Luka for AD trade

[BrewerFan]

I know we don't talk about other trades on this board a lot, but this is such a shocking trade it feels like it deserves a thread.

The Mavs...coming off an NBA Finals with a 25-year-old Larry Bird-esque talent, just traded him and Kleber to the Lakers for a 31-year-old big with a pretty substantial injury history...both turn 26 and 32 later this season, but this is one of those paradigm-shifting trades that seems to mainly happen to the Lakers.

 

Maybe David Stearns can come back and veto this nonsense. Luka and LeBron is going to be an elite pick 'n roll duo. Two 6'8 big wings who can pass like they can and score like they can?

What in the hell was Dallas thinking? That 2029 1st worth that much? They already identify a Wemby-type player? (I don't know if that's sarcasm or just disbelief). 

If this was Giannis and he WANTED out I'd be upset, but I'd think he earned the right and that's a decent starting point I suppose. But Luka didn't want out from what I've read. They just really think this makes them better. Kyrie running the offense and AD manning the post. 

[OldHeidelberg]

It’s like trading Ray Allen for Gary Payton.

[nate82]

Dallas did a bit better than the Bucks did when they traded Ray Allen.  That is the only trade I can think of right now that is similar.

[BrewerFan]

27 minutes ago, OldHeidelberg said:

It’s like trading Ray Allen for Gary Payton.

Yeah...I suppose Gary Payton saying, "I don't want to play in Milwaukee," makes that a little more comparable.

They reportedly approached another team about a Luka trade first. Some are suggesting it was Milwaukee.

Just for the sake of argument...what would we think about that? You get a younger star and more of a timeline to compete.

 

This is almost like the Kareem trade if Kareem didn't want to be traded.

 

[LouisEly]

I cannot believe that Mark Cuban allowed this to happen.

 

6 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

They reportedly approached another team about a Luka trade first. Some are suggesting it was Milwaukee.

If they did they had to have asked for Giannis otherwise the answer should have been, "anything you want".

[homer]

3 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

I cannot believe that Mark Cuban allowed this to happen.

 

If they did they had to have asked for Giannis otherwise the answer should have been, "anything you want".

Cuban sold his majority stake and doesn't run things anymore.

[BrewerFan]

1 minute ago, LouisEly said:

I cannot believe that Mark Cuban allowed this to happen.

 

If they did they had to have asked for Giannis otherwise the answer should have been, "anything you want".

I think it was obviously Giannis. The Mavs GM talked about how you need an athletic big who can defend to win...that's

As for Cuban, he sold most of the Mavs. He's a minority owner... but, he still owns enough that you think he was either removed from this conversation or he was opposed.

What else can possibly be going on here? Does Buss have something on the Dallas owners?

[LouisEly]

22 minutes ago, homer said:

Cuban sold his majority stake and doesn't run things anymore.

Cuban still has operational oversight of the team.  The two new majority owners have final say.

[homer]

49 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

Cuban still has operational oversight of the team.  The two new majority owners have final say.

he does not

 

Quote

For starters, it wasn't Cuban. While he's still a minority owner in the team, Cuban -- who once said he'd sooner divorce his wife than let Doncic go to another NBA franchise -- confirmed to WFAA that he wasn't involved in the call.

Of course, that's no surprise. Cuban hasn't been part of day-to-day basketball operations since selling off his stake in the team to the Adelson family of Las Vegas.

Instead, Patrick Dumont, the son-in-law of casino magnate Miriam Adelson, has been the Mavericks' "governor," the NBA's title for a team's primary owner (Cuban was previously the governor). Dumont and the rest of the Adelson family purchased a majority stake in the Mavericks from Cuban back at the end of 2023

https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nba/mavericks/luka-doncic-trade-dallas-mavericks-owners-general-manager-mark-cuban-nico-harrison/287-4b7f83cd-85af-419f-b593-317856351e1b

[GAME05]

Luka is 40 lbs. heaver now than his rookie year which wasn't all that long ago. He's been getting injured more and more often which the team says is a result of him not being in shape, and it doesn't look like he has any real desire to change that. There's a clip of him drinking a beer after a game and a teammate taking it away from him.

