Donic traded oh my!

[Monster]

The Lakers just got a top 5 player in the league who is 25 for a 32 year old injury waiting to happen and one first rounder. How is this the best deal the Mavs could have got?

I'm putting my tinfoil hat on

Well...Luka turns 26 at the end of the month. AD turns 32 in March. Luka is 6 years younger.

Luka isn't exactly an iron man and can't stay in shape. He hasn't played more than 70 games since his rookie year.

Max Christie might be getting underrated in this transaction...you didn't even mention him.

It's a win now deal. AD is a guy averaging 25-11 and at times has been an elite defender. What do you think the price would be for AD if he was on the market to he traded?

I think it's pretty clear there was some issues with Luka or a team simply doesn't trade him.

I'm not saying it's a deal I would do or it was the right deal but I'm not so sure its as unconscionable as some people are saying.

[Phenom]

Im late to the party. . .

What in the world?

[KG4Ever]

I'd rank the worst four trades since the Gobert trade as follows and unfortunately the Wolves are part of two of the worst:

1. The Doncic Trade
2. The Gobert Trade
3. The Durant Trade
4. The KAT trade

The Gobert trade was a huge win and everyone but you already ate crow for thinking otherwise. The KAT trade was also a huge win for the Wolves. Defense wins championships. KAT is a bum in the playoffs, will prove it again and the scrap they traded for Gobert is mostly not in the league or bottom feeding role players. I don't give two shits about some crappy late round picks either. We got enough picks and young players who can't even see the floor already. Like what is another dude sitting on the bench going to do for you? Who fucking cares.

I couldn't disagree with this any more. Gobert was a very short sighted move that in short term helped build a defensive liability, but at a huge long term cost and strain on the salary cap. Gobert's best days are behind him. I believe last year was the peak of the currently constructed team. I don't care that the Wolves made it to the WCF and then lost to Dallas. I'm a championship or bust kind of guy. Ant is overrated, Finch is not a championship caliber coach. And TC has created a mess of the Wolve's future.

[Phenom]

Doncic was like those European players back in the 80s and 90s that were smoking cigarettes during time outs. He doesn't think he needs to eat healthy or work out as his brain is the most important muscle. Plus he is a whiny bitch in the court, wonder what he is like behind the scenes. Maybe it was addition by subtraction?

And Doncic got SCREWED by this trade! He is no longer eligible for the Supermax of 5 years/$345 million. I wouldn't want to pay that with the new CBA, totally handcuffs the team.

This supermax conundrum is sort of a real problem in the 2nd apron NBA. Jimmy Butler was first traded from the Bulls for the same reason. Some players you will have no choice but to pay and it can be completely limit your cap, so it's better to trade.

I've always thought you should get to pay your homegrown guys the extra money but that extra money should be exempt from the cap. THAT would be the real advantage for small market teams to keep their stars.

[KG4Ever]

I get that Luka has missed games, but he sure showed up last year in the playoffs and carried the Mavs to the Finals. I think he still has his best basketball ahead of him. There is a huge consensus, that the Mavs blundered in a huge way and even if they were gonna trade Luka, they could have gotten so much more than what they got. Most Mav fans seem real upset.

[Phenom]

I get that Luka has missed games, but he sure showed up last year in the playoffs and carried the Mavs to the Finals. I think he still has his best basketball ahead of him. There is a huge consensus, that the Mavs blundered in a huge way and even if they were gonna trade Luka, they could have gotten so much more than what they got. Most Mav fans seem real upset.

The Lakers are betting on his best basketball being ahead. The Mavs clearly aren't and they know him better than any team. Time will tell.

[Wolvesfan21]

I'd rank the worst four trades since the Gobert trade as follows and unfortunately the Wolves are part of two of the worst:

1. The Doncic Trade
2. The Gobert Trade
3. The Durant Trade
4. The KAT trade

The Gobert trade was a huge win and everyone but you already ate crow for thinking otherwise. The KAT trade was also a huge win for the Wolves. Defense wins championships. KAT is a bum in the playoffs, will prove it again and the scrap they traded for Gobert is mostly not in the league or bottom feeding role players. I don't give two shits about some crappy late round picks either. We got enough picks and young players who can't even see the floor already. Like what is another dude sitting on the bench going to do for you? Who fucking cares.

