(04-27-2022, 08:12 AM)michaeltex Wrote: What a difference a year makes.
Going from ECF and the talk about how Trae's teams were more successful than Luka's teams so maybe ATL got the better deal.
But now the extra pick (Reddish) is gone and the luster is off Trae.
Last year Hawks had the entire team full strength at playoffs, while all opponents were dealing with half the roster due to covid. It is not a situation to evaluate for the future, and something as that wont happen again, that's for sure. Luka on other hand was playing the full strength Clippers team with two superstars and almost got them by heroic performances that we all remember. This exhausted the Clippers to such great extent that it most likely prevented their Finals run. Only reason Mavs lost was due to that RC chose to substitute out Luka on the bench with the huge lead we made, and Clippers coming back into the game - and series.
If you look at the entire career, 4 years I guess for both, Luka got his team further than Trae in 3 out of those 4 years. In fact if i recall, Trae didn't even get his team to playoffs in first two years, while Luka made Mavs immedately a playoff worthy team, it was immediate transformation from day one. Even this year as well as last, Hawks barely even made it to playoffs, while Luka has made Mavs to a secure position for the playoffs. So Lukas team - if you look on full 4 years and not just last year, have been more successful entering the playoffs overall, and that's a big deal. Not even counting of what is happening rest of this Mavs series with Jazz and further on - Luka has transformed this team to a secure playoff team, not risking for play-in or anything. Trae's Hawks team the way it runs at the moment, they are not sure to even get into the playoffs the next seasons. Account into that a better and more talented Hawks team. Take into account also the 3x NBA all star and the soon upcoming 3x All-NBA selections, It is a general consensus prediction (predicition as there is more to come and not done yet), among not only Mavs fans but also general community that Mavs will win this trade and they got a far better player. The Reddish thing is also not helping this deal, as he didnt play well at all for Hawks and was traded. No doubt that Hawks would be sitting first or second in the East if they Luka.