NBA (whenever)...

[Federberg]

so is that the most shocking trade EVER in the NBA? The Luka/AD thing...

Never saw that coming! Feels like the Mavs should have got more.

I'm having difficulty figuring out who wins that trade. Luka and Lebron are both so ball dominant. They might be able to figure it out, but what about Austin Reeves??

 

[DarthFed]

so is that the most shocking trade EVER in the NBA? The Luka/AD thing...

Never saw that coming! Feels like the Mavs should have got more.

I'm having difficulty figuring out who wins that trade. Luka and Lebron are both so ball dominant. They might be able to figure it out, but what about Austin Reeves??

I’m speechless…it’d be a very surprising trade if they were the same age but Luka is 6 years younger which makes this way more stunning. While Luka may not be the most durable thats also a concern with Davis. I imagine we will find out more in the near future as it almost certainly is the case that Doncic’s relationship with the Mavs is far worse than is currently known.

I do agree the fit between Luka and LeBron seems awkward but I thought the same thing with Luka and Kyrie. And even if Luka and LeBron don’t work well together this is still a great trade for the Lakers since LeBron will likely retire in a year or two, and then you still have a mega superstar in Luka to build around.

 

[Federberg]

I’m speechless…it’d be a very surprising trade if they were the same age but Luka is 6 years younger which makes this way more stunning. While Luka may not be the most durable thats also a concern with Davis. I imagine we will find out more in the near future as it almost certainly is the case that Doncic’s relationship with the Mavs is far worse than is currently known.

I do agree the fit between Luka and LeBron seems awkward but I thought the same thing with Luka and Kyrie. And even if Luka and LeBron don’t work well together this is still a great trade for the Lakers since LeBron will likely retire in a year or two, and then you still have a mega superstar in Luka to build around.

I think the Luka and Kyrie thing was never a problem. Luka is the Lebron archetype offensively at least, and we all know given the Cavs that Kyrie would be a great complement. I'm actually less concerned about Luka and Lebron. Poor Austin Reeves! Knecht will flourish though. Also I think the Lakers are going to need both a 5 and an athletic wing. How on earth are they going to manage that with a Luka max contract coming on the horizon?

 

[DarthFed]

I think the Luka and Kyrie thing was never a problem. Luka is the Lebron archetype offensively at least, and we all know given the Cavs that Kyrie would be a great complement. I'm actually less concerned about Luka and Lebron. Poor Austin Reeves! Knecht will flourish though. Also I think the Lakers are going to need both a 5 and an athletic wing. How on earth are they going to manage that with a Luka max contract coming on the horizon?

Yeah I still don’t see the Lakers as true contenders because they are set up to be absolutely terrible on defense. Having Davis covered up a lot of their warts on that end. With that said, adding Luka still pushes their ceiling higher and if LA is lucky enough to avoid Denver they could maybe have a small chance. But just picturing Jokic against this team now…it’d be ugly for them. And even if they avoided Denver I feel like a lot would have to bounce their way to get by other top teams.

 

[kskate2]

I’m speechless…it’d be a very surprising trade if they were the same age but Luka is 6 years younger which makes this way more stunning. While Luka may not be the most durable thats also a concern with Davis. I imagine we will find out more in the near future as it almost certainly is the case that Doncic’s relationship with the Mavs is far worse than is currently known.

I do agree the fit between Luka and LeBron seems awkward but I thought the same thing with Luka and Kyrie. And even if Luka and LeBron don’t work well together this is still a great trade for the Lakers since LeBron will likely retire in a year or two, and then you still have a mega superstar in Luka to build around.

Luka showing up out of shape and overweight was the beginning of the end. He then gets injured and was delaying his return to the court. The Mavs were not happy campers and let their frustration be known by screwing him out of over 100 mil. I hope this trade works out for them. Who's going to drop 30 every night for them now?

 

[Federberg]

Luka showing up out of shape and overweight was the beginning of the end. He then gets injured and was delaying his return to the court. The Mavs were not happy campers and let their frustration be known by screwing him out of over 100 mil. I hope this trade works out for them. Who's going to drop 30 every night for them now?

It's such a risky move. I can't believe how this kind of good fortune continually happens for the Lakers. One would almost think the thing is rigged!

If AD was reliably fit then it's not a terrible move from a pure basketball perspective I guess. He's a 25 point a game player and in my view probably one of the two or three best defenders in the league (we're in Wemby's world now). That could be a stifling defence. I'm just not sure I trust Klay to consistently offer the backup on offence that's necessary to make this a nailed on smart move

 

[DarthFed]

Luka showing up out of shape and overweight was the beginning of the end. He then gets injured and was delaying his return to the court. The Mavs were not happy campers and let their frustration be known by screwing him out of over 100 mil. I hope this trade works out for them. Who's going to drop 30 every night for them now?

Did he really actively delay his return to the court? I know he has been dealing with a calf sprain which can be lingering, and clearly him being out of shape only made it tougher and more likely he’d get hurt. But that’s different from him being healthy enough to play and deciding not to.

