Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[burekemde]

I disagree and I think most will. Firing Nico was the first step to fix this thing. You're being a little over the top with this end of the world stuff imo.

You seem to misinterpret my point. I think that Nico should be fired. But after the firing, this is the official admitting that the trade was horrible, and will further decline the team performance due to the negative effect on players morale. We fans like it yes, you and me, but the players do not. At least certain players. Just put yourself into the position of AD, Christie and Copper Flagg. You hope to prove Nico correct and that he knows what he was doing. That the team will be better than with Luka. How would you respond to this firing of Nico? Of course their morale will be affected. Its the guy that believed in them.

[KillerLeft]

I see a "lock thread" command coming for this space in the near future. Get it all out of your systems, fellas.

[Jmaciscool]

I see a "lock thread" command coming for this space in the near future. Get it all out of your systems, fellas.

Hang on, I'm still playing catch up - apparently Luka was traded to the Lakers? I should really pay more attention.

[cow]

It may be justifiable, but do we really want the environment to be like that forever? Players are already frustrated. I can't see anyone wanting to stick around if this is how things are from now on.

Forever?  No.  But maybe the fanbase is tired of a clown shoes organization that culminated in trading away a generational talent and had one of the most beloved figures in Dallas sports history turn his back on the franchise.  The Nico firing is a good first step, but he isn't the only one responsible.  All the blame can't be assigned to the new ownership, which is why they have a chance of righting the ship, but I'll not begrudge those who want to be vocal against the morons that thought it was a good idea to trade Luka in the first place and accepted that miserable return when the rest of the basketball world knew it was foolish.  It sucks for the players as they are a victim of circumstance, but the ill will is mostly not directed to them with the exception of Day-to-Davis which is unfair, but life isn't always fair.  We never thought Cuban would sell the team and he did, so I also wouldn't be so sure stating that fan backlash can't lead to change.  So I'll support those who chant their displeasure just like I do those who choose not to attend games or buy merchandise and just like I do those that still choose to cheer on the team.  You can't pick who you love.

[burekemde]

Honestly, do you think that the players didn't already know that was a massive mistake??? 

Come on. It's clear to everyone (not Lakers fans) from day 1.

Trust me, things will go waaaaaaay better now.

So do you believe that AD thinks this is a mistake? Max? Flagg? Its the guy that believed in them. No, it will get a lot worse.

This is the right decision yes. Nico should have been fired on the spot for thinking that trade. But things will get a lot worse due to the firing this season. And eventually then better. I dont see AD able to accomodated on this roster with the firing of Nico. He is completely linked to Nicos decision in this roster construction.

[cow]

So do you believe that AD thinks this is a mistake? Max? Flagg? Its the guy that believed in them. No, it will get a lot worse.

This is the right decision yes. Nico should have been fired on the spot for thinking that trade. But things will get a lot worse due to the firing this season. And eventually then better. I dont see AD able to accomodated on this roster with the firing of Nico. He is completely linked to Nicos decision in this roster construction.

Give them all truth serum and they'd tell you the Luka trade was a mistake.  Same for anyone on the team.  I'm not even sure they'd need truth Serum.  I'm not sure why you'd lump Flagg in that group as he wasn't part of the trade.  I'm also not overly concerned what they think, but I can take a guess at their mindset:

-AD probably wants out as it is a no win situation for him and he'll always be linked to an all-time bad trade.
-Christie is probably happy he has a bigger role and is playing well.
-Flagg is probably busy trying to adjust to the NBA.  He'll also get all the love in the world from Mavs fans.  

Most players know this is a business as most of our best players didn't start their careers with us and most of the ones who did, witnessed Luka getting traded which sends a pretty clear message that anyone can get traded.

[burekemde]

-AD probably wants out

If your best player and the guy you got for Luka wants out, its definitely going to get a lot worse. Agree that he will forever be linked to this trade and needs to go in order for the team to move on from this bad decision. And from today he will really want to go out. The hope for AD was that he could prove he and Kyrie and Flagg would make Dallas better than Lukas team ever was. All that hope is gone now.

There is just not an easy way out of this. Looking it from the media point of view everyone seems to agree its awful to be a Mavs fan at the moment. This was the worst basketball decision in 100 years.Teams wait decades and decades for a player like Luka.

[cow]

 The hope for AD was that he could prove he and Kyrie and Flagg would make Dallas better than Lukas team ever was. All that hope is gone now.

But who outside of Nico had this hope?  And again, I wouldn't even put Flagg into the equation, as we lucked into him.

[burekemde]

But who outside of Nico had this hope?  And again, I wouldn't even put Flagg into the equation, as we lucked into him.

The player and GM that drafts a player will always be linked. And there is much about to think that Flagg was part of this trade, lets be honest, altough we do not have the evidence, but many on this forum and everywhere else have high doubts. The circumenstances are so unprobable that it is probable to think about it that Flagg was part of the deal. Whether true or not, it is natural that the player and GM will be linked. I am certain that AD, Max and Flagg all had high hopes that the trade. Of course you want to prove the GM correct, you are not going to just come in and say hey this will never work.