And being a year away from a Supermax deal, Dallas avoids what it sees as a potential Zion Williamson situation of having an overweight, oft-injured player they can't get rid of. Anthony Davis is on the downhill side of stardom, but he goes back to being a true 5 which he's better at and they get a good 3-and-D guy, too. It's a win-now move on what is already a good team instead of rebuilding.

Although at least assuming the Lakers had draft picks to trade, Dallas should have been able to get a couple, especially with LeBron retiring probably at the end of the year.

 

[Matt Breen]

To me, the crazy thing is that the Dallas GM didn't feel out other teams about a deal. He honed in on LA and only LA. Seems like he could have scored a bigger haul from other clubs. But who knows. Just seems like Dallas could have got quite a bit more.

[CheezWizHed]

How is Dirk Nowitzki going to explain this to his kid???

[tmwiese55]

2 hours ago, Matt Breen said:

To me, the crazy thing is that the Dallas GM didn't feel out other teams about a deal. He honed in on LA and only LA. Seems like he could have scored a bigger haul from other clubs. But who knows. Just seems like Dallas could have got quite a bit more.

And the two GMs are buddies, hmm.

Yea I get the concerns on if Luka has the work ethic to go to the next level and the talk on that big extension coming.  But, it still makes no sense.  They do realize AD is just as injuruy prone while bein 7 years older, plus he's also going to demand a max extension soon.   So, max extension for an injury prone 26/27 year old or a 32/33 year old?

[patrickgpe]

19 hours ago, OldHeidelberg said:

It’s like trading Ray Allen for Gary Payton.

basically, but even worse Payton was a rental that didn't want to be here. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I will go against the grain, sort of. I actually get trading Luka. If you are concerned about his fitness level, which I would be. He is not a workout warrior or a LeBron that does anything and everything for an edge. He's just extremely skilled. I get their trepidation with the supermax on the horizon. I don't think they were going to do it, so they got in front of it. 

AD is where it stops making sense though. He's 31, and injured himself. They could have dished Luka for an absolute haul of picks. There were ways for this to make sense if they really didn't believe in Luka. And they didn't seem to advertise he was available. There would have been a bidding war.

[Joseph Zarr]

All I know is, by my rigorous mathematical trade models, post-Luka trade...

The Bucks send out Khash Money and their unprotected 2031 1st Rd pick and they receive SGA and a OKC's 2031 2nd in return.

OR, as recent rumors hint at, they could continue to pivot to the Jordan Poole of SF's in Kyle Kuzma. My Magic Eight Ball still reads "The future is unclear."

[BrewerFan]

On 2/2/2025 at 8:04 PM, GAME05 said:

Luka is 40 lbs. heaver now than his rookie year which wasn't all that long ago. He's been getting injured more and more often which the team says is a result of him not being in shape, and it doesn't look like he has any real desire to change that. There's a clip of him drinking a beer after a game and a teammate taking it away from him.

And being a year away from a Supermax deal, Dallas avoids what it sees as a potential Zion Williamson situation of having an overweight, oft-injured player they can't get rid of. Anthony Davis is on the downhill side of stardom, but he goes back to being a true 5 which he's better at and they get a good 3-and-D guy, too. It's a win-now move on what is already a good team instead of rebuilding.

Although at least assuming the Lakers had draft picks to trade, Dallas should have been able to get a couple, especially with LeBron retiring probably at the end of the year.

 

Dallas probably gets more back in return for Luka after he signs that extension. Any team in the league would have given that to him...but with it signed, it just guarantees you have a 25(soon to be 26) year old Superstar who JUST took your team to the NBA Finals putting up ~34PPG and...by the way, the injuries...you better be right about that as Dallas....otherwise you just gave up a historic player who was playing a LOT of minutes and staying healthy for a player who is historically unreliable and injury prone and 6 years older.

