Game 80: Los Angeles Lakers (48-31) vs. Dallas Mavericks (38-41)

[LifeAquatic]

This probably won't be popular, but the Luka trade has ruined my 30 plus years of being a Mavs fan. I honestly can't call myself a fan now. I haven't gotten over it and I don't think I will unfortunately. I actually hurt for Luka. Last night broke me watching him cry watching his tribute. The guy wanted to be here for his entire career and honestly I'd rather have 10-15 years of Luka even if the result was zero championships, which I don't believe would be the case. That would still be better than this current and future team. Some might say I'm not a real fan, but I've been around since the three Js days and I supported them through the bad and good times, but this was self induced and completely different. I don't have to support a team that doesn't value it's fan base. I do hope they turn it around at some point, but I'm strictly a Luka fan now even though I hate the Lakers. I want to root for that guy now no matter what. Last night didn't give me closure. It just made me hate Nico and the new owners even more and it's pretty obvious that the majority of fans feel the same way.

I don't post much, but have been hanging around in various guises since the old site with Fish, and I feel the same as you. I've been following the Mavs since I went to Reunion Arena in the 80s. But this just doesn't feel like my team anymore. Tried to watch them a few times since the trade and it just feels hollow. I make no promises about what I will or won't do as far as watching in the future, but in the near-term I'm not interested in them at all.

It feels like a hostile takeover of the franchise by people so clueless and disconnected from what Dallas basketball was about that any time they reference "greatness" or "hard work" they talk about the Lakers. Never mention Dirk or Ro or anyone else at all. And they don't seem to realize how blind that looks. And if this franchise is distancing from Dirk too and not valuing his contributions to this city anymore, then what really is the point of them?

Adam Morris of Lone Star Ball wrote an article that I think helps understand the feeling (aside from the obvious impact of the trade itself).

"Its because of a confluence of factors, starting with the fact that the folks who own and are running the team have no connection with the Metroplex. They are outsiders, carpetbaggers...disconnected from the community and the fanbase, with their priority being to use the team as a tool towards their overall goal of making more billions with what they actually care about — their “real” businesses."

Here is the article:
OT: Mavs ownership may never recover from the Doncic trade

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/legendz_nba/status/1910432783077376014

[SleepingHero]

https://x.com/legendz_nba/status/1910432783077376014

Luka and Gaff both say "we'll play together again"


Which all but tells me Gaff is out of here this summer, most likely to the Lakers, in some convoluted 3 team deal.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Welcome to the Monday Night RAW!!!

[khaled1987]

Luka and Gaff both say "we'll play together again"


Which all but tells me Gaff is out of here this summer, most likely to the Lakers, in some convoluted 3 team deal.

I heard we will play again, which says nothing as they are in the same conference and will probably play against each other at least few times.
Even as "again" doesn't say that much, they are 26 and there is always a chance their path will cross again.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I heard we will play again, which says nothing as they are in the same conference and will probably play against each other at least few times.
Even as "again" doesn't say that much, they are 26 and there is always a chance their path will cross again.

Agreed. I didn't hear "together" at all.  They're in the same conference., so they'll play again is what I took from it.

[Chicagojk]

There was talk about Gafford joining the Slovenian national team too.

Lakers don't have the assets for Gafford. LOL I guess I shouldn't say that. I am interested what his salary range is. Do mavs extend or does he hit free agency after next year? I assume he is more than the MLE, right?

[FireNicoHarrison]

There was talk about Gafford joining the Slovenian national team too. 

Lakers don't have the assets for Gafford.  LOL I guess I shouldn't say that.  I am interested what his salary range is.  Do mavs extend or does he hit free agency after next year?  I assume he is more than the MLE, right?

Lakers didn't have the assets for Luka too hahahahahah

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Lakers didn't have the assets for Luka too hahahahahah

Yes, they did. The Mavs just blew it. No way I don't come away with Reaves, or Hachimura and their other 1st round pick in addition to AD and Christie.