I couldn't disagree with this any more. Gobert was a very short sighted move that in short term helped build a defensive liability, but at a huge long term cost and strain on the salary cap. Gobert's best days are behind him. I believe last year was the peak of the currently constructed team. I don't care that the Wolves made it to the WCF and then lost to Dallas. I'm a championship or bust kind of guy. Ant is overrated, Finch is not a championship caliber coach. And TC has created a mess of the Wolve's future.

There is no "current construction". Every year is a new year to some extent. Would you rather have Dlo, Vando, Bev, Kessler and Bease right now? Cmon we'd be a much crappier team. TC is doing a fabulous job. Finch at times has been bad this year, but overall he's excellent and has the complete support from our rising future MVP.

We had a chance to win the title last year. No we didn't, but saying if we had those other bums that can't play on other teams and a few mid or late round rookies in 3-5 years doesn't make sense either. The time is now to get competitive.

[Phenom]

How do the Wolves stack up with these 2 teams now? Maybe Im being a homer but I'm bullish after this trade in either potential playoff/play in matchup and going forward.

The Mavs are huge but Luka getting his bigs involved was such a problem for our defense. Now we can hone in on Kyrie and play the others more straight up. Dallas also just got quite a bit older and put a few interesting picks out in previous trades. I would assume maybe one of Gafford, Lively or Washington might be available now.

The Lakers have a ton of ball handlers but are light on finishing and have no real bigs to speak of. It's going to have to be a lot of one on one for Luka, LeBron, and Reaves with very little shooting to pass out to. I guess this is really a long term play for LA to be honest as the roster has a lot of imbalance.

I wonder if including Reaves and one of Dallas bigs was ever in the conversation because it would seem to make a lot more sense for both sides.

[Wolvesfan21]

How do the Wolves stack up with these 2 teams now? Maybe Im being a homer but I'm bullish after this trade in either potential playoff/play in matchup and going forward.

The Mavs are huge but Luka getting his bigs involved was such a problem for our defense. Now we can hone in on Kyrie and play the others more straight up. Dallas also just got quite a bit older and put a few interesting picks out in previous trades. I would assume maybe one of Gafford, Lively or Washington might be available now.

The Lakers have a ton of ball handlers but are light on finishing and have no real bigs to speak of. It's going to have to be a lot of one on one for Luka, LeBron, and Reaves with very little shooting to pass out to. I guess this is really a long term play for LA to be honest as the roster has a lot of imbalance.

I wonder if including Reaves and one of Dallas bigs was ever in the conversation because it would seem to make a lot more sense for both sides.

Both teams probably need to make another trade I think. Especially LA. They got no good centers now and get substantially weaker on defense. Short term I think Dallas is fine. LA this is nice long term with LeBron eventually retiring.

[Monster]

How do the Wolves stack up with these 2 teams now? Maybe Im being a homer but I'm bullish after this trade in either potential playoff/play in matchup and going forward.

The Mavs are huge but Luka getting his bigs involved was such a problem for our defense. Now we can hone in on Kyrie and play the others more straight up. Dallas also just got quite a bit older and put a few interesting picks out in previous trades. I would assume maybe one of Gafford, Lively or Washington might be available now.

The Lakers have a ton of ball handlers but are light on finishing and have no real bigs to speak of. It's going to have to be a lot of one on one for Luka, LeBron, and Reaves with very little shooting to pass out to. I guess this is really a long term play for LA to be honest as the roster has a lot of imbalance.

I wonder if including Reaves and one of Dallas bigs was ever in the conversation because it would seem to make a lot more sense for both sides.

Both teams probably need to make another trade I think. Especially LA. They got no good centers now and get substantially weaker on defense. Short term I think Dallas is fine. LA this is nice long term with LeBron eventually retiring.

FWIW it looks like with this trade Dallas is now barely below the Luxury tax. It looks like the Lakers stayed out of the 2nd apron. That earlier Russell trade helped this deal happen.