word14
Earlier this week

Luka Doncic traded to Lakers for Anthony Davis

Safe to say no one saw this coming: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris headed to LA, Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 1st rounder headed to Dallas, Jalen Hood-Schiffno and a few 2025 second rounders headed to Utah

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Zodiac  
Earlier this week

I'm not up with NBA stuff much anymore but wtf would the Mavs do that? I guess Doncic must've asked to be traded but AD will age badly.

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

Supposedly Doncic did not request a trade. Mavs had concerns about Luka's conditioning and how that would play out with an inevitable supermax. Mavs approached Lakers and dangled Doncic.

Incredible.

Mavs GM figures AD's defense puts them in better stead.

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Can the NBA block this move? It's so boring to just see another unqiue star ending up at the Lakers. There has to be more to it? Maybe Luka has some baggage?

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hoopie  
Earlier this week

Doncic's attitude has been pretty bad this season, especially with regard to the refs, and I can’t see the coaches or his teammates liking it.

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Yeah, but surely you try and exhaust a solution to that before just trading the face of your franchise for a much older, non-equivaent player, even more prone to injury...

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Don't get me wrong, AD is the best two-way big in the league.

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Zodiac  
Earlier this week

It is terrible how the Lakers get all these superstars. Doncic as I understand it is the comfortably the best player in the NBA and all they really gave up was AD who's best years are behind him. It's pretty sickening but that's the NBA, they want Doncic in a big market.

The best thing the Lakers could do is get rid of LeBron/Bronny, no way Doncic will tolerate a way past his prime LeBron still trying to be the man on the team. I bet LeBron retires at the end of the season his last hope was to play with Bronny that's done now need to hand the team over to Doncic soon or he might ask to be traded elsewhere.

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

There was a suggestion that the Mavs wanted to trade Gafford before he had a solid run recently. Surely that happens now? Don't they play Washington up a position too?

Luka might be poorly conditioned and whine, but he's clearly a prodigy. Slovenia punched above their weight. Mavs overperformed last season.

I know they're in win-now mode so picks will be less useful to them, but surely shopping him around more could've brought something more?

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Anon  
Earlier this week

Just came to say this is the ref's fault. Seriously though how the mavs didn't think a handful of good players and like 10 1st round picks with little protection wasn't a better option I don't understand. Like that's the whole Mavs future and emergency blow it up for a rebuild piece traded for a win now center... with no future assets. Organisations rot from the top in every sport and every league

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

James and Doncic don't exactly compliment each other either.

Dallas are going to cop an absolute hammering for this.

It also brings into question (for me) as to if Jason Kidd is still the best coach for this team without Doncic there now.

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Zodiac  
Earlier this week

New Orleans were forced to trade AD to the Lakers in the first place too.

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

Lakers aren't miles from contention, at least going by standings. Though arguably this kills that. Are they maybe trading LeBron this week, and setting up to contend in 2-3 years?

e.g., LeBron to Warriors for Kuminga/etc and any picks they can get. Curry/LeBron get a final run, and then the pick is priceless when Curry/LeBron/Draymond retire shortly after? If they got Wiggins too, that starts to put them in a reasonable place sans centre.

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Also got to remember what Luka likely means to the fans. Dallas love to embrace these unique European players. The biggest backlash could be from that direction.

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

It might work out nicely for LA, but Dallas is the team who has to justify why they traded Doncic, not why LA traded for him. LA would be rapt. They know they have likely gotten everything out of the Davis/Lebron duo, and now have another unique star to fall into their lap. It has basically cost them nothing in a way.

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word14  
Earlier this week

Many calling this the biggest trade in NBA history, fair?

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Dunkman  
Earlier this week

LeBron and Doncic on the same team, I don't see it.

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

Lots of "worst trade" and major surprise. Which makes it intriguing, IMO.

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Hedge  
Earlier this week

This is insane, thought it was joke when I just saw it on the news.
Has to be the biggest out of the blue trade ever.
Lakers will miss AD a fair bit though.

Also just read that it means Luka misses out on a super max, that's a big kick!

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Is Donic a pending FA?

The win now argument makes no sense obviously because Doncic is their best player. If they needed to upgrade their defence, then surely you can find someone through a trade for that without trading Doncic? Got to remember what the alernative might be without Doncic. His individual brilliance is why they are a contender, regardless of flaws. Wouldn't be surprised if there is more to this, so when the facts change, I will change my mind too, but for now this does not make much sense for Dallas. Like Isaac says, you don't rush a trade for this type of player.

