Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[mavsmagic]

Naji’s post under Luka’s latest instagram post

https://x.com/miss77ela/status/1889234050558136738

[SleepingHero]

@KeithSmithNBA
None of this is a good look from the Mavericks. You can't blame the fans for being frustrated and angry. You can't dodge the media forever. You made the trade, now deal with the consequences and how fans feel about it like grownups and professionals.


Even the milquetoast cap expert of the NBA keith smith telling the Mavs front office how piss poor they are handling this

[hakeemfaan]

@KevinOConnorNBA
It’s actually so sad to see the Mavericks organization crumble. Ejecting passionate fans last night. Jason Kidd refusing to speak postgame. No medical update on Anthony Davis, the injured player you just acquired for your 25-year-old face of the franchise. Just disgraceful.

Dirk Nowitzki making it known he was in LA to watch Luka Doncic’s Lakers debut feels a lot like a statement against this new Dallas regime that has ruined everything for that incredible fan base.

Dumont mentioning  Shaq as an example of work ethic when this franchise literally had Dirk who he should have named first and foremost , seemed strange.  At that point I thought he was just clueless and didn’t have much basketball knowledge. 

Maybe it was not an accident and they reached out to Dirk also to help them with the PR post the trade and Dirk told them exactly how he felt.

[SleepingHero]

@DimeAlerts
REPORT: The Mavericks attempted to trade Luka Doncic to the Bucks and Timberwolves, per
@GeryWoelfel


“The Mavs reached out to the Bucks. But the Bucks made it clear to Mavs they wouldn’t trade Antetokounmpo even though his future with the team is murky.
As for the Timberwolves, it’s only logical that any potential deal between the Mavs and Timberwolves would have included Anthony Edwards, their ascending 23-year-old superstar.”

[numnuts23]

@DimeAlerts
REPORT: The Mavericks attempted to trade Luka Doncic to the Bucks and Timberwolves, per
@GeryWoelfel


“The Mavs reached out to the Bucks. But the Bucks made it clear to Mavs they wouldn’t trade Antetokounmpo even though his future with the team is murky.
As for the Timberwolves, it’s only logical that any potential deal between the Mavs and Timberwolves would have included Anthony Edwards, their ascending 23-year-old superstar.”

Somehow I doubt this was the case

[audiosway]

I watched some of the game last night and Luka moves like a middle aged dad at the Y playing pickup games. I was shocked how he looked last night. That being said, I think he'll play his way back into shape and move better, but I don't think he will ever move like he used to unless he makes a commitment to dropping 25 lbs or so and staying that way.

I watched that too. It was hard to watch. I can't believe he is moving like that at 25. It makes me wonder if there is more going on than we are being told. First thing I thought was "if he moves like this at 25 what is 28-29 going to look like?"

Like you, I think he will play himself into shape. But, wow it was shocking to see him like that.

[KillerLeft]

Somehow I doubt this was the case

I don't. This is the first we're hearing about the Timberwolves, but the Giannis thing was out there 48 hours after the trade happened.

[cow]

It could also be as simple as Nico calling those clubs and asking about the availability of Giannis or Ant before getting a response ranging from laughter to being hung up on. The conversations might not have even gotten as far as mentioning Luka.

[audiosway]

I don't. This is the first we're hearing about the Timberwolves, but the Giannis thing was out there 48 hours after the trade happened.

I think it's clear that they were looking for a 2 way superstar that puts in the work to trade Luka for. That's what they got. Granted he does have injury concerns.

Klay said something in the presser last night that I don't know if anyone caught.

He was talking about being a fan and understanding the fans frustration. He said "If I didn't agree with the trade I would probably voice my opinion too".

I've mentioned a few times that I thought the leaders of the team likely voiced it to Kidd and Nico as well and that brought everything to a head. Kidd and Nico had grown tired of Luka constantly complaining to the refs and lack of conditioning. That much is in the media voiced by both of them.

I have a feeling that Kyrie and Klay came forward to Kidd and Nico with the same concerns. That's when something had to be done or risk losing the team.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

INSANE that Lebron is 40

LeBron is the youngest player and the oldest player to have a 40-point triple-double in NBA history.   That's nuts.

[omahen]

Yes of course. So we are to believe that the same person who insisted for everything to be done in complete silence and even reduced the price so that Lakers wouldn't talk to Luka actually scanned "half" of the league for the trade. How conviniently this comes out after all the complaints about how the deal (as explained by the actors themselves!) was made...

[KillerLeft]

Yes of course. So we are to believe that the same person who insisted for everything to be done in complete silence and even reduced the price so that Lakers wouldn't talk to Luka actually scanned "half" of the league for the trade. How conviniently this comes out after all the complaints about how the deal (as explained by the actors themselves!) was made...

