MAVS NEWS:

[F Gump]

The thesis was that Nico is not concerned about long term impact and is only concerned about the next two or three years.  If the news is true that he was going hard for KD (which surely would have cost our last remaining future assets) then that thesis looks legit.  That is a two year window move that leaves this franchise in shambles for many years after.

I don't think there's anything amiss with the thesis of how Nico sees on-court window (ie it not being that long), just the claims that Nico sees himself as a short timer by choice. 

And I actually agree with Nico on the window to win being relatively short. The CBA forces constant turnover, and teams prospects don't necessarily last very long. That was Cubans stupid thinking in 2012. He wasnt smart enough to know that if you can win a title, get it now, not down the road, because tomorrow can be eroded or other teams can rise and get in the way. 

For example, look at this season, which started with BOS the strong favorite, and OKC and maybe DAL also on the cusp. But who saw any real threat from CLE, HOU, MEM? 

To speak to Luka, we have worked with an assumption that one day he will win a title. He started out way ahead, at 19. But the league has kinda passed him -- yes, the STATS are still flashy, but the efficiency and lack of defense are as bad as ever. We see him as the source of unstoppable offense, but in the Finals the Mavs lost because Luka's heliocentric offense was not unstoppable after all.

I like Luka, but that style has NEVER been good enough. To be real, Harden was the same player with about the same everything, and same results -- Harden never got a title, and is no one anymore.