Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[mavsmagic]

Random fact (not opinion):

the idea that trading for AD 40+ games into the season can be advertised as a „win now“ move is - sry - absolutely idiotic.

We talk about chemistry and continuity around here all the time when it comes to the nuances of building a championship team. You don’t throw that type of grenade into your locker room, change basically your entire offense in february and get to paint this as a move that helps you win immediately. Kyrie and Luka were a great fit but even those two needed some time together to figure out their roles. Growing pains are unavoidable under those circumstances.

There is not a single angle from where this trade makes sense. It’s already blowing up in their faces now with Davis getting injured (like he regularly does). We’ll be the AD New Orleans Pelicans soon. Some solid names on paper but ultimately outmatched in a brutal western conference.  

And from 2027 to 2030 it will be even worse bc not even the tank will be able to give us any resemblance of hope.

Heck and by July Kyrie will have them backed into a corner. Without him this roster breaks down entirely. He’ll be able to demand everything from Harrison and Dumont during his contract negotiations. The moment he leaves there is no way for DAL to replace him.

Yeah especially a trade of this magnitude. How could they not have thought about the chaos this throws the team into? It puts so much pressure on the team and puts them in an impossible situation. None of it makes any sense. I really don’t buy that the issues with Luka were that bad that they couldn’t have figured out a way to make things work or at the very least wait until after the season

[SleepingHero]

REPORT: Nico Harrison refused to give Luka $350M supermax deal due to his on/off-court discipline, per
@TheSteinLine


“It was largely Harrison, who has increasingly believed since the Mavericks’ one-sided loss to the Celtics in the NBA Finals, that Dončić: Would not improve his commitment to conditioning, his off-court dietary discipline. Would not improve as a leader or culture-setter. Would not improve his well-chronicled comportment issues with referees. Would not be able to stay healthy as he got older. And thus could not, after the Mavericks and Dončić grappled with these issues since Harrison arrived in June 2021, be given the five-year supermax deal worth nearly $350 million that he was expecting in July.”

[HAL 9000]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4376...relocating

Doesn’t look like moving the team was a motivation.

Doesn’t look like cheapness was a motivation.

Maybe they really, truly thought it was the best basketball decision.

This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Can we rescind the trade?

[SleepingHero]

Can we rescind the trade?

*Monkey Paw Curls*

Wish Granted. Trade rescinded. Nico then calls up the Lakers and asks for the same exact trade, but chooses not to include Christie and adds in our 2025 FRP.


Ok never mind this was too mean to even write out

[ThisIStheYear]

Well whatever merit the pro trade argument had just went out the window. This may be the least contentious issue in the history of Mavs talk. Didn’t take long to get a resolution. This is what you get trading for an older, injury prone player. It’s a risk even when you’re sending out a poopoo platter and picks. It’s lunacy when you’re sending out a young player on track to be top 3-5 all time on offense.

[KillerLeft]

HoosierDaddy posted this in a different thread. Outside of the confusing first paragraph, it's a pretty good summation of many of the events that followed this trade, but the reason I'm re-posting here is the video from the Draymond Green podcast towards the end:

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Ar...on-course/

He's basically saying what we've been circling around here for a while. The 2nd Apron kind of IS a hard cap. I realize most here would've Super Max'd Luka without hesitation and then sold off anything/everything else to get under (because you'd have fairly quickly realized your team MUST get under), but I think basically what we learned here is that the Mavs decision makers didn't think they'd be able to build a good team that way. 

Draymond says in the clip that we might start seeing more and more trades like this. I wonder how true that is. Kind of hard to predict, when it comes to those top, top guys. Are some of them worth the super max? Maybe. Will some of them be willing to take less than the super max? Maybe. 

Sucks that this happened to us in Dallas first. I think we were all so jazzed that Luka's first six years went well enough to qualify for the super max so young that we kind of forgot to worry about this. I've been focused on selling off good pieces (starting with Gafford) for expiring contracts and picks to get rookie contracts because I just ASSUMED Luka's super max was a done deal, but maybe this possibility should've been on our radar, in hindsight.

[mvossman]

Its hard not to think what could have been if Cuban had made the responsible decision and hired a legit GM candidate like Linsey instead of Nico. We probably extend Brunson instead of let him walk. We probably make a KP trade but more likely in the offseason and for a better perceived return (although it wouldn't be great). We probably don't do the Kyrie trade. We probably get a legit starting center a lot sooner. It could go a lot of ways, but I could see the roster being something like: Hartenstein/DFS/PJ/Luka/Brunson with a bench of Gafford/Naji/Grimes/Exum. Of course it probably still has Powell and Maxi on it. That is probably a contender and we likely have more assets then we currently do.

[mvossman]

HoosierDaddy posted this in a different thread. Outside of the confusing first paragraph, it's a pretty good summation of many of the events that followed this trade, but the reason I'm re-posting here is the video from the Draymond Green podcast towards the end:

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Ar...on-course/

He's basically saying what we've been circling around here for a while. The 2nd Apron kind of IS a hard cap. I realize most here would've Super Max'd Luka without hesitation and then sold off anything/everything else to get under (because you'd have fairly quickly realized your team MUST get under), but I think basically what we learned here is that the Mavs decision makers didn't think they'd be able to build a good team that way. 