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

LeBron James learned of the Davis-Doncic trade after the Knicks game when it broke while he was out to dinner with his family, sources close to James told ESPN. James was surprised by the news, is processing it and had no idea it was in the works, sources said.

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AlexK  
Earlier this week

Guess the Mavs also got sick of his incessant whining.

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Zodiac  
Earlier this week

lol See ya LeBron

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word14  
Earlier this week

By all accounts no one saw this trade coming, insane

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

Wonder if LeBron can get to Cleveland to upgrade an already competitive roster further, and do his farewell tour back home?

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

They don't need LeBron, he'll just destabilise them.

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Zodiac  
Earlier this week

Just had a wild thought Pelinka should trade LeBron to Miami for Butler. Force him to go back to Riley lol Jimmy Buckets can then pout and carry on wearing his Phoenix Suns shoes as second fiddle to Doncic.

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LoveBroker  
Earlier this week

LeBron was not even consulted?

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

Can't see how he'd want to run out this season without AD and with Luka injured. And while I can see him with Warriors or similar, I reckon that would make for a weird farewell tour. At Cleveland, he'd be on a major contender and get a reasonable farewell tour.

Miami then. Ha.

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twenty four  
Earlier this week

Obviously Dante's return had the Mavs feeling Luka was expendable.

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Zodiac  
Earlier this week

That or the Lakers wanted to grab the headlines away from the Clippers big Patty trade!

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

The issue for me is whether that is in the best interest of Cleveland though? If Lebron was prepared to just assimilate into what's already working in whatever way they thought was best, then it could be an amazing narrative to his career, but it could also destabilise them. Depending on what they'd give up, I probably would resist the temptation.

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

One argument for Cleveland doing it is that the contenders might be pretty even this year - them, Boston, OKC, etc. If they can trade some benchies for LeBron to get them above that bracket, maybe it's hard to resist? Have a couple of years with a really strong starting unit.

Looking at their salaries, there are some guys in the broader rotation getting paid tradable money.

And after he retires, you still have the four key starters, etc.

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twenty four  
Earlier this week

"And after he retires, you still have the four key starters, etc."

Plus the biggest piece of any LeBron deal, Bronny.

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Zodiac  
Earlier this week

The fact LeBron made the Lakers draft his son was one of the worst things I've seen from an NBA team. The guy was a scrub in college, he's a SEABL import level player.

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Billy Bob  
Earlier this week

He's worse than SEABL
Imports. Imports don’t get players being that ordinary in college

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Isaac, I just assumed that trading for LeBron would likley cost the Cavs a starter or two. Defintely for the right price you'd have to consider it.

But I would still be concerned about the capacity to destabilise what they're doing, and you make a good point about what they're up against.

If they did decide to trade for him, I would want assurances that this isn't all about Lebron and his narrative/legacy or any of that stuff. It's not about LeBron returning to lead Cleveland from an internal perspective, although that will obviously be a natural sub plot of the media.

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The Phantom  
Earlier this week

Wow!!!!!!
Been big superstar trades in the past but this really is shocking, especially the secrecy.
Had heard the usual rumour of Miami trying to clear space to make a run at Luka in a couple of years, hence not wanting long term salary in a Butler deal. Maybe there had been leaks Luka was looking around.
Luka gets a big market, but is it better than Dallas, especially after making finals. No real shooting, can't be Robin to lebrons Batman.
Davis has been great the last 2 seasons but he'll definitely be pouting. Good two man game with Kyrie makes it appears the winner. And apparently Dallas were interested in Jimmy, can they make that happen, have plenty of good bigs to offer, but might have to get another team or two involved since Ware is coming along and they want that cap space. Or Chicago might send Lavine for some prospects and that first.
Weird to say since Luka is a top 5 player, but Dallas probably won this deal if these other moves happen. Would love to see Cubans face.
And how does this affect team Klutch, looks like Lakers are looking post LeBron. If Cleveland had been middle of the pack, maybe, but they're looking too good ATM to mess with chemistry. But the Warriors rumour might have substance. And would imagine Bronny is included.
Normally something like this is when one superstar is publicly unhappy, this is just totally unexpected.
Been racking my brain, but this is most shocking trade I can ever remember. And how can the Lakers keep Luka happy, LeBron one way or another will be gone soon, and not much else there. Could be another legacy of getting LeBron, even worse than when he left Cleveland twice and Miami.
Utah are maybe the second best winner in this deal.
Unbelievable!!!

