03-15-2025, 09:35 AM
(03-15-2025, 09:11 AM)hakeemfaan Wrote: They have already lost. I said it the day he was traded that if Luka injured himself day 1 and never played again, the Mavs still lost because at the moment they traded him away they could have got much more than they did. You can never make up for that. Also the Mavs have never been a free agent Mecca or a place where disgruntled stars forced their team’s hands to play. Sure you might get an older KD, but even that is not guaranteed. He has better options now that Kyrie is hurt here.
Also this board tends to lean a bit older fanbase. Serious question..Do kids these days really care about rings? Even in the old days the kids who idolized AI and the Chuckster never thought less of them because they didn’t win a ring. Duncan had 4 titles and yet I doubt anyone in those days were pining to see him come to their town Luka is one of the few guaranteed box office draws Even rival city fans bought tickets to see him play. The Mavs have lost an entire generation of youngsters. I see it in my household and kids of many of my friends. A mercenary bought title, if that even happens, is not bringing them back. How do you quantify alll that based on just contracts and cap flexibility?
Nico and Dumont are new here. They might have good intentions but their understanding of what matters to fans seems totally disconnected. Welts who should know how a fanbase is connected to a generational star saying he didn’t realize the backlash that would come? Seriously? Also they all don’t have the historical knowledge of how this franchise is just another team and titles alone will never change that reality. Even if it tied their hands over the next 4 years, hitching on to the Luka bandwagon from age 26 to 30 would have kept this franchise relevant. Titles or not. Even Booker said as much when he said how it felt with Luka here vs not.
Anyway I see now that fans who were critical of Luka ( and I got criticized for countering them on this thread) are now promoting lakers fan forums here. Nice.
Accept that we have already lost this deal. That’s step one towards moving on. Step 2 would be Nico gone I don’t get how anyone can discuss the draft or FA when the trust is gone ina GM. One can call it as being negative. That’s fine. Once someone shows their true self, I tend to believe them. I will continue to root for this team. Not Luka. Not the Lakers. However, until Nico and Welts are gone I am not spending any money on this franchise anymore. I know they don’t care and that’s fine too.
Cuban centric Adelson accommodators blew the deal. . . . . sure they were newish, but gawdammit... shit! What a dumbass move! Mamaboy Pat Dumont is now face of the franchise!