Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[Dahlsim]

... 
..... So, only if Luka flames out AND the Mavs win a ring over the next 1-2 seasons will it even occur to anyone to let Harrison off of this hook, both locally and nationally. 

Good stuff.  In terms of Nico's thinking it looks from your points 1-3 we see it pretty much the same way. 

Honestly?
Mavs have to win a ring in next 2/3 years AND Luka not... So chanches are like 0. Zero.

Ultimately no, Harrison is done like GM in Dallas for me.
No way out.

The general idea that the Mavs must win AND Luka must fail, I can see but don't necessarily agree. 
I'd say IF the Mavs actually won an NBA championship, no matter whether Luka did or not, I don't think Nico would ever be a real Hero but I also don't necessarily see all fans holding him up a pure Villain either.  

... 
..... So, only if Luka flames out AND the Mavs win a ring over the next 1-2 seasons will it even occur to anyone to let Harrison off of this hook, both locally and nationally. 
The chances of winning an NBA championship are always pretty low, even when things go right, so the much smarter play would've been to continue building around Luka until either A) he won or B) the NBA/Mavs fan community arrived organically at the idea that it wasn't going to happen here. 

I think the chances that Harrison makes it to the other side of this mess are slim to none.

I agree of course that sticking with Luka was the smarter play for the franchise overall just based on the fact the Luka's age gives the franchise more bites at the apple than the 3 year or so window that Anthony Davis might yield.  The outlook for the shorter 3 year window may also have been better with Luka, but I'd say that much is at least debatable.  

But then from Nico's perspective again, he has said he's not looking at windows longer than the next few years.  From his perspective if the team has a realistic window now, they have to go all in to take their shot. 

Per the point KL made earlier Winning a championship is always a low probability for 90% of NBA teams. 
The Dallas Mavericks franchise has been in existence for 45 years and managed win what?  ONE Championship. 
If the team were to pull off only it's 2nd ever Championship its hard to imagine some of that shine not rubbing off on the GM that pulled it off, even if Luka Magic gets the chip also in LA.

[FireNicoHarrison]

The general idea that the Mavs must win AND Luka must fail, I can see but don't necessarily agree. 
I'd say IF the Mavs actually won an NBA championship, no matter whether Luka did or not, I don't think Nico would ever be a real Hero but I also don't necessarily see all fans holding him up a pure Villain either.  

Nico will be the villain here forever. No matter what.
Trade Luka in that way is not forgettable.

If Luka creates a dynasty ( everywhere, not just in LA) his public face will be done even the Mavs win a ring.

And like i said we are far away to be just a pretender so the chances are very very very small.

Probably Harrison will not survive to the next TDL at best.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Seems that Luka will play for Slovenia NT this summer, Fakers fans on Twitter are going crazy hahahahahahaha

[ThisIStheYear]

It’s amazing how just one person can take you from the penthouse to the outhouse so quickly. It happens all the time. You’d think the Mavs would learn even the lessons of their history and put in proper checks and balances. But, Dumont is a fool who married into success, so I guess it’s two people who ruined the Mavs. Just look at the return OKC got for trading Paul George or what Milwaukee is expected to get for Giannis. What Luka brought back pales in comparison. Nico received an aging asset that’s not as good to begin with so that he could work with his friend. Nico is an all time GM idiot.

In fairness though, Nico has a 1.8% chance of all of this working out for him, not 0% as some of you think. Maybe Nico can cook in the Lottery.

[WildArkieBoy]

It’s amazing how just one person can take you from the penthouse to the outhouse so quickly. It happens all the time. You’d think the Mavs would learn even the lessons of their history and put in proper checks and balances. But, Dumont is a fool who married into  , so I guess it’s two people who ruined the Mavs. Just look at the return OKC got for trading Paul George or what Milwaukee is expected to get for Giannis. What Luka brought back pales in comparison. Nico received an aging asset that’s not as good to begin with so that he could work with his friend. Nico is an all time GM idiot.

In fairness though, Nico has a 1.8% chance of all of this working out for him, not 0% as some of you think. Maybe Nico can cook in the Lottery.

Not implying that Nico is either gay or trans, but he does have an effeminate speaking style.  I'm not saying he couldn't sell shoes.

[SleepingHero]

Not implying that Nico is either gay or trans, but he does have an effeminate speaking style.  I'm not saying he couldn't sell shoes.

