(06-14-2022, 09:00 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I’ll believe it when I see it. If three players are going out via release, I have a tough time imagining Ntilikina and his non-guaranteed contract not being among them. I hope I’m wrong, but to be honest, I don’t think everything from your list will happen anyway. I’m more worried about reading the board after that pick gets traded than I am about Ntilikina getting released.
I don’t really disagree with your hope, other than to say Boban would absolutely be the first one out in my Utopia, ESPECIALLY if they’re trying to hold onto his fellow mascot Pinson. Of everyone on that list, including Pinson, Boban is the least likely to contribute anything of on-court value, imo. His minutes were at an all-time low last season, so it seems Kidd has even less use for him than Carlisle (thank God).
(06-14-2022, 10:02 PM)Jommybone Wrote: Easy to say having not spoken to Luka about it. Perhaps Mavs know something you don’t know. And perhaps it was from Luka’s lips to God’s ears, eh?In all honesty, is there any confirmation that Luka has actually said at any time that he wants Boban to stay? First, that just doesn’t seem to be who Luka portrays himself to be. He’s been in the business of professional sports for more than half his life. He’s seen guys he likes come and go plenty. His mind is not so fragile that losing his best friend (if Boban is even in that conversation) would make him do something stupid.
On top of that, even if Luka did make that demand at one time (or feel that kind of way), he just got close to reaching his ultimate goal. That’s got to be a catalyst for changing his mindset about this particular “demand” doesn’t it? I mean, he saw Kidd refuse to play Boban for a bit even when chants from the crowd demanded it. Also, who TF cares if Luka says don’t trade Boban? Why ask him? If you are getting a player that you believe, at some point, might help Luka get a championship, it would be all worth it.
Holding on to Boban for Luka’s sake is no different than what Cleveland helped to create in the LeBron you see today. Don’t be like Cleveland! I really don’t understand how people can talk as if this is acceptable practice in a franchise FO/ownership.