With any big trade, and certainly with this one specifically, the details are pretty important.
What was the motivation?
What was the plan?
How did it all unfold?
Those are the important context questions that help make sense of a deal like this.
So what do we know?
Well, we now know these conversations began around a month ago
How are those quotes real life?
That’s what a trade conversation aroundLuka Doncicsounds like?
I have more in-depth trade conversations in my 2K Dynasty for crying out loud.
There’s something very funny about that.
I’m not sure what I thought those conversations sounded like, but it certainly wasn’t that.
Let’s just go back to the timeline of all this.
Luka Doncic got hurt on Christmas and has been out ever since.
One month ago brings you right around the first week of January.
So, did something about that injury prompt them to start this process?
Almost always, there’s a financial component.
And so we really felt like we got out in front of that.
This is why you always have to remember to look at the contract side of things.
If they didn’t, Luka is then essentially playing on an expiring deal after this season.
It would basically be the Jimmy Butler contract situation we’re currently watching all over again.
The longer you hold onto Luka, the less your return becomes.
The thing is, that’s the next part of this whole thing that still makes zero sense.
Just to get an idea of what might potentially be out there?
I can understand trying to be stealthy, but you’re always going to have the Lakers offer there.
They only had to give up 1 pick!
Even if Shams leaks it, who cares?
They’re already getting an insane price.
Imagine what the Spurs might have paid to pair Luka with Wemby?
All their young assets and all the picks you could handle.
How does OKC not even get a call?
They could offer you 10 1st round picks and not even feel it.
This is where the thought process goes off the rails.
Isn’t that the whole point of roster building?
Then you go to the next piece of this puzzle.
Why only the Lakers?
That’s certainly possible.
In business and in life, relationships matter.
Some might even say in the business of basketball, it’s everything.
It sure feels like that’s what Nico Harrison did for his buddy.
The game is the game and that’s a hell of a way to play it.
OK, so what do we know up until this point?
The Mavs wanted to part of being in the Luka Doncic business
2.
Talks started right around Luka’s injury
3.
They wanted to sure up their defense
4.
They had to make this move before the offseason to maintain their leverage
5.
That’s kind of bizarre as well.
