Luka Doncic Discussion: Lean Mean Slovenian Scoring Machine

Are Lakers WILLING TO TAKE BIG RISKS This OFFSEASON to BUILD AROUND LUKA DONCIC?

 

I just threw PJ on there because I love the way he plays. Herb Jones could easily slot right in there and I'd be more than happy with that. Gafford I think is the key though. He doesn't fit the timeline for the Mavs anymore. They paid him so he wouldn't walk for nothing. I can tell you right now that if the Mavs got a 1st rounder and Knecht back they would be super happy. They are excited about Masai and Flagg. They feel like they have turned the page and are excited about the future again. I think a lot of them (as much as they hate the Lakers) would actually be happy for Gafford to be reunited with Luka.

It's a weird dynamic with Mavs fans now after losing Luka. Me personally, I never looked back. I don't care what they do. I'm all in on the Lakers. There are quite a few that followed that path. Then, you have the Mavs die hards. Their hatred was for Nico and Cuban. Mavs fans have had a love/hate relationship with Cuban ever since he let Tyson Chandler walk after winning a title. People always bring up Nash. But, Chandler is the one that hurt. They win the title after getting TY. They immediately let him walk and don't do anything to really add anything for Dirk's final years. Cuban got some hate for that. Then, there was Brunson. That was the final straw for a lot of them. Then, he hired Nico and sold his majority ownership of the team. I was one that was glad to see him go. But, Nico became a monster and destroyed the organization.

Like I said, it's a very odd dynamic. Nico destroyed the fan base. I have friends that don't even watch NBA anymore and they were die hard fans going to several games a year. The Mavs fan base is down about 35-40% from what it was. Masai, Flagg and the possibility of a new coach have really re-invigorated the fan base. Most of the fan base hated Kidd toward the end. We all knew he was involved in trading Luka.

Sorry to go off on a Mavs rant. I just thought it would help frame why I don't think there will be any reason why the Mavs would avoid trading with the Lakers. As long as they get back something that excites the fans they really won't care. Another 1st round pick and a young shooter would do just that. The real problem for most fans was trading Luka for what was considered nothing.

In fact, one fan on a forum I used to be on said that they traded Luka for a first rounder, a second rounder, and a bag of street clothes.

AD played 29 games in a Dallas uniform. Max was an early 2nd rounder and they got a first round pick for arguably the new face of the league coming off a finals run. The Lakers just happened to be the recipient. I'm happy for the fans that they got Flagg. But, I'm here to stay.

 

If the Mavs were a legitimate trading partner (which I don't believe they are), a good trade could be:

Gafford & Christie for Vando, Knecht & 2 firsts.

Luka - Reaves - Christie - Lebron - Gafford is a good fitting lineup.

 

We'd probably need to add more since Vando is negative and Knecht is nothing. I feel like if we took Vando out and also took on their Caleb Martin contract, maybe they'd do it.

 

I don't think Christie will be on the table. He's young and fits with Flagg. That's what they are looking at. They have already said that PJ, Thompson, and Gafford are open to move.

I think Gafford ends up as a Laker. I would like to see PJ or Herb Jones.

 

christie's an all-time stats vs. eye test guy for me. my eyes tell me he is good and has the tools you want as a high-level 5th starter glue-guy type, but the stats consistently hate him all over the floor, lol.

 

The Kings WERE going to trade with us just 4 years ago until LeBron and AD blew it all to hell. The smart Bot remembers.

AI Overview


The Sacramento Kings were going to trade Buddy Hield to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal that would have sent Kyle Kuzma to Sacramento in July 2021. The proposed trade also would have involved the Lakers sending Montrezl Harrell to the Kings. [1, 2, 3]
Ultimately, the Lakers backed out of the Kings deal and packaged Kuzma, Harrell, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in a trade with the Washington Wizards to acquire Russell Westbrook. [1, 2]

 

yeah, we kinda burned the bridge there. and rob had to make that choice and is now living with it, watching competitors just work sacramento to their advantage time and again.