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Monday, February 3, 2025
Milwaukee Bucks @ Oklahoma City Thunder
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SHAM BOMB: Mavs potentially trading Luka to the lakers for AD (and other pieces) in a three team trade with the Jazz.

https://x.com/shamscharania/status/1885920217362051276?s=46&t=7SyiZk5KdTcgVjJhYS-3KQ

SHAM BOMB: Mavs potentially trading Luka to the lakers for AD (and other pieces) in a three team trade with the Jazz.

https://x.com/shamscharania/status/1885920217362051276?s=46&t=7SyiZk5KdTcgVjJhYS-3KQ

EDIT: Strike “potentially”

Absolutely crazy trade. I assume it was fake at first.

Mavs become more watchable and Lakers even more UNwatchable. Assuming Luka doesn’t continue to eat himself into early retirement.

Absolutely crazy trade. I assume it was fake at first.

My first thought as well. The Mavs should've got more value for a 26 yr old top 5 player.

Wow, talk about news to wake up to. I wonder what Presti is thinking/scheming right now.

Well I can tell you one thing he is NOT thinking about: trading Aaron Wiggins.

My first thought as well. The Mavs should've got more value for a 26 yr old top 5 player.

There’s a conspiracy claiming that the Mavs owners did this deal in exchange for the league’s approval in moving the franchise to Vegas. Apparently Texas is getting ready to vote down gambling again.

There’s a conspiracy claiming that the Mavs owners did this deal in exchange for the league’s approval in moving the franchise to Vegas. Apparently Texas is getting ready to vote down gambling again.


Dallas is a much better market than Vegas, is probably one of the top markets in the NBA and the Mavs have always had great fan support. Speculating is fun but there’s absolutely no way that’s remotely close to being true.

Mavs become more watchable and Lakers even more UNwatchable. Assuming Luka doesn’t continue to eat himself into early retirement.

Luka could be 280 smoking a pack of cigs as he dribbles up the court and he would still be a top 10 player in the NBA

There’s a conspiracy claiming that the Mavs owners did this deal in exchange for the league’s approval in moving the franchise to Vegas. Apparently Texas is getting ready to vote down gambling again.

Vegas is getting an expansion team .... for 3.5-5 billion dollar fee ....

Luka could be 280 smoking a pack of cigs as he dribbles up the court and he would still be a top 10 player in the NBA
Yeah, which makes it even more frustrating to watch him. Dude could be a generational talent if he’d eat a few less cheeseburgers. Fortunately I don’t really care, because his incessant bitching at refs makes me despise him. I’d honestly be fine with him washing out completely. Watching him play is like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard.

Short term next 2 years love it for Dallas. Luka needs the ball too much and when he is not on the floor their other role players get more shots and they have good role players. Long term they did get older.
Long Term it's better for the Lakers if Luka can stay healthy and the can build the right team around him

Like many of you, I was shell-shocked when I heard about this trade.

How quickly can Anthony Davis (31 yo) adjust to the Mavericks and Luka can adjust to the Lakers will be the deciding factor.

The Mavericks are 3-1 vs the Thunder this season. If we get Chet back with the rest of the starters we should be in good shape vs. the Mavericks.

As for the Lakers (Thunder 1-0) we'll meet them April 6 & 8 with both games in Paycom Center.

According to Tim McMahon, the ESPN beat reporter for the Mavs and other Dallas teams, the Mavs were fed up with Luka’s conditioning issues. Like I said above, he’s apparently letting lack of physical discipline get in the way of his team’s and his own success. It’s a bummer to watch someone squander an exceptional talent window like that. Apparently that combined with his looming super max made it easier for Dallas to pull the trigger.

He also quotes the Mavs’ GM in saying defense wins champions. That’s 100% in response to what the Thunder is doing.

As for the Lakers (Thunder 1-0) we'll meet them April 6 & 8 with both games in Paycom Center.

