Luka to the Lakers

[Jar11591]

Anybody who follows basketball knows how out of left field this trade was. When I first saw the headline, I had to check the date and I expected to see April 1st. Pretty hard to justify trading away a 25 year old superstar who has top 10 all time potential and just led your team to a Finals appearance. 
 

This trade seems like possibly the worst trade in history, and the more I think about it, the more it seems like Dallas has inside information that Donçic’s leg was about to fall off or something. Even if you point to his injury history, it still doesn’t make sense when you realize the player they got in return is 6 years older and even more injury prone. Im glad I’m not a Dallas fan. 

[TnRiver46]

LeBron still chasing a ghost 

 

Dallas definitely sounds drunk 

[casts_by_fly]

A sportswriter I follow (Andrew brandt) has a couple maxims and sayings.

 

"There will be lawyers"

"Deadlines spur action"

 

And the most useful one here:

 

"When the question is why, the answer is usually money"

 

In this case, I think Dallas looked at what they had with him and decided he wasn't worth the supermax they were about to be forced to pay him.  I think where everyone has different opinions is about 'worth'.  Yes he's 25 and just took you to the finals.  Yes he's averaging 28/8/8 over the past 5 years (for those that don't follow basketball, that's very good).  But he has an injury history.  He has a history of showing up overweight and out of shape.  He doesn't play defense (and I think he's actually a defensive liability).  He definitely has an attitude that you can see on the court.  What we the viewers can't see is him in the locker room.  If he's all of the above but a good teammate then they probably work with him to fix all of that.  If he's all of that and disruptive in the locker room then that's a problem.  I think Dallas came to that conclusion and that's why they traded him.

 

That's not to say they got what they deserved.  I think they honed in on AD and said "that's our guy".  When you're negotiating and only have 1 main thing that you're after you limit how much you can get from the deal, especially when you're the one that initiated it.  If it had been open bidding they could have gotten more for sure.  

 

You also have to look at the flip side for the lakers- they just lost their #2 guy.  I haven't looked at the analytics, but when I've watched them play and AD isn't on the floor they are a below average team and only look good if someone not named LeBron is having a hot night.  Without AD on the floor they are small (even with him they were small).  Now what are they going to do for a big man?

 

I think its a short and long term win for the lakers.  While they have lost a big man and a lot of defense, they now have the ability to split Luka and LeBron and always have someone on the floor who will kill you from anywhere on the court.  They can put them both on the same floor and you have to decide who to guard.  If Morris can hold down the fort on defense then I can see the lakers climbing to 2 or 3 in the west and making a legitimate run to the finals.  As they were configured before, the only way they were getting there was if someone else got hot (Reeves?, Hachi?).  Long term, you have the opportunity to work with and coach up a top 5 player in the league.

[casts_by_fly]

On 2/4/2025 at 2:02 PM, casts_by_fly said:

You also have to look at the flip side for the lakers- they just lost their #2 guy.  I haven't looked at the analytics, but when I've watched them play and AD isn't on the floor they are a below average team and only look good if someone not named LeBron is having a hot night.  Without AD on the floor they are small (even with him they were small).  Now what are they going to do for a big man?

 

 

 

And now that is answered.  They traded for a big center.

 

So long term they get luka and a big center, but have given up their young talent and a bunch of picks.  They are going to have to hit the waiver wire in 2 years to fill out the roster.

 

[TnRiver46]

Lakers traded my boy Dalton knecht, thank goodness 

[Jar11591]

@casts_by_fly the Lakers are taking the rare “win now but still try to win later” strategy. Luckily it’s pretty easy to sign free agents in LA, and with LeBron having to retire sometime and Luka no longer eligible for the supermax extension, they should have a little money to play with. Unless they plan on backing up the Brinks truck for Bronny 😂
 

Davis made his Mavs debut…..aaaaaaaand he’s already out. Dallas got absolutely fleeced. 

[casts_by_fly]

Just now, Jar11591 said:

@casts_by_fly the Lakers are taking the rare “win now but still try to win later” strategy. Luckily it’s pretty easy to sign free agents in LA, and with LeBron having to retire sometime and Luka no longer eligible for the supermax extension, they should have a little money to play with. Unless they plan on backing up the Brinks truck for Bronny 😂
 

Davis made his Mavs debut…..aaaaaaaand he’s already out. Dallas got absolutely fleeced. 

and the lakers backups without Luka or LeBron just beat a pretty decent pacers team. They didn’t look exciting or explosive, but if a bunch of backups and second tier guys can do that it’s pretty optimistic. Then add those two on top…

[TnRiver46]

Knecht trade canceled? What the heck ? 

[Jar11591]

Yup. Just heard on my drive home. Not sure why. 
 

Looks like Williams failed his physical. Not surprising considering he’s missed like 150 games in 3 seasons. Has any trade ever had more total games spent on the injured list?

Edited Sunday at 03:01 AM by Jar11591

[fishhugger]

how much input did lebron have in this?  and ----------- AD is always getting injured. that's just him.  he can't help you if he's sittin' on the bench in street clothes.  lebron will probably have a great influence on luka.  this has gotta be a lakers win.  as for now the lakers lacking a true big --- look at the warriors.  they were able to recycle big men.  i forget how many titles they won with that.  four?  

[Jar11591]

@fishhugger Golden State did it with Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli, Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee, and Kevon Looney. Like you said, all recycled bigs. LA should be able to find someone at least as capable as any of these guys at rim protection. 
 

Im really excited to see Luka and LeBron play together. 

[casts_by_fly]

except they don't have one now and we're past the deadline.  I think they are a playoff finalist level, but they are going to have to figure out some defense that isn't immediately obvious.

[TnRiver46]

Nuggets own the lakers 

[Jar11591]

Jokić is an unstoppable force that has yet to meet an immovable object. 

[fishhugger]

On 2/10/2025 at 8:46 AM, Jar11591 said:

@fishhugger Golden State did it with Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli, Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee, and Kevon Looney. Like you said, all recycled bigs. LA should be able to find someone at least as capable as any of these guys at rim protection. 
 

Im really excited to see Luka and LeBron play together. 

two games into the jimmy butler era ---- two wins.... will it last?  maybe. butler and curry seem like they could fit.  also, the warriors maybe have their new center in this 7' 24 yo dutch guy, who sprung up out of nowhere????  quenten post...  they sort of have a team that now could make a run.