless business. He acted very nonchalant at the presser after the game when he was asked about it. Sure, it's a business. But, it's not every day that a player like Luka is traded.

A lot of this is circumstantial I know. However, the pieces have always been there. KD and Kyrie wanted to play together and with AD. Klay and KD played together. Nico has known all of these guys since they were teenagers. Cuban brought in Nico because of his relationships with players in getting big names. Kidd was brought in to coach since he can handle big egos.

I think once Kyrie saw the relationship eroding with Luka and the team he stepped in.

Look at it this way, if you are getting complaints from management at your job over a period of say a couple of years about your performance would you be shocked if they fired you? Luka looked devastated like he had no idea there was a problem. Then, to find out Kyrie was the go between?

Maybe this is all tin foil hat stuff. I've found that usually if there is smoke there is a fire somewhere.

[audiosway]

I think that's going to be a lonely hill your on.

If it is I'll own it.

[Jmaciscool]

Let me explain further. When Kyrie was in Boston the team found out he was trying to get KD to Boston and that's why he gets booed when he plays there.

I don't think Kyrie came to Dallas and resigned with the purpose of trading Luka. I think he and Klay had probably talked about playing together with KD and AD as they did playing with team USA.

Klay and KD had played together with GS as well. Then, KD and Kyrie played together in Brooklyn.

I think over time Kyrie saw the discontent with Nico and Kidd toward Luka and just saw the opportunity to get AD and KD in Dallas. He has great respect for Kidd as a coach since he is playing for his hero. He also learned from his time in Boston to keep things more close to the vest. That would make a lot of sense as to why Nico said no one could know they were trading Luka.

Klay would be mad if he had come to Dallas to play with Luka and then Luka gets traded less than a year later. Kyrie said after the trade that it was a ruthless business. He acted very nonchalant at the presser after the game when he was asked about it. Sure, it's a business. But, it's not every day that a player like Luka is traded.

A lot of this is circumstantial I know. However, the pieces have always been there. KD and Kyrie wanted to play together and with AD. Klay and KD played together. Nico has known all of these guys since they were teenagers. Cuban brought in Nico because of his relationships with players in getting big names. Kidd was brought in to coach since he can handle big egos.

I think once Kyrie saw the relationship eroding with Luka and the team he stepped in.

Look at it this way, if you are getting complaints from management at your job over a period of say a couple of years about your performance would you be shocked if they fired you? Luka looked devastated like he had no idea there was a problem. Then, to find out Kyrie was the go between?

Maybe this is all tin foil hat stuff. I've found that usually if there is smoke there is a fire somewhere.

Ah okay, that makes more sense than what I thought you meant.

I still don't agree, but I appreciate you explaining it further!

[audiosway]

Ah okay, that makes more sense than what I thought you meant.

I still don't agree, but I appreciate you explaining it further!

I'm cool with that. I may be completely wrong but it just seems odd to me that a GM would get to the point of trading a player like Luka for AD.

On paper I do see why you could say "we have been having problems with his conditioning and don't want to pay him the supermax". Where that quickly dies is that you traded him for an older injury prone player. At first it made sense because Luka didn't look right at first playing with the Lakers. And AD is an incredible talent. I kept thinking maybe they know something we don't. Luka doesn't look right. I've been watching Lakers games and he looks fine now. Seems he was just favoring the calf at first.

Now granted, that doesn't take away from the fact that he struggles with his weight and that is not something a guard should have problems with. If he were a big man it wouldn't be so bad. But, if he keeps it up I'll be surprised if he plays much past 31-32. He's already lost a step and he's only 26.

But, with that being the worst case you would still have another 5-6 years with a prime generational player that is exciting to watch and just played in the Finals. They have a great team built around him. More importantly they have plenty of good playing pieces to make a trade for another bigger piece that will push them over the top.

So, let's just say Nico is right at saying we were frustrated and didn't want to pay him the supermax. Ok. AD is about to be 32 and injury prone. At best with him you'll have 2-3 seasons where he is in and out of the lineup. He will probably play 50+ games a year if you look at his history. You have Klay at 35 and Kyrie at 33 later this month.

A GM's job is to not only keep good players for the coach (the type of players the coach wants) but it's also to manage the salary situation and negotiations as well as put butts in seats. Luka puts more butts in seats than AD would. Unless you plan on bringing in KD to join AD, Kyrie, and Klay.

As I said, I could be completely wrong. Just my thinking.