There is a very good chance that the Thunder will be resting their starters by that point.

According to Tim McMahon, the ESPN beat reporter for the Mavs and other Dallas teams, the Mavs were fed up with Luka’s conditioning issues. Like I said above, he’s apparently letting lack of physical discipline get in the way of his team’s and his own success. It’s a bummer to watch someone squander an exceptional talent window like that. Apparently that combined with his looming super max made it easier for Dallas to pull the trigger.

He also quotes the Mavs’ GM in saying defense wins champions. That’s 100% in response to what the Thunder is doing.

The Spin Room is working OT in Dallas trying to put lipstick on this pig.

Short term next 2 years love it for Dallas. Luka needs the ball too much and when he is not on the floor their other role players get more shots and they have good role players. Long term they did get older.
Long Term it's better for the Lakers if Luka can stay healthy and the can build the right team around him

Short term it’s not great for Dallas if they don’t make more moves to adjust the team. It was built around Luka and similar to our second unit without Mitchell or anyone else to create…they are going to have a massive shot creation void and a bunch of big dudes.

Will be interesting to see if they even make the playoffs. They should but there’s no guarantee right now.

The whole thing is just wild. They either needed to beef up their current team to make a run or blow it up and set themselves up for the future but somehow traded away a top 5 player in the NBA in a deal that seemingly accomplished neither of those.

Comparing this to the Paul George trade is fun.

Seems to me that the old-fashioned European phenom was a great scorer, indifferent defender, and lazy (in American eyes). Luka is a great player at 25. The Mavericks are thinking he is not fully committed to long term health, and in 4 years he will be a 29 year old, 10 year veteran, who they will have to pay 35% of the salary cap (expected to be around $70 million a year).

Thunder vs Bucks injury report:


Thunder:
Jalen Williams, Day-to-day
Alex Caruso, Day-to-day
Cason Wallace, , Day-to-day
Chet Holmgren, Post All Star break


Bucks:
Khris Middleton, Day-to-day
Taurean Prince, Day-to-day
Brook Lopez, Day-to-day
Damian Lillard, Day-to-day
Gary Trent Jr., Day-to-day
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Day-to-day
Bobby Portis, Out
Liam Robbins, Out

.

Thunder vs Bucks injury report:

Thunder:
Jalen Williams, Day-to-day
Alex Caruso, Day-to-day
Cason Wallace, , Day-to-day
Chet Holmgren, Post All Star break

Bucks:
Khris Middleton, Day-to-day
Taurean Prince, Day-to-day
Brook Lopez, Day-to-day
Damian Lillard, Day-to-day
Gary Trent Jr., Day-to-day
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Day-to-day
Bobby Portis, Out
Liam Robbins, Out

.

mitchell coming back?

Short term it’s not great for Dallas if they don’t make more moves to adjust the team. It was built around Luka and similar to our second unit without Mitchell or anyone else to create…they are going to have a massive shot creation void and a bunch of big dudes.

Will be interesting to see if they even make the playoffs. They should but there’s no guarantee right now.

The whole thing is just wild. They either needed to beef up their current team to make a run or blow it up and set themselves up for the future but somehow traded away a top 5 player in the NBA in a deal that seemingly accomplished neither of those.

Comparing this to the Paul George trade is fun.

Irving is probably one of the best shot creation guys in the NBA when he wants too be. Him and AD might work better together than him and Luka. Oh and their Defense. This is where they got much better. Their rim protection is going to be insane. Huge upgrade on the defensive end of the ball. However if they are not healthy they might miss the playoffs.

There is a very good chance that the Thunder will be resting their starters by that point.

This also makes me skeptical of how accurate some of these injuries are, especially since we have a 5 game up in the WC. They're already resting players.

mitchell coming back?


Ajay Mitchell, revaluated in March.

BTW: Nikola Topic out for this season.

