02-04-2022, 07:23 AM
(02-04-2022, 06:36 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: I disagree about it not being close. Trae has already had playoff success, while Luka has not. Luka has the edge overall due to his size and BBIQ, but Trae is right there as well. Atlanta is playing much better now that they're getting key players back from injury, as well as having better roster construction. Luka is a great great young player, no disputing that. Luka has to mature though. Sometimes he acts like a diva complaining to the refs all time. If you think that trade was one-sided, you'd be wrong. It was a win-win for both teams.TMO though.
It´s not about the Luka-Trae trade. It is about the other roster moves. Hawks tanked for a couple of years and collected picks, young assets. They have a better foundation.
Huerter, Collins, Okongwu and Hunter all picked in the first round. With additional assets used in trades. 2020 1st (Poku) for Capela. And recently Cam Reddish for a protected 2022 1st from Charlotte.
Mavs refusal to tank for just one season is the main difference. I guess we could also blame the lottery gods but in the end the Mavs could have done more to increase their chances. Imagine a scenario where the Mavs get Luka without giving up another 1st. Or a scenario where Dallas keeps the pick in 2019 because they end up with a top 5 pick.
Hawks not being good in the first two seasons of Trae´s career allowed them to add more talent and build a better supporting cast. Mavs on the other hand managed to burn the remaining assets without any roster improvement.
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