I don't think he scanned "half" the league, I think he prioritized Giannis or AD, was shut down (rightfully so) by Milwaukee and then accepted (rightfully so) by LA. 

No idea about the Minnesota thing - that's something new that is just being hinted at now. It could be like Cow said: they kicked the tires on Edwards without mentioning Luka, maybe? Either way, that would obviously be a terrible deal for both Milwaukee and Minnesota, as neither would have much hope of keeping Luka longterm, and in Milwaukee's case, they're very lucky Giannis has agreed to stay there as long as he has. They'd be insane to throw that away, even if they prefer Luka. 

Detractors of this trade will point out that Dallas was in a similar situation, and that's a valid point. But, despite not ever really being successful in FA before, the draw of DFW is nowhere near as hopeless as those other two teams. That's probably the craziest thing about this. For all the worrying we did a few years back regarding whether or not Luka would stay here longterm, it seems like his plan was to do exactly that, only the team had different ideas. Crazy, crazy times.

[omahen]

Nico himself said specifically that he didn't talk to anyone else but the Lakers. That this was the most important aspect of everything.

Seems to me this is just a poor attempt at damage control

[mvossman]

I think it's clear that they were looking for a 2 way superstar that puts in the work to trade Luka for. That's what they got. Granted he does have injury concerns.

Klay said something in the presser last night that I don't know if anyone caught.

He was talking about being a fan and understanding the fans frustration. He said "If I didn't agree with the trade I would probably voice my opinion too".

I've mentioned a few times that I thought the leaders of the team likely voiced it to Kidd and Nico as well and that brought everything to a head. Kidd and Nico had grown tired of Luka constantly complaining to the refs and lack of conditioning. That much is in the media voiced by both of them.

I have a feeling that Kyrie and Klay came forward to Kidd and Nico with the same concerns. That's when something had to be done or risk losing the team.

I took that to mean as a fan.  I really don't think he was suggesting he was pro trade.  Its possible the team was turning against Luka, but I am skeptical and I don't think that quote is strong evidence.

[KillerLeft]

Nico himself said specifically that he didn't talk to anyone else but the Lakers. That this was the most important aspect of everything.

Well, I think he lied about that. Not the worst thing he's done over the past fortnight, right?

[Jason Terry]

@KevinOConnorNBA
It’s actually so sad to see the Mavericks organization crumble. Ejecting passionate fans last night. Jason Kidd refusing to speak postgame. No medical update on Anthony Davis, the injured player you just acquired for your 25-year-old face of the franchise. Just disgraceful.

Dirk Nowitzki making it known he was in LA to watch Luka Doncic’s Lakers debut feels a lot like a statement against this new Dallas regime that has ruined everything for that incredible fan base.

We are officially the North Korea Mavs

Even pathetic Cuban who was long a proponent of voicing displeasure has jumped in on the authoritarianism demanding that fans “sit down and shut up”

Streisand Effect is real

It’s our duty to shout “Fire Nico” or “Sell the team” during free throws at home games. Just wait until you’re ready to get kicked out and do it

[omahen]

I took that to mean as a fan.  I really don't think he was suggesting he was pro trade.  Its possible the team was turning against Luka, but I am skeptical and I don't think that quote is strong evidence.

Also of note, that quote can be found in one source only. Rest of quotes of what Thompson said (several other articles reffereing to the same Thompson quote) don't include this. I couldn't find a video of it.

[mvossman]

We are officially the North Korea Mavs

Even pathetic Cuban who was long a proponent of voicing displeasure has jumped in on the authoritarianism demanding that fans “sit down and shut up”

Streisand Effect is real

It’s our duty to shout “Fire Nico” or “Sell the team” during free throws at home games. Just wait until you’re ready to get kicked out and do it

I got the impression that Cuban was pissed because they were doing it at a crucial time late in the game during Mavs free throws.  I got the impression he was more pissed about the disrespect to the current team (not that I often find myself excusing Cuban).

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

A couple of questions...

1. Did Nico ever think that AD "puts in the work" because he's always rehabbing his latest injury?

2. How could anyone think that Luka and Lebron wouldn't mesh? They're probably both top 10 alltime BBall IQ geniuses.

3. Does Jaxson Hayes have to give Luka half his paychecks now that Luka will make him look like a starting NBA center?

[cow]

I got the impression that Cuban was pissed because they were doing it at a crucial time late in the game during Mavs free throws.  I got the impression he was more pissed about the disrespect to the current team (not that I often find myself excusing Cuban).

Cuban of anyone on the planet has no right to tell anyone to keep their mouths shut.