This topic contains 8 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar Hitster 5 days, 12 hours ago.

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  • #1266658
    AvatarAvatar
    OhCanada-
    Participant

    Never saw this one coming. I’m not sure what to think of this or why it happened but my first impression is Luka probably demanded a trade at some point and kept it quiet.

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  • #1266660
    NorrinRaddNorrinRadd
    NorrinRadd
    Participant

    I was 15 seconds late on my post… what a crazy trade!!! Lakers had to have won that one… Luka is Luka.

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  • #1266662
    BothTeamsPlayedHard-BothTeamsPlayedHard-
    BothTeamsPlayedHard-
    Participant

    If this trade idea was thrown out on some podcast, you’d unsubscribe. It doesn’t seem real. Laker Exceptionalism is real. Unless the Mavs are certain Luka’s weight will keep him off the floor going forward, this makes zero sense for them. They got a lot older. They are now anchored by a 32-year old, and erratic, Kyrie Irving in his 13th year, 32-year old next month Anthony Davis in his 12th year, and 34-year old Klay Thompson in his 13th year. This is already a team with PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively up front. What is their path forward? They have a two-year window with a group with their three main guys, and are in a spot where they are 1 1/2 games ahead of Golden State for 11th in the West. I don’t get it at all. The futures market on those Lakers 1st rounders is up in flames unless Luka goes full Zion on the scale.

    As for the Lakers, they got Luka at the same age the Heat did LeBron. Think about that. They were headed towards the post-Kobe/post-Magic years fast with no clear path to that putting a group together with another next elite star, and they get Luka?!?! Sure, their roster construction for 2024-25 is not great. They aren’t winning the West with Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris, and Christian Wood at center. Still, they are now relevant going forward not only next year but a long time after that. The spotlight on the Lakers is weird. In North American sports, the Cowboys, Lakers, Yankees, and Maple Leafs (mostly in Canada but that is the NHL) have a brighter spotlight. They are covered differently, and the pressure ratchets up as a result. Luka moved to Real Madrid at 13. The basketball team isn’t the soccer team, but he grew up living around the absurdity of that spotlight where the team’s own tv channel broadcasts its pre-teen youth games nationally and covers its senior team with more intensity than proper news covers the prime minister. I don’t think Luka is going to shrink from what being the new face of the Lakers is going to bring. It might take the Lakers an offseason to put a team together that can make sense, but I think LeBron will stick around another couple years (final year with Bryce joining Fredo on the end of the bench). Maybe they can patch it together with Brook Lopez or Steven Adams. Maybe they use one of their 2nds on a more experienced and polished rookie like Maxime Raynaud, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Dawson Garcia, or Johnni Broom. Their door just burst wide open.

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    • #1266663
      NorrinRaddNorrinRadd
      NorrinRadd
      Participant

      Lakers should have free agents in line to join them. The Mavericks – don’t know wtf they’re doing… those second round picks this year from the Lakers are late 2nd rounders. Helps the Mavericks zero percent.

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  • #1266664
    AvatarAvatar
    OhCanada-
    Participant

    Utah got those 2nd round picks in order to make the deal. They got Jaylen Hood Schifino and two 2nd rounders for absolutely nothing.

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  • #1266665
    NorrinRaddNorrinRadd
    NorrinRadd
    Participant

    yes, they are, and I suspect the Jazz will be trading up in the draft – or at least trying to.

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  • #1266666
    AvatarAvatar
    OhCanada-
    Participant

    To be fair the fit is amazing for Dallas. Its too bad Lively got hurt but AD and Kyrie is going to be a serious problem. Washington can get in where he fits in and if he doesn’t they can trade him as he does hold a bit of value. Then you add in Quentin Grimes, Naji Marshall and Jaden Hardy they have a nice blend of true NBA vets, Championship experience and developing talent. They also have some picks.

    And Anthony Davis has been a top 5 player in the league this year. Although you just dont trade a 25 year old top 10 player its just unheard of. His conditioning must be a serious issue, now he is going to LA to play with Lebron the allltime GOAT of conditioning.

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  • #1266667
    BothTeamsPlayedHard-BothTeamsPlayedHard-
    BothTeamsPlayedHard-
    Participant

    Maybe I am wrong, but I don’t think the Mavs make the playoffs. The Warriors or Spurs would have to make a major move, but missing the play-in round is also a possibility. They are one game under .500 without Luka. While Davis is far better than Likely, Gafford, and Washington, I don’t see the increase in what they get from the 4 and 5 spots offset going from Luka to some combination of Dinwiddie, Hardy, and Grimes. They are also in a spot where Kyrie opts out of his contract as a 33-year old coming off his 13th year wanting a long-term max deal. He has been normal-ish since getting to Dallas, but this is a guy with major priors of lighting every team he leaves on fire. Am I really to believe Dallas thinks Kyrie at 13 years in a safer bet than Luka at 25 years old? I don’t get it, and probably won’t.

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  • #1266668
    AvatarAvatar
    Hitster
    Participant

    AD is a Rich Paul client so slightly surprising but I see Bronny wasn’t dumped elsewhere. Post LBJ which could be this year or next I figured Lakers would have AD in place and then looking for a younger FA to join them.

    But clearly something has happened with Luka and the Mavericks and Luka could become a FA next summer so it was almost a bit like Memphis with Fox but with a much superior player. Kyrie has a player option this summer too so if Luka was wanting out, I guess he’d have been gone too. At least getting AD gives them him guaranteed until the end of 26/27 season.

    Utah have clearly stepped to assist with trade and get assets but they did trade some first rounders to the Suns for a 2031 first rounder. So looking to move up this year’s draft may not be obvious.

    LBJ and the Lakers look the winners here. LBJ gets a wider window to be a running mate to Luka and Lakers get a franchise player for several more years with Luka who will be there when LBJ retires and thus is the drawing card for them to sign future FA’s.

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