Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Probably the best, most level headed perspective on this I've seen so far:

https://youtu.be/bq2_Gmp3y8k?si=wTuMgJhii2j7fzRy

It's honestly crazy to me that everyone in the NBA sphere has witnessed his behavior for years now and no one would call him out on it, other than Windhorst.  Everyone treats him like a child whole tantrums are cute, instead of as a professional.  I think of the vitriol James Harden got from 29 other fanbases and the national media as a guy not serious about winning.

[KillerLeft]

It's honestly crazy to me that everyone in the NBA sphere has witnessed his behavior for years now and no one would call him out on it, other than Windhorst.  Everyone treats him like a child whole tantrums are cute, instead of as a professional.  I think of the vitriol James Harden got from 29 other fanbases and the national media as a guy not serious about winning.

Well, fwiw, there are 3 ways this plays out from here, imho:

1) Being a Laker gets him the friendliest whistle of all time, and this problem just sort of goes away, no personal growth required.

2) This "wake up call" for Luka kick starts his maturation and we all wonder why Harrison didn't stick it out (duh). 

3) Luka pulls the same tired act in LA, in which case I promise it's all anyone will talk about. Ever.

[SleepingHero]

Well, fwiw, there are 3 ways this plays out from here, imho:

1) Being a Laker gets him the friendliest whistle of all time, and this problem just sort of goes away, no personal growth required.

2) This "wake up call" for Luka kick starts his maturation and we all wonder why Harrison didn't stick it out (duh). 

3) Luka pulls the same tired act in LA, in which case I promise it's all anyone will talk about. Ever.

1) is guaranteed to happen. Luka is about to average 15 free throws a game.


2) is definitely going to happen. Luka thrives off of adversity. He still barked at Vlade Divac for passing up on him last season!!

3) he probably will continue to just be Luka. Because guess what? It’s always worked. He literally went to the finals not just 8 months ago despite all of his “issues” 

I hate it. I hope the home game Saturday is such a massive protest.

[DallasMaverick]

It's honestly crazy to me that everyone in the NBA sphere has witnessed his behavior for years now and no one would call him out on it, other than Windhorst.  Everyone treats him like a child whole tantrums are cute, instead of as a professional.  I think of the vitriol James Harden got from 29 other fanbases and the national media as a guy not serious about winning.

It's a significant risk on Pelinka's part. Can he salvage Luka?

One could argue that his career was more at risk than Nico's, prior to the trade.

There's a couple of things that might change Luka's path.  I'm guessing these were discussed between Pelinka and Nico:

1. The ongoing mentorship of uber-disciplined LeBron, and

2. The shock value of being traded away by a franchise that has lost faith in you.

BTW, when I read reports about Luka's conditioning being a primary factor in Dallas' willingness to trade him, my initial thought was that Dallas had leaked that in order to placate their fan base.  Now, I'm wondering if Pelinka was the one, primarily as a motivator to Luka to start taking his personal discipline seriously.

[KillerLeft]

I hope the home game Saturday is such a massive protest.

I kind of hope that happens, too, but I don't think we live in a world where the Harrison types are ever held accountable by the fan types. 

And, for the record, I have been very vocal about how "make believe" of a franchise this has been under Mark Cuban's leadership. I've wanted "real" owners and a "real" GM who's empowered to do his job around here for a very long time. 95% of me stands by that wish, but if I'm being honest, I kind of think these guys (current owner and GM) would've traded Dirk after 2007. This is a case in which Cuban's way might have worked better, because he 100000% wouldn't have done this Luka trade. 

Time will tell whether or not getting out of the Luka Doncic business is the right thing to do, but I think it's pretty clear that either A) the GM and governor of this team don't understand what they've just done to their fans or B) they don't care. I have to admit, that part of this feels pretty bad, and in a way I never felt with Cuban at the wheel.

[Jym]

I kind of hope that happens, too, but I don't think we live in a world where the Harrison types are ever held accountable by the fan types. 

And, for the record, I have been very vocal about how "make believe" of a franchise this has been under Mark Cuban's leadership. I've wanted "real" owners and a "real" GM who's empowered to do his job around here for a very long time. 95% of me stands by that wish, but if I'm being honest, I kind of think these guys (current owner and GM) would've traded Dirk after 2007. This is a case in which Cuban's way might have worked better, because he 100000% wouldn't have done this Luka trade. 

