TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[burekemde]

The "pick" was UNPROTECTED AND FOR 2029. Josh Green will be 28 by then, probably not on this team anymore. Irving will DEFINITELY not be on this team by then. Luka probably won't, either. 

Do you just not get it? There will be no other picks to use to climb out of this mess. This was their last shot. They're about to trade something (probably hardy) with the '27 pick for something else that won't matter like Bogdanovich, and then they will be utterly and completely stuck for like a DECADE. 

You think Luka's gonna stick around for that? Would YOU?

It's like they're running the Dan Gilbert playbook, page by page. Only when Luka leaves and the bottom drops out, BROOKLYN is going to get to make the lottery pick meant for the Mavs to start over!

I understand the line of thinking. The other way to think about this, is making the best team right now, with the best fit around Luka. Something unexpected and great could come out of that, that is not so easy to foresee. When players are surrounded by teammates that fit their style of play, and understand their game, the sum is greater than their parts. Or think of it in the other direction - how can it make sense to assemble the team with less fit but with most future picks? We are better team now than yesterday. If we win the title with this team, it is changing ALL other parameters and arguments. It would be the reason Luka will stay and not leave, ever. A championship changes things and decisions. If we are going to place players around Luka that do not understand his game, could we lose him? And yes, Mavs future depends pretty much on Luka. Near and long term. When Luka got here the team was a bottom team not close to playoffs, he transformed this team - instantly - into a contending and playoff team. Look at the statistics for this team with/without Luka. The talent level of the team clearly doesnt match Lukas talent level. He should be surrounded by the Irvings and the Woods that can grasp Lukas game and brilliance and take it to another level, and not the stationary DFS that is just standing in the corner unable to do anything with the ball and the space provided other than shooting.