[michaeltex]

It’s amazing how just one person can take you from the penthouse to the outhouse so quickly. It happens all the time. You’d think the Mavs would learn even the lessons of their history and put in proper checks and balances. But, Dumont is a fool who married into success, so I guess it’s two people who ruined the Mavs. Just look at the return OKC got for trading Paul George or what Milwaukee is expected to get for Giannis. What Luka brought back pales in comparison. Nico received an aging asset that’s not as good to begin with so that he could work with his friend. Nico is an all time GM idiot.

In fairness though, Nico has a 1.8% chance of all of this working out for him, not 0% as some of you think. Maybe Nico can cook in the Lottery.

IF (big if) the Mav's hit the jackpot and get  the #1 pick, Nico will probably trade back with someone like Charlotte to bring in Ball... Or for CP3, wherever he's playing now.

All in the name of "winning" next season.

[ballsrchr]

IF (big if) the Mav's hit the jackpot and get  the #1 pick, Nico will probably trade back with someone like Charlotte to bring in Ball... Or for CP3, wherever he's playing now.

All in the name of "winning" next season.

Bite your tongue...

[Hooper21]

It’s amazing how just one person can take you from the penthouse to the outhouse so quickly. It happens all the time. You’d think the Mavs would learn even the lessons of their history and put in proper checks and balances. But, Dumont is a fool who married into success, so I guess it’s two people who ruined the Mavs. Just look at the return OKC got for trading Paul George or what Milwaukee is expected to get for Giannis. What Luka brought back pales in comparison. Nico received an aging asset that’s not as good to begin with so that he could work with his friend. Nico is an all time GM idiot.

In fairness though, Nico has a 1.8% chance of all of this working out for him, not 0% as some of you think. Maybe Nico can cook in the Lottery.

Even what the trades involving Mitchell, Gobert, or Bridges netted...

With all the noise directed toward Luka right now, anybody else think he might just play out his current contract, tell the NBA to piss off, and go back to Europe and play?  He's already made enough money to take care of his family for generations.

[BigDirk41]

Even what the trades involving Mitchell, Gobert, or Bridges netted...

With all the noise directed toward Luka right now, anybody else think he might just play out his current contract, tell the NBA to piss off, and go back to Europe and play?  He's already made enough money to take care of his family for generations.

Luka will either come back in phenomenal shape and become the player we all envisioned or come back out of shape and be out of the league by the time he's 30. I personally think he comes back on a mission to prove everyone wrong. I don't think he'll look like LeBron, but the guy needs to lose 25 pounds or more. He's really big. He's even fat in the face and neck area now. He needs to come back with actual muscle definition and kick ass.

[WildArkieBoy]

Luka will either come back in phenomenal shape and become the player we all envisioned or come back out of shape and be out of the league by the time he's 30. I personally think he comes back on a mission to prove everyone wrong. I don't think he'll look like LeBron, but the guy needs to lose 25 pounds or more. He's really big. He's even fat in the face and neck area now. He needs to come back with actual muscle definition and kick ass.

If DNA is still considered part of science, Luka will look like his dad, Sasa, not exactly svelte, but not someone you'd want to meet in a dark ally.  

wab

[Reunion Mav]

My opinion about all of this has oscillated so extremely and frequently since February, mostly because the realization of what this change means has come in layered waves. 

Where I think I fall at this point, hopefully at the end of the absorbing process (at least the initial one), is kind of right where I started: Getting out of the Luka Doncic business was a defensible strategy, but executed poorly, both in terms of prior negotiation and dealing with the aftermath. 

All of that to say: I think you might be right that Luka has a great year next year. Maybe. But, I'm pretty convinced that as talented as he is, he's not a championship level cornerstone, at least not in a "perennial, on-going" capacity. Even if he does use this slight and loss of a truckload of money as motivation to come back next year in shape and on a warpath, I have very little faith that the effort will be sustained in subsequent seasons. I think it's possible we look back and think Dallas got the best five years of Luka's career. SO, I think your point #3 has some potential juice. 

As for the rest...I just can't get over the sorry state of the franchise in the trade's aftermath. FGump often makes the point that the roster talent here is better than people want to admit, and I agree, but I'll say again: The last two seasons can be summarized as an aggressive turning over of almost the entire roster in the name of building a team AROUND LUKA. It was very close to masterfully done, but at every step of the way some people, myself included, warned of the cost when a team montages its entire war chest, both present AND future, in such a reckless way. A first here for PJ, another there for Gafford, etc, etc, etc. These moves were only justifiable in the moment because the team had the top 5 offensive superstar we all know to be a requisite for title contention. Now? Sure, that young(ish) talented support cast is here, but to support whom? How are they even planning to design an offense? I have been asking that question since February, and I have yet to find someone with even a theory. Do Kidd and Harrison even know, themselves? 