Time will tell whether or not getting out of the Luka Doncic business is the right thing to do, but I think it's pretty clear that either A) the GM and governor of this team don't understand what they've just done to their fans or B) they don't care. I have to admit, that part of this feels pretty bad, and in a way I never felt with Cuban at the wheel.

Cubes and Donnie were pretty incompetent but at least they loved/respected the Mavs and the fans

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Well, fwiw, there are 3 ways this plays out from here, imho:

1) Being a Laker gets him the friendliest whistle of all time, and this problem just sort of goes away, no personal growth required.

2) This "wake up call" for Luka kick starts his maturation and we all wonder why Harrison didn't stick it out (duh). 

3) Luka pulls the same tired act in LA, in which case I promise it's all anyone will talk about. Ever.

Oh I am terrified it is going to be #2

[Smitty]

Quote from dallaskid on discord:

"Kyrie came to this organization under the impression that everyone was treated like family. Now he sees that Nico is just like everyone else: a snake"


We haven't seen or heard from Kyrie since the trade. He wasn't in the loop on any of this since Nico went rogue. Do we have to consider the possibility that Kyrie will be gone soon also?

[Deebo]

Quote from dallaskid on discord:

"Kyrie came to this organization under the impression that everyone was treated like family. Now he sees that Nico is just like everyone else: a snake"


We haven't seen or heard from Kyrie since the trade. He wasn't in the loop on any of this since Nico went rogue. Do we have to consider the possibility that Kyrie will be gone soon also?

He might sign with the lakers offseason honestly.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I wonder if the Adelsons could sue Nico.

Like if the drop from profits is so severe, and his move considered SO reckless, that it opens him up to some form of malpractice for not operating in the best interest in the franchise.

I know for public companies CEO's can't just openly tank a stock like that. I know the Mavs aren't a public company, but the owners hopefully are about to get absolutely fucked 2 ways from sunday in terms of ticket sales, jersey sales, and general interest in the team.

Business incompetence is not illegal.  Otherwise, Trump would still be in prison for Atlantic City.

[KillerLeft]

We haven't seen or heard from Kyrie since the trade. He wasn't in the loop on any of this since Nico went rogue. Do we have to consider the possibility that Kyrie will be gone soon also?

For me, this doesn't change anything, either way. I know that sounds crazy, but here's where I am with it: 

I have grown to respect Kyrie, and after being horrified by the trade to bring him in, I've come around completely. I'm glad they made that trade (less so now, but that's not his fault). He's a hell of a player, too. 

However, I don't consider Kyrie "a Maverick," at least not to an extent that makes me want to root for the team. My allegiance, at this point, is based on decades of Mavs fandom. There really isn't a "star" here I care about anymore. I love Lively and PJW, and I suppose I can grow to love some others who are here, but I now feel as I would've felt after Dirk's retirement had Luka not overlapped with him, despite Kyrie and AD being on the team. 

Further, I do not believe that Kyrie and AD are the nucleus of a championship team, so while I'll probably watch to see how all this plays out, I am expecting this not to result in a championship. It honestly doesn't matter to me whether we figure out it won't work this summer, by the next trade deadline, whatever. I'm already there in my heart.

[Jym]

Quote from dallaskid on discord:

"Kyrie came to this organization under the impression that everyone was treated like family. Now he sees that Nico is just like everyone else: a snake"


We haven't seen or heard from Kyrie since the trade. He wasn't in the loop on any of this since Nico went rogue. Do we have to consider the possibility that Kyrie will be gone soon also?

No one should hold it against him if he bails this summer
Actually he SHOULD if the money is anything similar. The Mavs clearly are not to be trusted

[SleepingHero]

Business incompetence is not illegal.  Otherwise, Trump would still be in prison for Atlantic City.

It’s not. But you can civically sue anyone in America for practically anything. And the Adelsons might be tempted to if their bottom line is affected like I hope it will be affected.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

It's a significant risk on Pelinka's part. Can he salvage Luka?

One could argue that his career was more at risk than Nico's, prior to the trade.