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Hedge  
Earlier this week

The most amazing part is he wasn't shopped around. If the other teams knew, the Mavs could have traded for nearly anyone/anything.

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Crackers65  
Earlier this week

Interesting to see how injuries affect Doncic long term. If Dallas were concerned about his conditioning relating to injuries, maybe they have made the right move. He'll be expected to play big minutes at LA and they will be a defensive disaster with him and Le b.

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

The Phantom, I assumed that LeBron wanting to be traded out would mean that he could (in theory) force their hand. I think technically they could trade guys out of their top 6 rotation players and still do it.

Cuban said a couple of years back that he'd divorce his wife before he sent Luka out of the Mavs.

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Cram  
Earlier this week

Hedge, exactly right. Its so odd. Mavs raised it with the Lakers (and apparently only one other team, who said no). If they auctioned him off they surely would get a better package.

They clearly wanted to remain a contender this year, so if they were done with Luka (or he with them) maybe they felt there was nobody else that woudl be available to help them win now.

I can see how in the short term you could talk yourself into this for the Mavs (there team has great balance now) but this will look worse each year that goes by

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word14  
Earlier this week

Look at the Dallas vs Cleveland score right now, whole team is clearly playing in shock

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

I can see how in the short term you could talk yourself into this for the Mavs (there team has great balance now) but this will look worse each year that goes by
It could really go either way for the Mavs. They look good 1-5 (Kyrie, Klay, Washington, AD, Lively/Gafford) plus a reasonable bench, but you only have to go back a couple of years to have everyone looking at Kyrie, Klay and AD very differently in terms of availability and consistency.

I wonder if the GM Nico is predisposed to fancy himself for making the brave left-field move and talked himself and others into this. "Do we really want to be paying $60m/y for half a decade to someone that isn't doing recovery like we expect, misses games because of that?" Got hooked on the idea and couldn't let it go.

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Once you get an idea in your head, anything is possible...

That's what the movie Inception is about.

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Cram  
Earlier this week

In fairness to the Mavs on today's result nobody is playing. Kyrie, Washington, Gafford, Lively, Klay all out as well as the new additions.

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curtley  
Earlier this week

Is there a chance Luka could fail his physical and the trade is voided?

He's apparently the 7th heaviest player in the league now.

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The Phantom  
Earlier this week

Yeah, apparently he did a Zion and ballooned to 270 frustrating Dallas. Thought he was untouchable. Now he misses out on supermax as well.
In regards to LeBron, sounds like they've had enough of his interference as well. Warriors could be only one desperate with Steph to make an offer, LeBron probably wouldn't be adverse either.
And with Lukas free agency, will he wants the big market or winning, coz Lakers have no-one. Will Riley swoop in even with Lukas non heat culture attitude.

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Zodiac  
Earlier this week

No, passing a physical is up to the team trading for the player. Ingles got traded from Utah to Portland even though the Blazers knew he was out for the season, they didn't care. The Lakers haven't traded for Doncic for this season, even though he's due to return in about a week, they traded for him to be their superstar of the future post-LeBron.

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Cram  
Earlier this week

If Lebron does get traded now based on this I wouldnt be surprised if its as part of a bigger Jimmy Butler deal. I woudlnt expect to see Butler in LA, but I imagine Lebron would get Pat Riley to pull the trigger. Would require someone going for Butler (GSW?) throwing some young talent/picks to the Lakers.

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Zodiac  
Earlier this week

LeBron's not going to want to go back to Miami. Riley is the man there and traded LeBron's best friend on the team Mike Miller just to cut costs then LeBron left at the end of the season. Obviously Riley knew LeBron was thinking about leaving so the Miller trade was a kick on the way out.

Even Shaq found out the hard way in Miami Riley got rid of him too.

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Zodiac  
Earlier this week

Doncic trade now official.

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

Here comes some very mild rationale:

Dallas has likewise said to have cooled on its star's insistence on hiring his own team of training experts — even though it was done at his own expense — to handle the bulk of his medical and nutritional needs separate from the club starting with the 2023-24 season.

