The USA Sports Thread

[largebus]

I was in Dallas for game 1 of the NBA finals and despite the loss all the fans I talked to were just happy they had got rid of Cuban as majority owner. This is worse than anything Cuban did, JFC

 

[jod23]

Insane trade. Just insane.

It says a lot about Doncic perhaps. I mean he's an MVP type guy. Top three player in the league. He's 26.

Yet you actively trade him.

This wasnt him asking for a trade. You traded him haha... bizarre.

His health must be absolutely ****ed or he's a flog.

Trading for sick not Davis though is insane. Dallas must still think they are in a championship window.

 

[HumanMeatball]

The afl equivalent is Dustin Martin at 24 for a 29 year old ablett and pick 10

 

[Jatz]

AD is a beast but he always gets injured and turns 32 next month. Luka is about to turn 26 and should be an MVP calibre player for the next five or so years. The Mavs GM will get fired over this.

I'm not totally against moving him on but how did they not bother creating a bidding war for him?

 

[Jatz]

I was in Dallas for game 1 of the NBA finals and despite the loss all the fans I talked to were just happy they had got rid of Cuban as majority owner. This is worse than anything Cuban did, JFC

Even though he wasn't majority owner, I thought he still played a role for the team now?

Be interesting to see his take on it.

 

[jod23]

I'm not totally against moving him on but how did they not bother creating a bidding war for him?

I think there was only a couple of players they wanted. They wanted an elite big who can defend. For Luka, the only two blokes who qualify would be Giannis and AD. The Bucks arent trading Giannis.

It leaves AD.

Sure they could have gotten like 10 first round picks from SAS or something but they dont want picks. They want to compete for a championship. They think the window is open now.

That's why the bidding war was never really an option.

 

[Jatz]

I think there was only a couple of players they wanted. They wanted an elite big who can defend. For Luka, the only two blokes who qualify would be Giannis and AD. The Bucks arent trading Giannis.

It leaves AD.

Sure they could have gotten like 10 first round picks from SAS or something but they dont want picks. They want to compete for a championship. They think the window is open now.

That's why the bidding war was never really an option.

Disagree. You never know what he's worth until you test it.

They get 10 first round picks then they could satisfy LA in a trade for AD with some of them, while keeping some for themselves for instance.

Look at what Paul George went for and then what they let Luka go for. It's absurd.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

I think there was only a couple of players they wanted. They wanted an elite big who can defend. For Luka, the only two blokes who qualify would be Giannis and AD. The Bucks arent trading Giannis.

It leaves AD.

Sure they could have gotten like 10 first round picks from SAS or something but they dont want picks. They want to compete for a championship. They think the window is open now.

That's why the bidding war was never really an option.

Mate, this is like trading Mbappe for Van Dijk.

Good luck competing for a championship without Luka. He carried them to the finals last year. The Mavs got worse and there championship window is now only open for like 2 years with Kyrie and AD basically 32 and Klay 34 years old.

If they wanted AD so bad they should have offered the Lakers a load of picks.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

I think the word is schadenfreude. Strong inferiority complex north of the border.

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

Wemby & Fox should be good.

 

[jod23]

Mate, this is like trading Mbappe for Van Dijk.

Good luck competing for a championship without Luka. He carried them to the finals last year. The Mavs got worse and there championship window is now only open for like 2 years with Kyrie and AD basically 32 and Klay 34 years old.

If they wanted AD so bad they should have offered the Lakers a load of picks.

I think you misunderstood my post. I wasnt defending it, I was trying to rationalise it from their POV or what they are trying to do.

I think its insane and one of the worst trades in the history of basketball.

Dallas have absolutely ****ed themselves here. It's utter madness.

 

[SM]

I think you misunderstood my post. I wasnt defending it, I was trying to rationalise it from their POV or what they are trying to do.

I think its insane and one of the worst trades in the history of basketball.

Dallas have absolutely ****ed themselves here. It's utter madness.

So.. defend it?

 

[jod23]

So.. defend it?

No. Unsure you understand english if you think that's the same thing.

 

[SM]

No. Unsure you understand english if you think that's the same thing.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

It’s an extraordinary decision. Ok scared they he may leave as a FA..or don’t want to pay super max but why wouldn’t you negotiate with other teams? Just plain crazy

 

[jod23]

It’s an extraordinary decision. Ok scared they he may leave as a FA..or don’t want to pay super max but why wouldn’t you negotiate with other teams? Just plain crazy

They werent scared they would lose him to FA cos he would be leaving too much money on the table if he left Dallas in Free Agency. The super max he was gonna get from Dallas was far more than any other team could give him.

It's definitely something else. They have peddled that there are concerns about his conditioning but thats just absolute bullshit IMO. You dont trade a top 3 guy in the world, in his prime, when you are about to lock him into a 5 year super max. This is a future multiple MVP winner and when all is said and done, projected to be a top 20, possible top 10 player of all time.

That's how good Luka is.

You dont trade him.

Something has gone on behind the scenes which is wild and it borders on sheer negligence from the Mavericks.

 

[Jatz]

They werent scared they would lose him to FA cos he would be leaving too much money on the table if he left Dallas in Free Agency. The super max he was gonna get from Dallas was far more than any other team could give him.

It's definitely something else. They have peddled that there are concerns about his conditioning but thats just absolute bullshit IMO. You dont trade a top 3 guy in the world, in his prime, when you are about to lock him into a 5 year super max. This is a future multiple MVP winner and when all is said and done, projected to be a top 20, possible top 10 player of all time.

That's how good Luka is.

You dont trade him.

Something has gone on behind the scenes which is wild and it borders on sheer negligence from the Mavericks.

Can he still be top 10-20 if he never wins a title?

 

[jod23]

Can he still be top 10-20 if he never wins a title?

I think you can. Guys that flirt with that top 20 of all time are guys like Barkley and Karl Malone who both didnt win a ring. But Luka is only 25, he still has plenty of time to win that championship.

 

[jod23]

Watching Luka's first press conference as a Laker. Bloke looks absolutely heartbroken.

 

[RPCB]

Watching Luka's first press conference as a Laker. Bloke looks absolutely heartbroken.

Freddie Freeman cried during his first press conference back in Atlanta after he left as a FA, and he signed with the Dodgers who everyone knows will be a WS contender for the next decade. Some players just love their old team so much. Playing with a 46 year old LeBron James probably doesn’t do anything for Jokic like playing with the teammates he’s known all these years.

 

[moomba]

Freddie Freeman cried during his first press conference back in Atlanta after he left as a FA, and he signed with the Dodgers who everyone knows will be a WS contender for the next decade. Some players just love their old team so much. Playing with a 46 year old LeBron James probably doesn’t do anything for Jokic like playing with the teammates he’s known all these years.

I think Freddie has made peace with it now.

 

[RPCB]

I think Freddie has made peace with it now.

Yes, I am sure he has. That wasn’t my point.

 

[Jatz]

I think Freddie has made peace with it now.

Possibly.

I think winning a championship with the team that drafted you is more special than one that you've moved to (whether it be FA or trade).

 

[RPCB]

Possibly.

I think winning a championship with the team that drafted you is more special than one that you've moved to (whether it be FA or trade).

Freddie has a WS title with Atlanta.

 

[Jatz]

Freddie has a WS title with Atlanta.

Yes but Luka doesn't have one with Dallas.