Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[F Gump]

Exactly. I am still amazed how the organization allowed such a shortsided and to an extent irrational move to happen. I can understand Nico thinks Mavs are better with AD than with Luka. I don't agree, but I can understand. However, there are so many other aspects to the trade that seem to be totally ignored by Mavs decision makers and are now biting them:
- Luka is far bigger star than Davis - definite financial loss, both short and long term. This one was so easy to see that I simply can't understand how this was explained and accepted by decision makers. No titles would replace loss of income imho. 
- fan outrage. I can understand the idea about outrage being far lower, if Mavs would perform after the trade. But, that was a gamble Nico took and it didn't work his way. Injuries are unfortunately for him just a poor excuse. He went all in and didn't deliver. 
- long term aspect. Both Irving and Davis will be out of their prime in a couple of years. How do you pivot afterwards? Pivot with Luka on his supermax would be easy, unless he would totally fall apart injury wise. Something, I simply don't see as possible, as his game depends way more on skill than athleticism. 
- team was built for Luka, not Davis. With Davis in, "half of team" is playing out of position. PJ is a PF, not a SF. Klay is a SF, not a SG. Gafford and Lively are PnR centers and their value alone was immediately halved with Luka trade, imho. 

As I said before, I just don't think Mavs have a path forward with Nico. I understand he is begging for a two to three year window for his plan to produce results on the court (and be judged afterwards), but he simply neglected so many other aspects, that put Mavs in a situation where they are now. I don't think Mavs have a calm path forward with Nico. A couple of scenarios things could calm down seem very, very unrealistic to happen:
- Mavs win the lottery or
- Mavs have a historically great start of next season or
- Mavs make a huge "where did this come from" trade in the summer that would net them a star player without gutting the team

I understand firing Nico would be also an admission by Dumont that he screwed up and perhaps this would mean consequences for him, which is why he is reluctant to do it. This part I don't know anything about, so it is difficult to judge. Perhaps he can't say that he put trust on the wrong person who previous owner put in charge and will be much more careful going forward. That he understands and hears the fans and will start by firing Nico as a first step towards building a better future. Perhaps he just can't afford to say this.

Great analysis of this stupidity and where we are now. Thank you.

I would underscore one point that I think is crucial, and that I hope the Mavs owners figure out quickly. As you put it, "I just don't think Mavs have a path forward with Nico." Nico has no clue that the fanbase (your customers, you idiot!) is vitally important, more than anything else - what the Adelsons own is not an exercise in making a good team, but in making fans thrilled to like the Mavs and spending gobs of money in that quest. Nico hasn't made the 1st thing the 1st thing, and in fact doesn't even know that it exists as he keeps on insulting fans as not important! GM 101, grade F minus!

No REAL progress happens until Nico is shown the door. He has no clue.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/rocke...cic-trade/

Rocket's owner taking shots:

"I was in the White House in the Oval Office, with the Prime Minister of Italy and the President last Thursday. And we talked about the Houston Cougars, I promise you, for at least a minute and a half," Fertitta said. "And then we talked about that dumbass Luka Dončić trade."

LOL, shots fired.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Everytime Fakers lose a game is a good day.
Good night my friends.

[bubbler86]

Everytime Fakers lose a game is a good day.
Good night my friends.

Luka is slowing Bron down.    That does not mean they are done but it is not "Showtime" at this point.

[myconsumerclub]

lets just buy LA and move them to Dallas.

[BoredAssistant]

I think DFW could support another franchise but idk where it would be located (north side!) or if the Mavs would have to move to one side of the metroplex.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Luka is slowing Bron down.    That does not mean they are done but it is not "Showtime" at this point.

Luka-Reaves-Lebron is simply not a good back court.

[bubbler86]

Luka-Reaves-Lebron is simply not a good back court.

On the brink.  Will be the trade that ruined two teams post season chances in 2025 without a turn around.

[SleepingHero]

Luka did everything he could’ve. LeBron turns it over with 30s to go and the fouls Edwards.


Watch Luka still get the lions share of blame

[bubbler86]

Luka did everything he could’ve. LeBron turns it over with 30s to go and the fouls Edwards.


Watch Luka still get the lions share of blame

I am not blaming Luka, but the match-up of teammates seems bad right now.  Luka had the same number of turnovers as his combined rebounds, assists, and steals.    That is not the Luka who played for Dallas.    2 assists, 1 rebound?    Seems unfathomable that he could have a stat line like that playing 46 minutes.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Another great night for me, let's go Minny.
Finish the job.

Bye bye to all bandwagon fans went to Lakersball.com

[FireNicoHarrison]

On the brink.  Will be the trade that ruined two teams post season chances in 2025 without a turn around.

Fakers were trash before the trade and they are trash now, they were stuck in mediocrity with a bad roster and 2 old superstars.

The collusion saved them for next 10 years... But destroy the Mavs forever.

[FireNicoHarrison]

And Reaves is still useless in that roster like i said months ago... Luckily Pelinka is a stupid GM and can't understand it.

[david75090]

Luka was never good at jumping. He's worse now. No lift. Earth-bound. This version of Luka is not healthy. He's gutting it out for the sake of the team. It's not conditioning, it's injury.

[michaeltex]

Perlinka should be glad he got his extension before the playoffs started.

LAL fans griping about Luka's conditioning now...

https://athlonsports.com/nba/los-angeles...mberwolves

[FireNicoHarrison]

Perlinka should be glad he got his extension before the playoffs started.

LAL fans griping about Luka's conditioning now...

https://athlonsports.com/nba/los-angeles...mberwolves

I really hope he will not resign there so i can root for him again...

[rocky164]

I really hope he will not resign there so i can root for him again...

Really hoping for Denver. It would be amazing watch Luka and the Joker together

[Chicagojk]

job not done, but I have to give Minny a lot of credit. I haven't watched one game of the series, but they are playing well. I don't think this Minny team is better than last seasons team and I thought their window was pretty much closed for now. Maybe it is, but they have rebounded after a sort of rough start to the year and are playing their best ball.

Man, I was way out on McDaniels in that draft. I thought he was so bad as a freshman that he was fools gold. It just shows you that you can't write off these young freshman. Freaking Bob V. He had good players all over the board to pick in that draft. Ugh.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

job not done, but I have to give Minny a lot of credit.  I haven't watched one game of the series, but they are playing well.  I don't think this Minny team is better than last seasons team and I thought their window was pretty much closed for now.  Maybe it is, but they have rebounded after a sort of rough start to the year and are playing their best ball. 

Man, I was way out on McDaniels in that draft.  I thought he was so bad as a freshman that he was fools gold.  It just shows you that you can't write off these young freshman.  Freaking Bob V.  He had good players all over the board to pick in that draft.  Ugh.

McDaniel's has the length and was always considered to have the perfect frame to be a 3 & D guy with his 7'4 wingspan. The only thing missing was his offense. Well, he has improved drastically in that department.  I wonder what happened to his brother Jalen.  Is he still in the league?

[michaeltex]

Lakers appear to have the Mav's bagel problem from a few years ago...a big hole in the middle. It's not going to get fixed without using some assets, of which they don't have many.

Guess we'll see if Perlinka is actually worth the big extension.