Dončić actually began assembling that team shortly after Dallas' disastrous 38-44 season in 2022-23 in which the Mavericks followed up a wholly unexpected trip to the Western Conference finals by slipping all the way into the lottery. But his handpicked team quickly took on a role of even greater prominence than envisioned when the 2023-24 season began in the wake of the Mavericks' abrupt removal of the team's longtime athletic trainer Casey Smith — one of Dončić closest allies in the organization — from day-to-day duties in August 2023. Smith was brought in this season by the Knicks as their new vice president of sports medicine ... with a strong recommendation from a certain former Maverick named Jalen Brunson.
You'd hope it was all around something more dramatic than that!

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Isaac, I think you're right to suspect this could be a case of the GM thinking he has this ingenious plan that no one else can see yet, and has the "thank me later" type vibe, when the reality is once the dust settles, it might be more like "What have I/you done". It feels like he is almost trying to be too cute, and too simplistic. Even the look on the face of Jason Kidd today while coaching was one of uncertainty over what they've just done. It happens. This idea of getting an idea in your head is real, and it's not until after you've followed through, that you've realised what you've done.

Why was trading Luka the only way to improve your defence? And why did they pursue someone like Irving in the first place knowing you had two offensive heavy guards that are not really a natural fit together. Surely you offer up Irving before Luka?

Luka strikes me as the type of personality where you might have to take the good with the bad. There won't be another Luka Doncic for Dallas. Ever.

The comparisons being made to Zion are not really equivalents. Luka has not had any comparable injury history has he? He has already lead them to a finals appearance.

The argument of window makes no sense either, because in a way, you have a window for as long as Luka is in his prime and surrounded by the right pieces and coaching. Now, they basically have no choice but to win at least once while Davis is still healthy.

Davis is a hell of a player, but the Lakers would be absolutely laughing they've secured Doncic.

What choice does Harrison have now but to stick to what he's done?

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

Not sure how many games Luka has missed for not-unreasonable things like being shut down at the end of the season, or resting the occasional B2B, but by year the number of games played are:

72, 61 (75ish game COVID season), 66, 65, 66, 70, 22 (out of 49).

As comparison, a couple of maligned benchmarks:

Embiid: 64, 51, 51, 68, 66, 39, 13.
Zion: 24, 61, 29, 70, 13.

And a cheeky one:

AD: 56, 62, 36, 40, 56, 76, 42 (out of 47)

I reckon almost everyone would excuse Luka's overweight arrival for this season given the post-season and Olympic campaign would've wrecked him, and the fact that he's not exactly reliant on being in peak physical shape. But I can also see how a GM might be building to compete now and then watching a US$43m guy compromise recovery, jeopardise the campaign and think the best way to improve a Luka/Kyrie/Klay backcourt defensively involves moving the biggest block of money to strengthen elsewhere. Kinda loses sight of the fact that said block of money is likely pre-prime, frequently carries an entire team, not agitating to be traded, literally a prodigy, etc.

FWIW, Pelton on ESPN has rated this trade as an A for the Lakers, and an F for the Mavs. Haha.

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LV  
Earlier this week

It's bizarre that Luka wasn't shopped around. You would think they could've gotten more.

Mavs fans must be infuriated that 3 years ago they had Luka, Porzingis and Brunson, all under 30 and all doing great things since. And now they've got Kyrie, AD and Klay- all over 30, all past their best and/or injury prone.

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JOaRiDrAN  
Earlier this week

lol @ The Phantom. Obviously infuriated at this trade, probably loves Luka and hates LeBron and the Lakers. Eat it bro lol.

Best part about all of this is LA traded Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram for a NBA Championship and Luka Doncic. Pelinka the Goat

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The Phantom  
Earlier this week

Been thinking about this all day and think Dallas had a genius plan to screw Luka. Lakers would have to be the worst team to trade him to.
Wherever he gets sent makes them better, even Washington, Charlotte etc. But going to the Lakers they only have one star player, LeBron who's just as ball dominant. Which one will sacrifice? Lakers lose their defensive lynch pin. Luka, LeBron and Reaves are bad defensively. They have no bigs. Their salary isn't terrible, but unless LeBron rips up contact to get free agents, they're not signing anyone in offseason. Even then it's slim pickings. LeBron will be gone in a year or two, but does Luka want to play with a terrible team. He can't sign a supermax now, I think the best he can do is a 2 and 1. So he's going to a team way worse than Dallas, can't share the ball with LeBron and can't defend or rebound. Teams might like some picks in distant future, but do they want guys like Rui, Hayes, Bronny?
So unless they get Zion and join Jenny Craig, what free agents can they get? Best Dallas could do was Klay, no-one really wants to play with someone that hogs the ball on offence and is a diva.
So Dallas may have gotten a swag of picks, but Davis will fill a need and open up things on offence, all while screwing Luka. And if Luka thinks it's crap despite the biggest market, could he bolt.
Will be certainly interesting watching how he fits in with LeBron, there'll be a honeymoon period, but if they make playoffs will LeBron be happy watching Luka with the ball and hoping Jaxson Hayes can stop Jokic, Sengun, even Hartenstein. And what shooters do they have?
Think it's most diabolical thing Dallas could have done.