[mvossman]

I'm cool with that. I may be completely wrong but it just seems odd to me that a GM would get to the point of trading a player like Luka for AD.

A lot of folks have been struggling with the concept that Nico could possibly be this much of an idiot and there had to be something else there that we all don't know about.  My guess is as we watch Luka continue to be a top 3-5 player in the NBA for many years with the Lakers it will become more and more clear that the trade was as bad as it seemed on its face and that Nico is indeed a complete idiot.

[audiosway]

A lot of folks have been struggling with the concept that Nico could possibly be this much of an idiot and there had to be something else there that we all don't know about.  My guess is as we watch Luka continue to be a top 3-5 player in the NBA for many years with the Lakers it will become more and more clear that the trade was as bad as it seemed on its face and that Nico is indeed a complete idiot.

Yeah. Sorry, like I mentioned in the news thread, I think Kyrie's injury just forced me to stage 4 of the 5 stages of grief. Depression.

[WildArkieBoy]

Yeah. Sorry, like I mentioned in the news thread, I think Kyrie's injury just forced me to stage 4 of the 5 stages of grief. Depression.

While my fandom is currently in limbo, there's been a warm place in my heart for Kyrie.  Wherever the split-tooth son-in-law and shoe guru eventually send him, I will take note and follow.  As for Cuban, he's worked his way up to security guard for the Adelson's, telling "rowdy" fans to "sit the f*** down and shut the f*** up."  I've seen those guys in the casinos, middle-aged men in rumpled suits they slept in, weaving through the slot machines keeping order.  At least JKidd will get paid handsomely to watch the games,  mostly in the "L" column.

wab

[DanSchwartzgan]

A lot of folks have been struggling with the concept that Nico could possibly be this much of an idiot and there had to be something else there that we all don't know about.  My guess is as we watch Luka continue to be a top 3-5 player in the NBA for many years with the Lakers it will become more and more clear that the trade was as bad as it seemed on its face and that Nico is indeed a complete idiot.

 
I can only think of two ways Nico can be proven right.  

1. The Mav's are a dominant team in the AD contract window with at least one Chip.
2. Something bad has to happen to Luka.  

Nico's chances of survival would have been much better if the team could have shown some proof of concept in the next couple of months.  But, now proof of concept is at least a year away (if it happens at all).

The problem with #2 is no Dallas fan is going to root for that.  So, if path #1 is now seriously damaged (or at least delayed) and path #2 is impossible to root for, how does Nico ever get back in the good graces of the fan base.

[cow]

So, if path #1 is now seriously damaged (or at least delayed) and path #2 is impossible to root for, how does Nico ever get back in the good graces of the fan base.

By moving the team to Vegas. /tinfoil hat

[DanSchwartzgan]

By moving the team to Vegas. /tinfoil hat

I don't really want to like this, but it did make me laugh.

[Jmaciscool]

By moving the team to Vegas. /tinfoil hat

Adam Silver leans forward. "Why in the world would we approve moving a team out of a top 5 market to a much smaller Vegas market?"

"Because you can just add an expansion team to Dallas after we move the Mavs to Vegas."

"We're not going to approve that."

"You green light this and we'll trade Luka to the Lakers."

Silver leans back, a smile slowly spreading across his face. "Now that is an interesting idea..."

[ThisIStheYear]

While my fandom is currently in limbo, there's been a warm place in my heart for Kyrie.  Wherever the split-tooth son-in-law and shoe guru eventually send him, I will take note and follow.  As for Cuban, he's worked his way up to security guard for the Adelson's, telling "rowdy" fans to "sit the f*** down and shut the f*** up."  I've seen those guys in the casinos, middle-aged men in rumpled suits they slept in, weaving through the slot machines keeping order.  At least JKidd will get paid handsomely to watch the games,  mostly in the "L" column.

wab

Haha!  Give that man a star!

[mvossman]

 
I can only think of two ways Nico can be proven right.  

1. The Mav's are a dominant team in the AD contract window with at least one Chip.
2. Something bad has to happen to Luka.  

Nico's chances of survival would have been much better if the team could have shown some proof of concept in the next couple of months.  But, now proof of concept is at least a year away (if it happens at all).

The problem with #2 is no Dallas fan is going to root for that.  So, if path #1 is now seriously damaged (or at least delayed) and path #2 is impossible to root for, how does Nico ever get back in the good graces of the fan base.