There's a couple of things that might change Luka's path.  I'm guessing these were discussed between Pelinka and Nico:

1. The ongoing mentorship of uber-disciplined LeBron, and

2. The shock value of being traded away by a franchise that has lost faith in you.

BTW, when I read reports about Luka's conditioning being a primary factor in Dallas' willingness to trade him, my initial thought was that Dallas had leaked that in order to placate their fan base.  Now, I'm wondering if Pelinka was the one, primarily as a motivator to Luka to start taking his personal discipline seriously.

"Salvage" Luka?  That's a bit extreme.  Dude is a walking 30pt triple double and perennial MVP candidate.

I love Barkley's story about Moses Malone calling him a fat ass and that he'll never be great until he gets into shape.  Barkley lost 50 lbs.  Now take that with a player incredibly more talented.  Luka is already on the road to the HOF, but if he could get into the best possible shape for him, he could be an alltime great.

Lebron has to make Luka his grasshopper.  No one in the history of professional sports has physically beaten father time like Lebron.  Luka can choose to go that route and become an alltime great, or just become a HOFer on his current path.

[Deebo]

It’s not. But you can civically sue anyone in America for practically anything. And the Adelsons might be tempted to if their bottom line is affected like I hope it will be affected.

The owner doesn’t care about the Mavs or loyalty.  Cuban is the blame for selling to outsiders.

[DallasMaverick]

It’s not. But you can civically sue anyone in America for practically anything. And the Adelsons might be tempted to if their bottom line is affected like I hope it will be affected.

Nah. Fans have short memories.

Remember Kobe's rape / Colorado thing?  Just perform well, and all is forgotten. Now, he's pretty much achieved sainthood.

If the Mavs continue to win, they'll continue to sell out their arena.  Yes, fans will complain and moan and decry the "good old days", but they'll continue to watch anyway.

It's human nature. We love a winner.

[DallasMaverick]

"Salvage" Luka?  That's a bit extreme.  Dude is a walking 30pt triple double and perennial MVP candidate.

I love Barkley's story about Moses Malone calling him a fat ass and that he'll never be great until he gets into shape.  Barkley lost 50 lbs.  Now take that with a player incredibly more talented.  Luka is already on the road to the HOF, but if he could get into the best possible shape for him, he could be an alltime great.

Lebron has to make Luka his grasshopper.  No one in the history of professional sports has physically beaten father time like Lebron.  Luka can choose to go that route and become an alltime great, or become a HOFer on his current path.

I suspect that Luka has heard a similar message (like Moses Malone to Barkley) many, many times over the past few years. Probably from many voices within the organization.  Fin, Dirk, Nico, Kidd.

But it hasn't been enough to motivate him to change.

Maybe LeBron plus being traded will finally get through.

...and it's not like Pelinka was unaware of all that history, either.  It's not like selling a used car with a blown head gasket to an unsuspecting buyer.

And knowing Nico's long relationship, I suspect he provided full disclosure to Pelinka. But Pelinka obiously believed it was worth the risk.

[BigDirk41]

Nah. Fans have short memories.

Remember Kobe's rape / Colorado thing?  Just perform well, and all is forgotten. Now, he's pretty much achieved sainthood.

If the Mavs continue to win, they'll continue to sell out their arena.  Yes, fans will complain and moan and decry the "good old days", but they'll continue to watch anyway.

It's human nature. We love a winner.

This one isn't blowing over and the Kobe thing is irrelevant. He stayed in LA. What is your official position with the Mavs? You clearly work for them.

[DallasMaverick]

This one isn't blowing over and the Kobe thing is irrelevant. He stayed in LA. What is your official position with the Mavs? You clearly work for them.

Chief Balancing Officer.

Trying to balance all the knee-jerk, doom-and-gloomers in the fanverse.j

[KillerLeft]

Chief Balancing Officer.

Trying to balance all the knee-jerk, doom-and-gloomers in the fanverse.j

Dude, they just traded a 25-yo Luka Doncic, coming off of a trip to the finals and five straight 1st team All NBA seasons. I mean, it's one thing to be pro management, but sometimes you have to let folks experience a little doom and gloom, because sometimes, that's the appropriate response.