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

Doubt it was anywhere near that nefarious. I think the Mavs' plan was not much more than: what's the best defensive scoring piece we can get. They approached at least one other team (Bucks and/or Spurs) and Davis was next option. They didn't want to prioritise picks. They didn't want a broad swag given they have some coverage at each position.

If Lakers still have anything/pick(s) to trade, they can get Poeltl to try and hold down the interior.

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Isaac, certainly didn't mean for you to go out of your way to answer that question, was meant more so as a general thought, so thanks for chasing those up and bringing to our attention. Interesting.

Phantom, I think the Lakers know they probably can’t win this year either way. Luka is their long term piece now. I don’t think they’d be overly concerned if it goes no where this year, and probably hope LeBron moves on.

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Isaac  
Earlier this week

MC, no worries - I love trade season and find something divisive like this particularly fascinating.

Some random media write-up:

I can just tell you that like when Luka strained his calf on Christmas day, there wasn't like a big feeling of sympathy throughout the organization. it was "man this is what happens when you don't care about condition, when you don't care about diet"
This is interesting, and gels with one of my early thoughts: if GM Nico is a fit gym guy into his 50s, is he more likely to have a pre-conceived idea of how every NBA player should look and act, versus a pudgy old-school executive? Bit funny in the era of the current world's best player being the notoriously chiselled Jokic...

Though you can also somewhat understand it from this broader line. Fedor:
"The biggest thing, when talking to people around the league, was the concern about Luka's conditioning. As we all know, and as has been reported, he’s gotten up to 270 pounds. According to my sources, the Dallas Mavericks were feeling like it could end up being a Joel Embiid-type situation. And if that is the case, then it’s completely—well, it’s not warranted. It’s not that this makes everything okay, but when you think about a star player who has had such an impact on a team, like Joel Embiid, but then isn’t available because of injuries, you can at least start to understand the worry."
Quite the situation to end up with, worrying about injuries and then trading for Street Clothes Davis himself.

You can understand Doncic's approach here. He's excelled at every point through his development. He's been able to get away with a weaker fitness regime because he's still dragged Slovenia beyond where they should be, he still got Dallas beyond expectations. He could come back as a tub of lard and get a triple double.

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Isaac, 100% my thoughts too. But the argument against that is how do you know/prove what has caused a lower body injury? No sympathy for a calf injury? Well, how many players also get injured while in immaculate shape?

Luka actually reminds me a bit of the laid back aussie type; doesn't see an issue with a beer after the game, probably thinks weight is arbitrary as long as he has enough stamina, probably believes in a simple approach to fitness, doesn't think eating has to compromise performace, probably thinks sports science is overrated, ETC, ETC. That's why I think the decision is about trying to be too clever and absolutist in principle, when the reality is the world is just a hypocrisy. Like, he is probably right, but at the same it is Luka Doncic.

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

It just goes to show the gravity of Luka too, because AD isn't exactly a dud...

Reply #959588 | Report this post


AngusH  
Earlier this week

AD is a top-10 player, but I wouldn't trade 25 year old Doncic for 25 year old AD. The Mavs winning it all this year or next is the only way this isn't a historically bad trade, and I just don't see it happening.

Reply #959589 | Report this post


Hedge  
Earlier this week

Lula's fitness can’t be brought into it when that have traded for a player who get injured seemingly every other week. AD is made of paper.

Reply #959593 | Report this post


Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Hedge, it's more about attitude to fitness than being just prone to injury, but you're still not wrong.