[hakeemfaan]

Yes, they did. The Mavs just blew it. No way I don't come away with Reaves, or Hachimura and their other 1st round pick in addition to AD and Christie.

No they didn’t. Even Reaves and whatever else they threw in is underwhelming to me.  There are other younger players on other teams who are much better and have a chance to be even better. I would even go for max picks and see if we hit on one of those. 

Lakers really didn’t have anything that should have got them a talent like Luka in his prime.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

No they didn’t. Even Reaves and whatever else they threw in is underwhelming to me.  There are other younger players on other teams  who are much better and have a chance to be even better. I would even go for max picks and see if we hit on one of those. 

Lakers really didn’t have anything that should have got them a talent like Luka in his prime.

That's fair, but also your opinion. What I suggested was far better than what they received. Reaves is not a scrub, and the other 1st may have been underwhelming to you, but when they just decided to a secret deal with one team, all bets were off. They should have gotten more from the Lakers, or no deal. If they allowed other teams to get involved, then I can see your point. But they didn't.

[Scott41theMavs]

No they didn’t. Even Reaves and whatever else they threw in is underwhelming to me.  There are other younger players on other teams  who are much better and have a chance to be even better. I would even go for max picks and see if we hit on one of those. 

Lakers really didn’t have anything that should have got them a talent like Luka in his prime.

They had Nico.

[hakeemfaan]

That's fair, but also your opinion. What I suggested was far better than what they received. Reaves is not a scrub, and the other 1st may have been underwhelming to you, but when they just decided to a secret deal with one team, all bets were off. They should have gotten more from the Lakers, or no deal. If they allowed other teams to get involved, then I can see your point. But they didn't.

I agree with that. They should have got Reaves, another pick and Rui than what they ended up with. It’s just that I feel even with all that it is very underwhelming and there were many other better trading partners to be had.  The whole narrative of Luka forcing their hand if they couldn’t agree to the supermax and them getting even less than AD and Christie is sillly. That was a terrible haul and Pelinka fleeced Nico.  Worse than fleecing his “friend” was Pelinka’s camp leaking how Reaves and another first was part of the initial package and Pelinka talked Nico into taking less due to Luka’s drinking issues. Total clown show from Nico and Dumont.

[cow]

Lakers other FRP should have come to us. Reeves should be playing for another team that isn't the Lakers/Mavs and the draft compensation should have come to us. Same for Rui. Knecht should be a Mav. And even then, the trade would not have been enough.

[Chicagojk]

BTW, I don't think Reeves was ever part of the negotiaion. At least of what has leaked. The report was Knecht and another first was originally in the discussions with AD and Max. That was pulled back because....well nevermind. I am not that high on Knecht but this team could have used shooting. At least you probably could have gotten a first for him if you didn't want him on your roster.

Obviously the Lakers gave up way too little, no question about that.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Lakers other FRP should have come to us.  Reeves should be playing for another team that isn't the Lakers/Mavs and the draft compensation should have come to us.  Same for Rui.  Knecht should be a Mav.  And even then, the trade would not have been enough.

So you'd rather have Knecht instead of Reaves?

[FireNicoHarrison]

That's fair, but also your opinion. What I suggested was far better than what they received. Reaves is not a scrub, and the other 1st may have been underwhelming to you, but when they just decided to a secret deal with one team, all bets were off. They should have gotten more from the Lakers, or no deal. If they allowed other teams to get involved, then I can see your point. But they didn't.

From "far Better" to "Luka trade value" is a long path... Fakers didn't have the assets to trade for Luka.

Luka worths more that their entire roster and last year PO run is still there.

[cow]

So you'd rather have Knecht instead of Reaves?

You still have to make the salary cap work.  The point is that Nico should have drained every possible asset from the Lakers and didn't.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

You still have to make the salary cap work.  The point is that Nico should have drained every possible asset from the Lakers and didn't.

That's what I said earlier in the thread. Nobody to blame but himself and Dumont, who allowed him to pull the trigger.