There’s no way in hell this trade works for them KS, barring something crazy like them winning the next couple titles with AD going nuts. Even then you’d have a lot of pissed off fans just saying they’d have still won with Luka.

And to add another major kick to the balls, AD lasted 3 quarters in his Mavs debut and is now out at least a few weeks. If you’re going to trade a generational talent at 25 years old because he isn’t durable/reliable, you may want to avoid trading him damn near straight up for a 31 year old with the nickname Street Clothes . It will never happen but I wish this trade was being investigated. Maybe the ownership and/or GM are hoping the team moves to Vegas. Maybe LeBron paid them $300 million out of his pocket…ok joking about the last one but you get the point.

 

[DarthFed]

That Wemby news is pretty sad. People are brushing it off as though it’s just the rest of the season but it’s very optimistic to think this won’t be a long-term issue that will be an enormous threat to his career. Being 7’4 just leaves him open to a lot of “weird stuff” especially when he’s that lanky, and this exact thing cut Bosh’s career short.

I think if the guy somehow remains healthy and has a long career he is a guaranteed top 10 player ever and very possibly top 5. He’d be greater than Giannis, Luka and possibly even Jokic all said and done. He is a freak and would be the greatest defensive player we’ve seen with great athleticism and a decent all-around bag on offense. But he could now end up the sport’s greatest what if.

And on a side note…is anyone here into sports memorabilia? The people that have spent their life savings on Wemby memorabilia have to be shitting bricks now lol.

 

[Federberg]

That Wemby news is pretty sad. People are brushing it off as though it’s just the rest of the season but it’s very optimistic to think this won’t be a long-term issue that will be an enormous threat to his career. Being 7’4 just leaves him open to a lot of “weird stuff” especially when he’s that lanky, and this exact thing cut Bosh’s career short.

I think if the guy somehow remains healthy and has a long career he is a guaranteed top 10 player ever and very possibly top 5. He’d be greater than Giannis, Luka and possibly even Jokic all said and done. He is a freak and would be the greatest defensive player we’ve seen with great athleticism and a decent all-around bag on offense. But he could now end up the sport’s greatest what if.

And on a side note…is anyone here into sports memorabilia? The people that have spent their life savings on Wemby memorabilia have to be shitting bricks now lol.

I think Brandon Ingram had the same thing happen years ago. At roughly this time in the season. His season was shut down and he came back at the start of the next season and it's never happened again. It need not be more than that. We'll just have to wait and see. He's so incredibly disciplined with his conditioning I have to think he'll incorporate whatever he has to do, even if he has to take blood thinners going forward. Ironically if they do a soft tank now, isn't this upcoming draft supposed to be a decent one?

 

[Federberg]

On Luka.. he's surely going to get better than his showing so far. Ironically I can see the Lakers being formidable in the regular season but the defensive flaws might be too big to overcome in a playoff scenario. They're already targeting him. Your point about investigating the Luka trade is on point @DarthFed but how about the Williams trade too!? The word is that he would have passed most teams medicals. Something really fishy there

 

[DarthFed]

I think Brandon Ingram had the same thing happen years ago. At roughly this time in the season. His season was shut down and he came back at the start of the next season and it's never happened again. It need not be more than that. We'll just have to wait and see. He's so incredibly disciplined with his conditioning I have to think he'll incorporate whatever he has to do, even if he has to take blood thinners going forward. Ironically if they do a soft tank now, isn't this upcoming draft supposed to be a decent one?

That’s true, I had forgot about Ingram having it. Hopefully it goes that way and not like Bosh.

I hear it is a pretty stacked draft. I don’t pay much attention to college hoops but it seems Flagg will go #1 barring any surprises. I think he will be really good, surprising athleticism given…what I won’t say lol. And 6’9 and he has that dog in him.

 

[DarthFed]

On Luka.. he's surely going to get better than his showing so far. Ironically I can see the Lakers being formidable in the regular season but the defensive flaws might be too big to overcome in a playoff scenario. They're already targeting him. Your point about investigating the Luka trade is on point @DarthFed but how about the Williams trade too!? The word is that he would have passed most teams medicals. Something really fishy there

I am really curious about this Williams trade saga too. Has a feel of the Lakers second guessing the trade and deciding against it. Knecht is a good shooter and Williams is beyond fragile. If healthy he’d fit their current needs, but no reason to think he’d remain healthy especially by the end of the season.

Luka is in crap shape and maybe rushed coming back too quickly.

 

[Federberg]

That’s true, I had forgot about Ingram having it. Hopefully it goes that way and not like Bosh.

I hear it is a pretty stacked draft. I don’t pay much attention to college hoops but it seems Flagg will go #1 barring any surprises. I think he will be really good, surprising athleticism given…what I won’t say lol. And 6’9 and he has that dog in him.

there's another kid who some have speculated could run him close for the no. 1 pick. But like you I don't pay close enough attention

 

[Federberg]

This season is turning into a COMPLETE disaster for the Mavericks with Kyrie going down. I really really hope it's not a season ender!