ESPN NBA Attendance: https://www.espn.com/nba/attendance 16. Thunder 24 games - 430,468 - 17,936

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The Journal Record

Absolutely insane trade, there has got to be more to this. Like Luka is addicted to something or there is a really bad injury deal. It doesn't make any sense why they wouldn't create a bidding war and get way more picks. This is like some weird backroom GM deal and of course it is with Lakers.

Sounds more & more like the Mavs were just fed up with him & conditioning, etc. He hasn't played much this year, is supposedly like 270-280lbs & although he's all world in talent/potential doesn't seem to be making the most of it.

Dude would probably be the #1 player in the league if he was healthy or in superior physical shape. Maybe they get him on the Bron training regiment lol. It's pretty bizarre, going from the finals to dealing your best player and not getting all that much for him considering.

Okay sure but even with that theory - being fed up with your player doesn't mean you just send them off to the first GM that answers the phone. All they had to do was say Luka was available and there would have been a crazy bidding war. The job of the GM is to maximize returns in any deal. This is why I speculate something else went on here.

I mean seriously, Anthony Davis and a 2029 FRP is your return for an MVP caliber player at 25 years old? Mavs fans melting down on this one.

I hate that the Luka AD trade over shadowed Wiggs 40 piece...

The Lakers will be absolutely unwatchable with both LBJ (flopping every play) and Luke (whining every play) on the same team.

The Lakers will be absolutely unwatchable with both LBJ (flopping every play) and Luke (whining every play) on the same team.

Isn't that the truth, Charles Barkley doesn't think they can play together, they both need to be on the ball all the time. Unless Luka falls in line I don't see this going well as long as Bron is still on the lakers. They would seem to be total opposites in terms of work ethics & approach to the game. Maybe it will be a wake up call for Luka. I would presume this is what the Laker's are gambling on.

Okay sure but even with that theory - being fed up with your player doesn't mean you just send them off to the first GM that answers the phone. All they had to do was say Luka was available and there would have been a crazy bidding war. The job of the GM is to maximize returns in any deal. This is why I speculate something else went on here.

I mean seriously, Anthony Davis and a 2029 FRP is your return for an MVP caliber player at 25 years old? Mavs fans melting down on this one.

I think this trade is more like a baseball type trade-straight up talent for talent, with not much in the way of filler. Anthony Davis is still a great player and should be for 4 more years, at least. He helps them win now, or not make them any worse off.

The Adelson family that recently bought the Mavericks are not know to be "basketball people". I can imagine how uncomfortable it was for them realizing that they would have to commit $350 million to a 25-year old that doesn't want to commit to being in shape and able to play at the highest level for the next 5-7 years. Have a "serious conversation" about nutrition, fitness and responsibility, have the kid say "I got you, boss" and go back to eating his Xtra large, Xtra meat, Triple Deck Pizza.

I think this trade is more like a baseball type trade-straight up talent for talent, with not much in the way of filler. Anthony Davis is still a great player and should be for 4 more years, at least.

I would honestly be shocked if Anthony Davis was still a great player as a 36-year-old.

Anthony Davis is still a great player and should be for 4 more years, at least. He helps them win now, or not make them any worse off.


Over the next 4 years, what's the over/under on the number of regular season games AD (aka Street Clothes) actually plays? 82 regular season games per year is 328 possible games... I put the over/under around 75 games (he's getting older).

This is a wild discussion. Trade was awful for the Mavs who had a superstar who wanted to stay that made the finals LAST YEAR. I bet Pelinka spit out his coffee when they called asking if he wanted Luka for AD.

This is a wild discussion. Trade was awful for the Mavs who had a superstar who wanted to stay that made the finals LAST YEAR. I bet Pelinka spit out his coffee when they called asking if he wanted Luka for AD.

After working with Luka over 6 years, the Mavericks are reluctant to pay him $70 million per year for 5 more years. They know they are going to pay someone, they just don't think it will work with him. I have to think they know better than i do.