Draymond says in the clip that we might start seeing more and more trades like this. I wonder how true that is. Kind of hard to predict, when it comes to those top, top guys. Are some of them worth the super max? Maybe. Will some of them be willing to take less than the super max? Maybe. 

Sucks that this happened to us in Dallas first. I think we were all so jazzed that Luka's first six years went well enough to qualify for the super max so young that we kind of forgot to worry about this. I've been focused on selling off good pieces (starting with Gafford) for expiring contracts and picks to get rookie contracts because I just ASSUMED Luka's super max was a done deal, but maybe this possibility should've been on our radar, in hindsight.

Seems like with the new restrictive CBA the supermax concept is broken.

[KillerLeft]

Its hard not to think what could have been if Cuban had made the responsible decision and hired a legit GM candidate like Linsey instead of Nico.

Cuban didn't care about hiring a GM, because he believed HE'D always be the GM, basically. 

If there's one silver lining in all of this, it's that the franchise is officially moving away from that guy. Dumont is very likely everyone's least favorite guy in the world right now, next to Harrison, maybe, but I don't get the feeling Harrison has a lifetime contract like Donnie Nelson kind of did, do you? If/when there's a GM change, THAT's something I can envision someone like Dumont taking very seriously and possibly getting right. 

I know I'm really reaching for the positive here, but...

[mvossman]

Cuban didn't care about hiring a GM, because he believed HE'D always be the GM, basically. 

If there's one silver lining in all of this, it's that the franchise is officially moving away from that guy. Dumont is very likely everyone's least favorite guy in the world right now, next to Harrison, maybe, but I don't get the feeling Harrison has a lifetime contract like Donnie Nelson kind of did, do you? If/when there's a GM change, THAT's something I can envision someone like Dumont taking very seriously and possibly getting right. 

I know I'm really reaching for the positive here, but...

If that's true, how long before he pulls the trigger on Nico?  I greatly fear an all in KD move.  After the insane backlash and AD injury disaster, he has plenty of reason to do it at end of season (but his recent comments on Luka not having work effort like Shaq and the vacation comment don't have me very hopeful).

[KillerLeft]

I greatly fear an all in KD move.

Before I even respond, I admit we're "through the looking glass" now, so I don't feel confident making any prediction or arguing against anyone else's prediction. I feel less confident about that kind of thing than I have in a long time. But...

I don't think we need to worry about trading for KD. I think he's a little long in the tooth, even on this new time line. I think his contract is a little too difficult to trade for, particularly in light of the conversation we were just having about the new CBA, and KD is known for responding "offense wins championships" anytime "defense wins championships" comes up on twitter. The last one is tongue in cheek, but it's really a thing I've seen him say with confidence. 

I don't think he'll be the target. But, a week and a half ago, I'd have laughed at the idea that Luka was about to be traded, so...

[KillerLeft]

Here's a question:

Cuban is saying all the right things right now, a little off the radar, and without overtly bashing his new partners too much, but he has found little ways of making it clear he wouldn't have done this. Did he see this coming? Is that one of the reasons he sold?

Think about the news that the Celtics were potentially to be sold coming out like a week after they won the Finals. That was about looking forward to this 2nd apron Hell, realizing they'd have to tear down a championship team, and not wanting to be the most hated men in Boston, if you believe most people's interpretation of that news (though I admit I haven't followed the story much since this season started).

Did Cuban just not want to be the guy who A) traded Luka to avoid giving him the super max or B) couldn't build a decent team around a super max'd Luka due to those 2nd apron problems (or even just a lack of funds in general)?

Serious question.

[SleepingHero]

Cuban didn't care about hiring a GM, because he believed HE'D always be the GM, basically. 

If there's one silver lining in all of this, it's that the franchise is officially moving away from that guy. Dumont is very likely everyone's least favorite guy in the world right now, next to Harrison, maybe, but I don't get the feeling Harrison has a lifetime contract like Donnie Nelson kind of did, do you? If/when there's a GM change, THAT's something I can envision someone like Dumont taking very seriously and possibly getting right. 

I know I'm really reaching for the positive here, but...

Nothing Dumont or Adelson has done in the 12 months of ownership has given me any kind of confidence that they will nail a replacement GM hiring.


This is the same guy that okay’ed this Luka trade. And listen if you want to make the worst possible choice and trade Luka, at least get a crazy return when you do it.

That’s why I am totally convinced when, not if, Nico is fired, the first dude that schmoozes Dumont with whatever fancy basketball lingo they use will be hired. Because Dumont doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

[mvossman]

Here's a question:

Cuban is saying all the right things right now, a little off the radar, and without overtly bashing his new partners too much, but he has found little ways of making it clear he wouldn't have done this. Did he see this coming? Is that one of the reasons he sold?