I don't think he will.  At this point I don't even think #2 will do it.  From his perspective, the only chance would be to bring KD in here to build his super team, but I'm not sure that's even going to be an option now.

[BolsDamols]

Boston Kyrie or even Brooklyn Kyrie probably plants the idea to trade Luka. That guy will definitely be on board trading Luka

Dallas model citizen Kyrie, on the other hand, knowing Luka is his best chance to win another ring, Im not so sure. But the way that he played against the Lakers wanting to show he is the best player, to prove sometiing..hmm..i dont know, he might have been on board

[F Gump]

From his perspective, the only chance would be to bring KD in here to build his super team, but I'm not sure that's even going to be an option now.

Barring a Flagg miracle, is getting KD (while keeping PJ, Max, Lively) Nico's BEST path forward to a possible contender anytime soon? And if so, why would that door have been closed?

And (in light of the common views that KD is a step too far) is there another path, perhaps even more viable, that builds on the existing cast of depth with the idea for Kyrie to re-join the quest next season? Isn't it still there?

There are some good to very-good talents here. It's not like they necessarily all have to hate the Mavs, or jump ship. We are frustrated, but they see the setbacks are due to injuries, and injuries can go away. FAs probably only need the right amount of money to want to stay. There is the potential of a lottery pick, even if it's not a super high one.

I'm not confident in Nico, that's for sure. But while it bugs me not to see a good ending for this season, I wonder if we are too hasty to assume a completely dead future.

[mvossman]

Barring a Flagg miracle, is getting KD (while keeping PJ, Max, Lively) Nico's BEST path forward to a possible contender anytime soon? And if so, why would that door have been closed?

And (in light of the common views that KD is a step too far) is there another path, perhaps even more viable, that builds on the existing cast of depth with the idea for Kyrie to re-join the quest next season? Isn't it still there?

There are some good to very-good talents here. It's not like they necessarily all have to hate the Mavs, or jump ship. We are frustrated, but they see the setbacks are due to injuries, and injuries can go away. FAs probably only need the right amount of money to want to stay. There is the potential of a lottery pick, even if it's not a super high one.

I'm not confident in Nico, that's for sure. But while it bugs me not to see a good ending for this season, I wonder if we are too hasty to assume a completely dead future.

From everything I am reading, given that Kyrie is an older small guard who relies (at least to some degree) on quickness, there is a reasonable chance he will never get back to what he was, and if he does it probably wont be next season.

That means your first real chance at contention is the following season when KD is 38, Kyrie is 34 coming off ACL and AD is an injury prone 33.  Between that and the toxic environment with the fans, I feel like it would have to be full bro code for KD to want to come here.

In light of this injury, the best route might be to fire Nico, showcase AD for a couple of weeks if healthy, sell off every player older than 27 in the offseason and go full tank for a year.  Then you have to try to win because you have no control over your picks after that.

[audiosway]

Barring a Flagg miracle, is getting KD (while keeping PJ, Max, Lively) Nico's BEST path forward to a possible contender anytime soon? And if so, why would that door have been closed?

And (in light of the common views that KD is a step too far) is there another path, perhaps even more viable, that builds on the existing cast of depth with the idea for Kyrie to re-join the quest next season? Isn't it still there?

There are some good to very-good talents here. It's not like they necessarily all have to hate the Mavs, or jump ship. We are frustrated, but they see the setbacks are due to injuries, and injuries can go away. FAs probably only need the right amount of money to want to stay. There is the potential of a lottery pick, even if it's not a super high one.

I'm not confident in Nico, that's for sure. But while it bugs me not to see a good ending for this season, I wonder if we are too hasty to assume a completely dead future.

Sorry for my freakout earlier. lol. I had to step away for a bit and do something else.

I definitely don't think the short term future for the team is all just terrible. Kyrie is very shifty in the way that he plays rather than just straight speed like Fox is. With the advances in medicine and all of that he should recover fine actually. It will take him about 9 months or so to start playing again then another 6 to get back to being himself. If KD comes to Dallas they could hold the fort down for sure.

There is still a very talented team in Dallas. Actually an incredibly talented team that will be amazing defensively. It really just depends on what they have to give up to get Durant.

I don't trust Nico to be a good negotiator or necessarily make good moves. It appears that Lindsay was making the moves I thought Nico had been. So, that's very disappointing.

[LukaMVP]

luka has 15pts already in the first quarter, with good efficiency, about half of the team's points.