They HAD to get a guy with offensive upside in the deal (Reeves would've counted, if AD was a must in the deal, necessitating the LA of it all) and they HAD to get more draft capital to help them pull the team out of the pit they'll land in if this all doesn't work out (or even if it does). As of right now, there really isn't a "Maverick" on the team anymore, except for maybe Lively, and he's a pick and roll big on a team that currently doesn't seem to be in the pick and roll business (I suppose that could change over the summer, to the point of your post). In short, the team, now with a significantly shortened window of relevance, has no current identity outside of "defense wins championships." If you're going to be a big man with your big man GM pants pulled up and trade the face of the franchise (and the face of the NBA for some) then you've got to have a better landing plan than that, imho. I know you didn't want to discuss the trade, necessarily, but I can't look at how this spring's moves were executed and muster up much faith that the summer will be handled in a way that fixes any of this, whether we're thinking about the product on the floor or just public perception of Harrison's role in the organization.

The best 5 years of Luka’s career is a recurring thought I have had. He is not a young 26. He has absorbed a lot of wear and tear. He might just continue to be less athletic though his tremendous skill should be with him for a long while. We will see. I find myself rooting hard for Luka but maybe time does tell us we got his best years. It might tell us we got lucky to move him but we will absolutely never know what would have happened had he not been traded. Wow it hurts to even say that.

[Reunion Mav]

If DNA is still considered part of science, Luka will look like his dad, Sasa, not exactly svelte, but not someone you'd want to meet in a dark ally.  

wab

That is so true but can a 28 year old version of his son still be light enough to still play like super Luka. I am afraid Luka will not be quite the same even while he continues to flash his tremendous skills.

[ThisIStheYear]

Even what the trades involving Mitchell, Gobert, or Bridges netted...

With all the noise directed toward Luka right now, anybody else think he might just play out his current contract, tell the NBA to piss off, and go back to Europe and play?  He's already made enough money to take care of his family for generations.

If I were him, I’d play out this last year and become a true free agent. He could easily go to a place like San Antonio, with a clean cap and three other all stars, maybe 4. It could be crazy, especially after the Spurs win another lottery (they always do). I’m sure the Spurs could figure out how to win a few titles from the building blocks of Wemby, Flagg, Castle, Fox, and Luka.  Of course, they’d probably need to deal Fox, but they’d get a super role player from someone and be practically unbeatable for awhile.

[WildArkieBoy]

That is so true but can a 28 year old version of his son still be light enough to still play like super Luka. I am afraid Luka will not be quite the same even while he continues to flash his tremendous skills.

Years ago I admit to some frustration with Barry Sanders' retirement at 30.  But, now, at 77-1/2, I'd be fully supportive of Anamaria, Luka and baby retreating to a farm in Slovenia as soon as they wish.  Dirk admits to contending with certain ailments because of staying a year too long and I can't help but notice a persistent bleeding from one of Luka's knees.  What I'm obviously not grasping is the depth of Luka's competitive spirit as that could easily push him into another decade of play.  

wab

[ballsrchr]

Years ago I admit to some frustration with Barry Sanders' retirement at 30.  But, now, at 77-1/2, I'd be fully supportive of Anamaria, Luka and baby retreating to a farm in Slovenia as soon as they wish.  Dirk admits to contending with certain ailments because of staying a year too long and I can't help but notice a persistent bleeding from one of Luka's knees.  What I'm obviously not grasping is the depth of Luka's competitive spirit as that could easily push him into another decade of play.  

wab

I had the same frustration about Barry Sanders!  But now I understand it.

Luka has always played better when he was free and happy.  In the last year or two that hasn't been happening.  I think partly because, as a very young superstar, he was always so far above everyone else that his teams, managers, and coaches were just happy to have him on the team.  I'm all for personal discipline from players--especially when it contributes to the team--but I'm also very aware that you can't shove a square peg into a round hole.  It looks like Nico is a square peg pounder.

I would rather that Luka not retire.  Rather I would prefer that he play free and happy, listen to someone he respects, and be properly physically and injury managed.  If he retires, I'll accept it, but I'll also mourn the possibility of what he could have become.

And then I'll hope that the Mavs draft another possible superstar.

But Nico has to go...

[ThisIStheYear]

Holy shit. Nico cooking tonight!

[ThisIStheYear]

We are so back! Trust in Nico I guess.

[loki]

Gift from heaven. Nico needs to be fired tonight. Don't mess around with this chance.

[ThisIStheYear]

It’s better to be lucky than good, I’ve heard it said. There’s some truth to that.