Issues paying Luka doesn't explain the sad return though. Pelinka can put Luka up for trade right now and get offers of 5+ FRPs.

This is just baffling and like I said - I am pondering insane reasoning as to why.

Does the Mav's GM have an LA connection? Something is wrong here.

This also makes me skeptical of how accurate some of these injuries are, especially since we have a 5 game up in the WC. They're already resting players.

I think right now it's just being very cautious with players. If they had to play they would play. However yeah I think you will see more players sitting as the season goes on as long as we keep a 3 game cushion

After working with Luka over 6 years, the Mavericks are reluctant to pay him $70 million per year for 5 more years. They know they are going to pay someone, they just don't think it will work with him. I have to think they know better than i do.

I dont know. The Mavs GM previously fumbled Steph Curry's shoe deal by calling him Seth and showing him the KD presentation instead of his own. There is just no way all they could get for Luka was AD. He would be a minimum 5 First Round pick player if offered on the open league.

I'm not one to buy into a ton of theories on this but it really makes sense that the owners are trying to tank the team to either push the gambling bills through for Texas to push the team to Vegas but 2030. Either option is awful for Mavs fans. This just smells of malpractice by ownership.

Yeah, which makes it even more frustrating to watch him. Dude could be a generational talent if he’d eat a few less cheeseburgers. Fortunately I don’t really care, because his incessant bitching at refs makes me despise him. I’d honestly be fine with him washing out completely. Watching him play is like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard.

Wut?!? Luke IS a generational talent. He's accomplished more at his age than all but a few players in NBA history. He is currently on pace to be a top 10 player of all time. Complaining about Luka's weight while he drags a team to the NBA Finals seems to be missing the entire point? Dallas will be dramatically worse in the short and longterm.

This is potentially the worst trade of all time and I don't blame Mavs fans for boycotting the team. The fact that Nico didn't even canvas the league for better offers is a derelict of duty that should constitute an immediate firing (except his bosses must have approved it). We're so lucky to have such good ownership.


Sounds more & more like the Mavs were just fed up with him & conditioning, etc. He hasn't played much this year, is supposedly like 270-280lbs & although he's all world in talent/potential doesn't seem to be making the most of it.

Dude would probably be the #1 player in the league if he was healthy or in superior physical shape. Maybe they get him on the Bron training regiment lol. It's pretty bizarre, going from the finals to dealing your best player and not getting all that much for him considering.

This is like watching Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs and then trading him because of his diet. Production matters. Luke produces, especially in the playoffs.

Yeah, which makes it even more frustrating to watch him. Dude could be a generational talent if he’d eat a few less cheeseburgers. Fortunately I don’t really care, because his incessant bitching at refs makes me despise him. I’d honestly be fine with him washing out completely. Watching him play is like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard.

HE IS a GENERATIONAL talent ..

he is 5 time 1st team all NBA (more then Steph in his entire career)


and he is 25 ..

he was 2nd in the MVP award LAST SEASON ..

he has the 3rd highest scoring average of all time ..

^^^

Now, C'mon. Don't disrespect SGA. Luka was 3rd in last year's MVP voting right behind SGA.

Think how much we love SGA. Luka is far more accomplished and proven than SGA. Not only has he been at an elite level for much longer, but he's shown the ability to raise his game in the playoffs, which is the toughest thing to do. And the Mavs traded him. Again, I think this is the worst trade in NBA History. I've been trying to think of anything comparable...

You'd at least think they would have waited until after the season to see how things shake out. When healthy with Luka the Mavs were 2nd best team in the West behind us & head to head they have the advantage so as long as they made playoffs with Luka healthy they had very good chance of running it back IMO.

You'd at least think they would have waited until after the season to see how things shake out. When healthy with Luka the Mavs were 2nd best team in the West behind us & head to head they have the advantage so as long as they made playoffs with Luka healthy they had very good chance of running it back IMO.