And I'd be shocked if they don't give AD that same extension after all of this.

Comparing him to Zion...he consistently plays more minutes than Giannis. You gave up the potential of injuries for the guarantee of injuries.

 

And the Beer thing, that was Michael Finley, it was after they won the West(or at least in the WCFs) and I don't know the context. Maybe something comes out...I'd just think you better try everything before you take this type of step. I'm thinking this deal would be on the table in a year from now. I think the Mavs actually made the argument(maybe believe it also) that they're closer with Kyrie as the primary ball handler and AD as their big.

As for LeBron...I think a retirement this year would be shocking. He's still probably a top 10 player. Having Luka next to him, that may extend his career 2-3 more seasons(not to mention his son).  I don't think he's going one and done with Bronnie....no matter how worthy he is of a roster spot. Hell, I expect Thanasis back next year.

 

I get it with Luka, but you'd think at his age and coming off a finals run, you'd exhaust all other options.

 

He could definitely become a Zion type of a Derek Rose type(more fluke than anything) type. At the moment though, he's one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history and just 25 years old. I'd be sick as a Mavs fan...even if this ends up being the right move.

[BrewerFan]

On 2/3/2025 at 1:34 PM, OldSchoolSnapper said:

I will go against the grain, sort of. I actually get trading Luka. If you are concerned about his fitness level, which I would be. He is not a workout warrior or a LeBron that does anything and everything for an edge. He's just extremely skilled. I get their trepidation with the supermax on the horizon. I don't think they were going to do it, so they got in front of it. 

AD is where it stops making sense though. He's 31, and injured himself. They could have dished Luka for an absolute haul of picks. There were ways for this to make sense if they really didn't believe in Luka. And they didn't seem to advertise he was available. There would have been a bidding war.

If you believe the Mavs GM...it actually sounds like they think this is their best chance to win a title. Kyrie has been pretty locked in and pretty good. And that team is more well rounded now.

I'm still definitely going for the haul than the short term and unlikely title run.

I just can't imagine what OKC would have given up for him(there is a suggestion in a link below). I think he's a little too similar to SGA, but worry about that later.

They suggest Ant Edwards for Luka. That's one I don't know if Minnesota does. He's such a fun dude to watch, but I bet they think about it.

Or Houston(though I don't know if Dallas would deal with their rivals).

Both Houston and OKC include a lot of picks and young stars. Seguin could have been thrown in there. OKC, Jalen Williams stud and they have all those picks. Or Chet?

It kinda feels like the possibilities seem outrageous now, but at the time only Anthony Edwards would have been a debate.

 

It'll be interesting to revisit this in a year, two or more and see which team is better off, but as you alluded to, there's no shot this was the best Dallas could do.

https://fansided.com/constructing-3-better-luka-doncic-trade-packages-mavs-easily-made-happen

[Joseph Zarr]

This ongoing Mavericks fall out is incredible. Kyrie ACL tear. AD saying he is considering calling it a season to prepare for 2026? Ball don't lie, I guess. What a literal clown show.

[SeaBass]

I don't know, to me if Kyrie was going to be injured anyway is Dallas even that big of a playoff threat even with Luka? To me it kind of justifies moving him in a weird way especially if they were wary of committing to him long term. Headlines are trashing them over it but injuries aren't predictable and Luka has dealt with his own over the years as well.

He's a great player and in his prime, the risk was going to be huge regardless if all this was going to happen or not. They chose their path and I don't think I'd look back only because of the injuries to AD and Kyrie. It's much more long term than that.

[tmwiese55]

3 minutes ago, SeaBass said:

I don't know, to me if Kyrie was going to be injured anyway is Dallas even that big of a playoff threat even with Luka? To me it kind of justifies moving him in a weird way especially if they were wary of committing to him long term. Headlines are trashing them over it but injuries aren't predictable and Luka has dealt with his own over the years as well.

