Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[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.