Think about the news that the Celtics were potentially to be sold coming out like a week after they won the Finals. That was about looking forward to this 2nd apron Hell, realizing they'd have to tear down a championship team, and not wanting to be the most hated men in Boston, if you believe most people's interpretation of that news (though I admit I haven't followed the story much since this season started).

Did Cuban just not want to be the guy who A) traded Luka to avoid giving him the super max or B) couldn't build a decent team around a super max'd Luka due to those 2nd apron problems (or even just a lack of funds in general)?

Serious question.

I'm going to go with lack of funds in general.  I don't think it was on Cuban's radar to even think of trading Luka.  He might have been concerned about future tax, but he could have easily gone down the Boston owner route and possibly gotten a championship before the tax bills started really pilling up and then sold out.

[numnuts23]

So what would have the cap situation been like after the Super Max deal started and who would have been left on the roster?
I know what the figure would have been for Luka, but will the Super Max deal really gut a team like they seem to be implying now?

[Jym]

So what would have the cap situation been like after the Super Max deal started and who would have been left on the roster? 
I know what the figure would have been for Luka, but will the Super Max deal really gut a team like they seem to be implying now?

Here are the numbers.
For reference Davis makes $63 million in 2027-28. 

[SleepingHero]

So what would have the cap situation been like after the Super Max deal started and who would have been left on the roster? 
I know what the figure would have been for Luka, but will the Super Max deal really gut a team like they seem to be implying now?

If Luka got his 35% max cap deal in the summer, he’d have started 2026 on his new deal. That would’ve put him at an estimated starting salary of 55 mil and a total contract of around 315 million for 5 years. 

Now again, these are estimated numbers, but today the estimated cap numbers for next year is 154,647,000. The luxury tax is 187,895,000, the 1st apron is 195,945,000 and the 2nd apron is 207,824,000

Let’s assume the Mavs will do everything in their power to stay below the 2nd apron, and really the 1st apron as well so they can sign MLE guys, make SnT’s and just be free from restrictive rules. That means they are operating on a hard cap of 195,945,000.

Depending on what Kyrie’s extension is, and again, I’m going to assume a modest pay increase, the teams total salary BEFORE Luka’s supermax deal is at 159,942,426. This is with Kyrie on a deal that starts him at 44 mil. 

Add in Luka’s deal, and the teams salary balloons to 214,068,806. Over the 2nd apron and would have to lose roughly 7 mil to get below it.

But want to know the real sick twist with this? The Mavs are still currently in this position because AD is on a 35% max deal right now. The same exact number Luka would’ve started at next year is what AD is going to be paid. So this team is going to be a 2nd apron team regardless of Luka getting his max deal.

This trade was never about avoiding the tax or anything. It was solely because they did not like Luka.

[Jym]

If Luka got his 35% max cap deal in the summer, he’d have started 2026 on his new deal. That would’ve put him at an estimated starting salary of 55 mil and a total contract of around 315 million for 5 years. 

Now again, these are estimated numbers, but today the estimated cap numbers for next year is 154,647,000. The luxury tax is 187,895,000, the 1st apron is 195,945,000 and the 2nd apron is 207,824,000

Let’s assume the Mavs will do everything in their power to stay below the 2nd apron, and really the 1st apron as well so they can sign MLE guys, make SnT’s and just be free from restrictive rules. That means they are operating on a hard cap of 195,945,000.

Depending on what Kyrie’s extension is, and again, I’m going to assume a modest pay increase, the teams total salary BEFORE Luka’s supermax deal is at 159,942,426. This is with Kyrie on a deal that starts him at 44 mil. 

Add in Luka’s deal, and the teams salary balloons to 214,068,806. Over the 2nd apron and would have to lose roughly 7 mil to get below it.

But want to know the real sick twist with this? The Mavs are still currently in this position because AD is on a 35% max deal right now. The same exact number Luka would’ve started at next year is what AD is going to be paid. So this team is going to be a 2nd apron team regardless of Luka getting his max deal.

This trade was never about avoiding the tax or anything. It was solely because they did not like Luka.

Yeah assuming Davis is any good still, he'll be making $60+ mil a year himself on that next contract

[DanSchwartzgan]

If Luka got his 35% max cap deal in the summer, he’d have started 2026 on his new deal. That would’ve put him at an estimated starting salary of 55 mil and a total contract of around 315 million for 5 years. 

 

This trade was never about avoiding the tax or anything. It was solely because they did not like Luka.

One of the underreported aspects of this from LA's perspective is they don't really have a financial advantage over anyone now that the Super Max is off the table.  Luka won't sign a five year extension.  He'll sign for long enough to get to 10 years of service with a PO after that.  So, the PO year plus two gets him to 10 and he'll take another year after that for protection purposes only.

So, LA's ability to go five years with larger raises is meaningless.  I'm not saying Luka isn't likely to stay with LA.  But, it isn't guaranteed and they have almost no advantage over other teams.  That is why they were able to remove the 2031 pick from the deal.