Even if this season went poorly, it would make zero sense to pursue Luka trades this summer too. The primary goal of almost every NBA franchise is to get a player like Luka. It's pretty much unprecedented to trade them unless they're forcing their way out, which Luka wasn't doing.

You'd at least think they would have waited until after the season to see how things shake out. When healthy with Luka the Mavs were 2nd best team in the West behind us & head to head they have the advantage so as long as they made playoffs with Luka healthy they had very good chance of running it back IMO.

Does that part have anything to do with the supermax deal? From a timeline perspective?

I dont know. The Mavs GM previously fumbled Steph Curry's shoe deal by calling him Seth and showing him the KD presentation instead of his own. There is just no way all they could get for Luka was AD. He would be a minimum 5 First Round pick player if offered on the open league.

I'm not one to buy into a ton of theories on this but it really makes sense that the owners are trying to tank the team to either push the gambling bills through for Texas to push the team to Vegas but 2030. Either option is awful for Mavs fans. This just smells of malpractice by ownership.

I’ve seen this theory thrown out there and it just doesn’t make any sense at all from a financial standpoint. Vegas in all likelihood is getting an expansion team in the next 5-10 years. Moving the Mavs from one of the largest and fastest growing markets in the country to a market that 1/3 to 1/4 the size with no built in fanbase in which it will be the 4th professional franchise would be incredibly stupid. They would be better off selling it and buying into the expansion team.

That theory just the agonizing of delusional and upset Mavs fans searching for a reason that they would make such a stupid trade.

I’ve seen this theory thrown out there and it just doesn’t make any sense at all from a financial standpoint. Vegas in all likelihood is getting an expansion team in the next 5-10 years. Moving the Mavs from one of the largest and fastest growing markets in the country to a market that 1/3 to 1/4 the size with no built in fanbase in which it will be the 4th professional franchise would be incredibly stupid. They would be better off selling it and buying into the expansion team.

That theory just the agonizing of delusional and upset Mavs fans searching for a reason that they would make such a stupid trade.

I agree with this... just doesn't make sense. Vegas is already in line for an expansion team (with Seattle). I'm not sure we really have a good explanation of this... unless the Harrison is just trying to get fired.

Think people are underestimating the ability of people in power to make catastrophically bad decisions on their own volition.

The Adelson family that currently owns a majority of the Mavericks has been based in Las Vegas, but have traditionally been market pioneers. Macau; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Singapore were successful new entries. New York, at over 10 years and counting, is an example of how long they will work to open a market, with no guarantee of success. Texas is considered the last, and largest, market to allow casino gambling. The Mavericks purchase is an investment that will be very profitable in it's current market configuration, and a home run if they can get a resort/casino approved to anchor it.

Las Vegas is a mature casino market that might have an NBA opportunity. And is hyper-competitive. The Adelson family sold the Venetian/Palazzo a couple years ago and no longer own a hotel casino in Las Vegas.

LOL. He’s not a generational player. Yet. He has all of the potential in the world, for sure. So did Marcus Dupree.

Does that part have anything to do with the supermax deal? From a timeline perspective?

Good question, I am not sure.

LOL. He’s not a generational player. Yet. He has all of the potential in the world, for sure. So did Marcus Dupree.

I'm hoping you're not talking about Luka because, if so, you're just not being fair. Luka is one of the most accomplished players for his age in NBA history. He was the Euroleague MVP at 19, which is unheard of. He's already been first team all NBA FIVE(!) times by 25! LeBron is the only recent player to do that by his age. As a reference point, Steph has never done it and only 5 active NBA players total have. KD, for example, only has 6 and won't get another one. Luka's already had multiple huge playoff moments, including last year's Finals run. He's just now approaching his prime. He's on a current pace to be a top 20 player of all time... with the ability to go higher. It's just not debatable that Luka is on his way to greatness right now.

