[fullmetal]

If you have a crystal ball and can predict with 100% certainty that a 25-yr old league phenom will not be able to get a handle on his conditioning or will not be able to stay healthy ever again...okay sure. 

But then, why negotiate in secret?  Why not shop him around and see what the market will give you for one of the top players?  Utah, the third wheel in the trade, didn't even know Luka was a piece until what, 30-60 min before the trade went through?  He led the league in PPG last (regular) season!  The failure to establish fair market value for Luka speaks to either incompetence or shenanigans.

And as far as durability is concerned, Anthony Davis is no iron man.

And,

To complain about Luka’s conditioning and then trade him for a chronically injured big man who’s six years older and not as good right now is driving me to become a conspiracy theorist. None of this passes the smell test.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/02/02/nba...les-lakers

What the trade does purport to do is boost the Dallas defense.  Sure, Luka has been known to play the role of a revolving door.  But the Mavs made it to the Finals last season, and they somewhat held their own against the Celtics (Luka playing hurt notwithstanding).  Doesn't scream Achilles heel to me.

Some moderate analysis about the Mavs' chance of a championship: https://www.si.com/nba/five-questions-lu...icks-trade

Defense wins championships, but you know, you gotta score some points to win.

Anyway, trading the young face of the franchise and a future cornerstone (a la Dirk) for an All-Star whose seasons are numbered...bold move.  Dallas fans loved Dirk, and it really felt like Luka was his spiritual successor.  Let's hope Nico Harrison didn't mix up the Luka package with the Kevin Durant package again.  (Or was he ordered to make the trade...)

[fullmetal]

If you have a crystal ball and can predict with 100% certainty that a 25-yr old league phenom will not be able to get a handle on his conditioning or will not be able to stay healthy ever again...okay sure. 

But then, why negotiate in secret?  Why not shop him around and see what the market will give you for one of the top players?  Utah, the third wheel in the trade, didn't even know Luka was a piece until what, 30-60 min before the trade went through?  He led the league in PPG last (regular) season!  The failure to establish fair market value for Luka speaks to either incompetence or shenanigans.

And as far as durability is concerned, Anthony Davis is no iron man.

And,

To complain about Luka’s conditioning and then trade him for a chronically injured big man who’s six years older and not as good right now is driving me to become a conspiracy theorist. None of this passes the smell test.

https://www.theringer.com/2025/02/02/nba...les-lakers

What the trade does purport to do is boost the Dallas defense.  Sure, Luka has been known to play the role of a revolving door.  But the Mavs made it to the Finals last season, and they somewhat held their own against the Celtics (Luka playing hurt notwithstanding).  Doesn't scream Achilles heel to me.

Some moderate analysis about the Mavs' chance of a championship: https://www.si.com/nba/five-questions-lu...icks-trade

Defense wins championships, but you know, you gotta score some points to win.

Anyway, trading the young face of the franchise and a future cornerstone (a la Dirk) for an All-Star whose seasons are numbered...bold move.  Dallas fans loved Dirk, and it really felt like Luka was his spiritual successor.  Let's hope Nico Harrison didn't mix up the Luka package with the Kevin Durant package again.  (Or was he ordered to make the trade...)