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The Phantom  
Earlier this week

Apparently Dallas wanted another first and Knecht but Pelinka wanted to speak with Doncic to see what his feelings were about hanging around long term. So Lakers do have concerns if he'll leave. And Doncic seems to have a similar feeling like a few Europeans that they aren't worried about playing in a big market, another stab in the back is he finalised purchasing a $15 million property in Dallas last week. If he had that 5 year supermax on the table that would influence him to sign it, now it appears the best way to make up the money is to sign a 2 year deal and make it up later. Another team in the future is San Antonio, and teaming up with Wemby and paying a lot less tax and sticking it to in state rival.
Davis has the nickname Street Clothes, but has been better recently. I was loathe to pick him in my fantasy team, finally did and he's been good. He was moaning about the Lakers getting a centre to help him, maybe having more depth with bigs in Dallas may help him there not having to do all the work like in LA.

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Kev  
Earlier this week

Luca has one thing on his side that he hasn't had since joining the NBA. He has a genuine superstar who will help him get better. Not only get better, but actually be able to talk at the same level in regards to the game. Huge upgrade for Lakers.

The AD that Mavs just got is the hyped up, LeBron on your case version. Now he goes back to thinking he is it, and the Mavs and AD go to dreamland thinking they are ever going to be duking it out at the end of the playoffs.

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Mystro  
Earlier this week

I have seen rumors online that the Lakers are interested in Steve Adams.
Be interesting to see how that plays out.

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AngusH  
Earlier this week

I suggested the same thing to my Laker fan buddy right after the trade. I think he's the right kind of guy to put next to ball dominant players like LBJ/Doncic.

Reply #959621 | Report this post


Isaac  
Earlier this week

Zach Lowe:

Doncic may be a difficult personality. He's not for everyone. Conditioning issues are real. Whining to the refs costs DAL. But with a talent so immense, it's the franchise's job too to exhaust every avenue toward improvement. Difficult conversations, etc. Try every fix.

Reply #959623 | Report this post


Master Chief  
Earlier this week

There is nothing remarkable about the more talented players appearing to run their own race a bit, but then selectively being labelled "difficult". I actually think there is something natural about this when you consider obidient players are more likely to be that way because they lack the same talent level naturally, and need to get by on working harder and team work. If you're that good, you would find it hard to be told what to do when much of your power is instinctive. Is it about finding that balance?

Again, is an absolutist mentality futile in a hypocritical world?

If Dallas were constantly at the bottom of the table and not just coming off a finals appearance, then that argument would have more weight.

The other point is, does Harrison deserve more criticism for not improving the defence around Luka, if he truly thinks that his defence is a liability? Why did he bring Irving to the team then? It's a bit like people forever complaining about DJ here. Was the real failure not balancing a unique offensive force with the right players.

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Master Chief  
Earlier this week

Did anyone see the press conference? It was interesting to see the look on the face of Jason Kidd whenever Harrison said or implied it was "our" decision. He said something like "People are going to bury US in 10 years time" and you could just tell Kidd was thinking "What do you mean US?" lol.

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Perthworld  
Earlier this week

Don't forget we won rose gold in 2021 partly because Doncic was clearly gassed early on in the bronze medal game. So hooray for his laziness.

Reply #959640 | Report this post


Isaac  
Yesterday

Some bits paraphrased from an ex-Mavericks analytics staffer who had previously pushed to trade Doncic:

Luka plays a brand of basketball that generates raw numbers that overstate his impact. This has gotten better over the last few years but the Mavericks' own internal models showed him as significantly overrated

There are questions about Luka’s commitment to doing the things that lead to winning like getting back in transition, rotating on defense, boxing out, being conditioned etc. It appears these questions are much more serious than this sub thinks

Luka requires very specific team construction to get the best out of him

This trade would have never happened with Mark Cuban at the helm and Nico Harrison surrounded himself with "yes-men"

In summary the author agreed with the decision to trade him but thought they could’ve gotten more. While the author was with the Mavs he had proposed a Luka for Tatum + picks trade for example.
Source [Paywall]

Reply #959674 | Report this post


Master Chief  
Yesterday

The problem for me with that mentality though is that it might be a case of not knowing what you had until you lose it.

The counter argument for me is that those fundamental aspects crucial to success don't exist within a championship context without Luka anyway. It's his creativiy and genius they'll suddenly realise they can't replace, and they might quickly find they are no longer in a position to think about those things without him. Luka lead them to a futile championship series because no one could beat the Celtics last season, but they don't do that without Luka...

Reply #959675 | Report this post




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