Comparing him to Marcus Dupree shows that you're not making a serious argument. Did Dupree carry an NFL team on his back to a Super Bowl? Was Dupree considered a top 5 NFL player every year? You seem to have some bizarre idea that Luka is wasting his talent or something, which of course, he's not.

Milwaukee Bucks 96 @ Oklahoma City Thunder 125



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVVY4a4qBG0

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705271



Attendance: 17,677

…You seem to have some bizarre idea that Luka is wasting his talent or something, which of course, he's not.
Dunno…the Mavs seem to share my opinion.

You say I’m not giving Luka his due but in fact I have clearly stated in multiple posts that he is “on his way to greatness,” as you put it. I’ve not disagreed that he has strong potential to be a generational player.

But if he’s not willing to exhibit the discipline and to put in the hard work to gain the edge he needs to get over the hump and win a ring, he’s simply NOT a generational player. Generational talent and generational player are two totally different things. There are people who will tell you that Joe Hammond might have been one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game. Have you heard of him? If not, look him up.

Will Luka get there? Probably. But he’ll also probably have to give up the cheeseburgers. Or WHATEVER it is that made the Mavs stop believing in him.

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Wednesday, February 5, 2025
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Dunno…the Mavs seem to share my opinion.

You say I’m not giving Luka his due but in fact I have clearly stated in multiple posts that he is “on his way to greatness,” as you put it. I’ve not disagreed that he has strong potential to be a generational player.

But if he’s not willing to exhibit the discipline and to put in the hard work to gain the edge he needs to get over the hump and win a ring, he’s simply NOT a generational player. Generational talent and generational player are two totally different things. There are people who will tell you that Joe Hammond might have been one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game. Have you heard of him? If not, look him up.

Will Luka get there? Probably. But he’ll also probably have to give up the cheeseburgers. Or WHATEVER it is that made the Mavs stop believing in him.

There is a consensus the Mavs just made the worst trade in NBA history and you’re bragging about sharing their view?!?

And I don’t understand how you don’t get this: Luka is ALREADY there. He’s 25 and on pace to be a top 10 or 20 player of all time. You keep bringing up scrubs and comparing them to a star. He’s already shown that he’s in good enough shape to drag a team through tough playoff series and to the Finals. Conditioning issues have not slowed him down. He’s been at his best at the end of the toughest games. This is similar to people who criticized Jokic’ conditioning while he was destroying the league. Luka played the 3rd most minutes per game in the league last season! The Mavs ownership are trying to leak stories about his conditioning issues that are a joke. Luka has been a healthy and available player throughout his career.

Saying he hasn’t won a championship with the mediocre talent of the team’s he’s been on before he’s 25 years old is asinine. Luka is a top 5 player whose shone the ability to raise his game when it matters most. That’s why EVERYONE is livid at this trade.

Yea, there’s definitely a non-basketball angle to this trade. The trade doesn’t make any sense based solely on the merits of the players.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9za8no-hsk&t=183s
Steve Kerr Bids FAREWELL to Buddy Hield: "Wishing Success at THUNDER" | nba news warriors
Any truth that the Thunder acquired Buddy Hield in a 6 team trade.

Yea, there’s definitely a non-basketball angle to this trade. The trade doesn’t make any sense based solely on the merits of the players.

Exactly this. The front running conspiracy that I am seeing is collusion between Mavs + Lakers + NBA as a sanction + Nike brand to 'restore ratings' by creating drama with the trade and now giving your biggest market a new superstar to follow the current biggest star. Nico Harrison is the fall-guy and now everyone makes even more stupid money.

Like I said before in this thread, the theories about Mavs not being believers of Luka just doesn't hold any water because why would they not try to get as much of a return as possible? Nico Harrison could have wanted Luka to actually be dead and you still don't trade him for AD and 1 FRP.

This trade makes the integrity of the NBA and the spirit of competitiveness in the league a sham.