He's a great player and in his prime, the risk was going to be huge regardless if all this was going to happen or not. They chose their path and I don't think I'd look back only because of the injuries to AD and Kyrie. It's much more long term than that.

They made the Finals last year with the same roster.    And well who knows if Kyrie injury happens without the trade, big butterfly effect.   But I wouldn't say it justifies it, to me it proves why it was dumb to invest in two oft injured 32ish year olds instead of the 25 year old.

I do get their point that Kyrie/Luka are kind of redundant to each other and I would be hesitant to be giving Kyrie his upcoming 300 mil contract (before injury), so if I really wanted a shake up I would've tried to trade Kyrie for youth/wings/athleticism etc.  Definitely wouldn't have sought another old guy who's oft injured like AD.  Or you know, just play it out since you were in the NBA finals 9 months ago with a 25 year old multiple time All NBA player. 

[SeaBass]

5 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

But I wouldn't say it justifies it, to me it proves why it was dumb to invest in two oft injured 32ish year olds instead of the 25 year old.

Justifies was probably a poor word choice on my part but if they didn't like their long term outlook with Luka, which how could anyone read it otherwise, this shouldn't change their in house opinion because of it.

Their choice of what they did while executing the trade and receiving in return is worthy of scrutiny. I think they really valued no media leaks about trade discussions and if they had truly shopped him around leaks would have been inevitable. Asking one team to remain silent has a better success factor.

In hindsight though they probably shouldn't have worried as much about media leaks because the fallout would have likely been the same as what they're getting now. Maybe a little worse but it's still a huge thing to where I don't think they should have worried as much about it.

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, post-Luka trade after acquiring the wrong side of chronically made of glass soon to be 32-year-old AD, J Kidd and the Mavericks 'brain trust' were supporting the playing of Kyrie 40 mpg. I can't help but think that 'might' contribute to tired legs and an over-extended consummate team player in soon to be 33-year-old Kyrie. Kryie is a fantastic player - one of the best to ever play offense in the NBA. However, he's 7 years older than Luka. And, now, he'll be 33 years old coming off an ACL some time around the time he'll be turning 34.

Any way you look at this trade it was disastrous. Just look at the fall out with their fanbase. You can't in right conscience trade a 26-year-old generational superstar because your higher ups have an ego/cultural clash. You craft your organization around that type of talent. You prioritize his Prime Window. The Mavericks jettisoned him in an absolutely myopic maneuver failing to even consider other options. It wreaks of incompetence at every level. And, it shouldn't come remotely as a surprise given the man sitting in the Head Coach's chair. 

Even if you support the notion Luka had overplayed his welcome within the organization, you can't not shop him for the best package. You can't simply zero in on a single package. It just does not support your side of things in the public arena. And, this (and many other reasons) is why the Mavericks are being universally bashed by the NBA community's analysts. They are universally chastised here and for good reason. This past week, analysts have been going so far as the owner needs to fire Nico Harrison to save some semblance of good will from their fan base's eyes. When do you ever see this type of universal discourse in professional sports? I can't remember. 

[SeaBass]

20 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

When do you ever see this type of universal discourse in professional sports? I can't remember. 

The Herschel Walker trade comes to mind. The Saints trade for the 5th overall pick to draft Ricky Williams. Still not sure those quite fit the Luka situation.

NFL and NBA are a little apples and oranges since a superstar on an NBA team can be argued to be much more valuable (1 of 5 starters having more impact than 1 of 11 or 22) but those weren't great moves for the receiving teams that are still referenced today.

A little closer to home the Ray Allen trade certainly wasn't great for Milwaukee.

[LouisEly]

On 3/5/2025 at 11:31 AM, Joseph Zarr said:

When do you ever see this type of universal discourse in professional sports? I can't remember. 

You're missing the obvious.

Gorman Thomas. 

And the Brewers haven't been to the World Series since. "The Curse of Gorman Thomas" as I have been referring to for decades.