The firing of Nico will most likely and naturally worsen the morale of the incoming players, that always will be linked to this trade. I include Flagg in that as (i) thats the GM that drafted him and believed in him and now he knows Nico doesnt even belong in NBA, thats not a good sign for a young player, and (ii) he may have been part of that trade without knowing of course

[Mavs2021]

Give them all truth serum and they'd tell you the Luka trade was a mistake.  Same for anyone on the team.  I'm not even sure they'd need truth Serum.  I'm not sure why you'd lump Flagg in that group as he wasn't part of the trade.  I'm also not overly concerned what they think, but I can take a guess at their mindset:

-AD probably wants out as it is a no win situation for him and he'll always be linked to an all-time bad trade.
-Christie is probably happy he has a bigger role and is playing well.
-Flagg is probably busy trying to adjust to the NBA.  He'll also get all the love in the world from Mavs fans.  

Most players know this is a business as most of our best players didn't start their careers with us and most of the ones who did, witnessed Luka getting traded which sends a pretty clear message that anyone can get traded.

Except Dwight Powell.

[cow]

Except Dwight Powell.

Diamonds are forever.

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

Shams saying Kidd knew about Nico's plan. Kidd might not be the brightest light bulb out there, but the man is lazy and relies too much on his PGs for actual offense, so was he forced to agree with Nico? Did he just went along with no objections?

Regardless, I think I can see now why Luka would feel distant (if he doesn't hate him already) with Kidd. Kidd wasn't blindsided, he knew all along.

[Mavs2021]

Shams saying Kidd knew about Nico's plan. Kidd might not be the brightest light bulb out there, but the man is lazy and relies too much on his PGs for actual offense, so was he forced to agree with Nico? Did he just went along with no objections?

Regardless, I think I can see now why Luka would feel distant (if he doesn't hate him already) with Kidd. Kidd wasn't blindsided, he knew all along.

Wouldn´t surprise me at all. AD reeks of JaVale McGee 2.0. I don´t think much of Kidd as an X´s and O´s coach, but I shudder at the idea to let him build an actual NBA roster as the GM. He´s a good men manager and an okay tactician. That´s about it.

[F Gump]

You seem to misinterpret my point. I think that Nico should be fired. But after the firing, this is the official admitting that the trade was horrible, 

I disagree. I think Fire Nico was the correct move, AND it says that the team is looking for ways to get better under the leadership of an expert (as long as Nico was supervising any future steps, there was no path to improve the team because the one in charge was a dolt.)

[loki]

Forever?  No.  But maybe the fanbase is tired of a clown shoes organization that culminated in trading away a generational talent and had one of the most beloved figures in Dallas sports history turn his back on the franchise.  The Nico firing is a good first step, but he isn't the only one responsible.  All the blame can't be assigned to the new ownership, which is why they have a chance of righting the ship, but I'll not begrudge those who want to be vocal against the morons that thought it was a good idea to trade Luka in the first place and accepted that miserable return when the rest of the basketball world knew it was foolish.  It sucks for the players as they are a victim of circumstance, but the ill will is mostly not directed to them with the exception of Day-to-Davis which is unfair, but life isn't always fair.  We never thought Cuban would sell the team and he did, so I also wouldn't be so sure stating that fan backlash can't lead to change.  So I'll support those who chant their displeasure just like I do those who choose not to attend games or buy merchandise and just like I do those that still choose to cheer on the team.  You can't pick who you love.

I'm fine with tolerating that as long as I don't hear a single complaint from the fanbase when CF takes the first ticket out of here. 

https://x.com/kflagg11/status/1988326581023162564

[hakeemfaan]

Nico had to go before he did more harm. Anyone who went and proposed the deal that he did and furthermore asked Pelinka to not talk about it lest such a magnificent deal might fall apart, doesn't deserve to be a basketball GM at any level. Pelinka then taking it one level further and pulling back an additional first and Reaves from the original deal that Nico proposed, was the icing on the cake.

[cow]

I'm fine with tolerating that as long as I don't hear a single complaint from the fanbase when CF takes the first ticket out of here. 

https://x.com/kflagg11/status/1988326581023162564

It doesn't really matter what you or I tolerate, no one can gatekeep fandom or dictate decorum.

And with how this franchise is run, I wouldn't want to be here long term if I were Cooper and that has very little to do with a dejected fanbase that justifiably vocal.  Dirk was loyal and we squandered the end of his prime.  Luka's loyalty, not to mention getting us to the Finals, should have earned him a Supermax, instead he's a Laker.

[F Gump]

Luka's loyalty, not to mention getting us to the Finals, should have earned him a Supermax, instead he's a Laker.

FWIW the money difference in what Luka is being paid is relatively minor (in NBA terms). He still will get Supermax money, only it starts the following year.

[loki]

It doesn't really matter what you or I tolerate, no one can gatekeep fandom or dictate decorum. 

And with how this franchise is run, I wouldn't want to be here long term if I were Cooper and that has very little to do with a dejected fanbase that justifiably vocal.  Dirk was loyal and we squandered the end of his prime.  Luka's loyalty, not to mention getting us to the Finals, should have earned him a Supermax, instead he's a Laker.

People will ultimately do what they want, but I see no harm in discouraging destructive behavior. As far as the Dirk and Luka stuff, I think the way Cooper is treated in the present by the organization and fanbase is going to be the far more important factor.

[ThisIStheYear]

I see a "lock thread" command coming for this space in the near future. Get it all out of your systems, fellas.

Yes. Time to lock. The right person got fired. Time to move on. It will be tough for the franchise to dig out of this hole. But they have a path, they have assets, they have deep pockets. If they make a series of 3 or 4 good decisions, they’ll be fine. A number of teams would trade places with them.