Around the League - '24-25 Season

[Q-is-here]

Apparently the Mavericks reached out to the Wolves and attempted to trade Luka for Ant. They also reached out on Giannis. I would have made the deal if i was TC.

You don't see the irony in complaining about Ant's fitness/maturity level (and not without some justification), yet wanting to trade him for Doncic?

[60WinTim]

Alex Len will sign with the Lakers. They get there big man!

[Phenom]

Apparently the Mavericks reached out to the Wolves and attempted to trade Luka for Ant. They also reached out on Giannis. I would have made the deal if i was TC.

You don't see the irony in complaining about Ant's fitness/maturity level (and not without some justification), yet wanting to trade him for Doncic?

I guess in a way it makes sense because in the West, Ant was next in line last season, after Luka. That is to say, there was still a considerable gap following the WCF.

But imagine the evaluation the Mavs brass has of Luka to offer that swap. It will be a hell of a story if Nico Harrison made a good evaluation in the end.

[FNG]

Apparently the Mavericks reached out to the Wolves and attempted to trade Luka for Ant. They also reached out on Giannis. I would have made the deal if i was TC.

That does reflect your opinion on ANT. I don't think it would have been well received by most Wolves' fans...

Interesting info...I think most fans believe that a lot more teams were contacted about Luka than the original report of just the Lakers, so this report makes some sense.

I guess I wouldn't dismiss Cool's opinion about the possible trade so quickly though, Tim. Their scoring averages this season are identical at 27.5, but Luka averages 3.2 more assists per game (with fewer turnovers) and 2.8 more rebounds, and even has almost a steal per game advantage. His win shares per 48 is significantly higher than Ant's, and his BPM is almost double. And of course if you look at career totals, Luka's dominance is even more extreme. Ant is a far better 3-point shooter, but Luka is a far better 2-point shooter. so their TS% is almost equal this season (although Luka has a strong advantage in TS% for his career). And many of us still have PTSD remembering what Luka did to us in the playoffs last season, so we know how he performs under the bright lights. Ant is 2 years younger of course, but his biggest advantage over Luka is his durability...he does play more games than Luka every season.

Any reputable publication would have Luka in their top 5 best players in the Association, and I don't see Ant in any top 5's. And while Ant has made a huge jump this season, Luka also continues to get better. His VORP has increased in each of his last 4 seasons to a peak of 8 last season...more than double Ant's 3.7 despite him playing more games.

Now, I (and most Wolves fans) do find Ant extremely likable and entertaining, while I personally don't like Luka's smirking demeanor. But I suspect a lot of that has to do with his kicking our asses in the playoffs last year...I'm holding a grudge. He is beloved in Dallas though (just like Ant is here), and I know I would love him too if he were a Timberwolf.

So with the fairly significant differences in their statistics and reputation around the league, I don't think Dallas would have proposed a straight up swap...you don't go out and get a 3.7 VORP player for an 8 VORP, even if the former is 2 years younger. I'm fairly confident they would have also wanted draft capital or for us to take on a bad contract or two. TC is a savvy guy and I think would have bit on a straight up swap...it was likely other factors that made him shy away. Personally, I wouldn't have hesitated to trade Ant straight up for a 25 year old in his prime and dominating statistically, but I wouldn't have wanted to add the Detroit pick or take on bad contracts. But I suspect others on this board would see it differently. Maybe it deserves its own thread!

[Coolbreeze44]

Apparently the Mavericks reached out to the Wolves and attempted to trade Luka for Ant. They also reached out on Giannis. I would have made the deal if i was TC.

You don't see the irony in complaining about Ant's fitness/maturity level (and not without some justification), yet wanting to trade him for Doncic?

Luka is a top 3 player in the league. But yeah, there is some irony there.

[Coolbreeze44]

Luka would also have turned NAZ and Jaden into all stars.

[Q-is-here]

Apparently the Mavericks reached out to the Wolves and attempted to trade Luka for Ant. They also reached out on Giannis. I would have made the deal if i was TC.

That does reflect your opinion on ANT. I don't think it would have been well received by most Wolves' fans...

Interesting info...I think most fans believe that a lot more teams were contacted about Luka than the original report of just the Lakers, so this report makes some sense.

I guess I wouldn't dismiss Cool's opinion about the possible trade so quickly though, Tim. Their scoring averages this season are identical at 27.5, but Luka averages 3.2 more assists per game (with fewer turnovers) and 2.8 more rebounds, and even has almost a steal per game advantage. His win shares per 48 is significantly higher than Ant's, and his BPM is almost double. And of course if you look at career totals, Luka's dominance is even more extreme. Ant is a far better 3-point shooter, but Luka is a far better 2-point shooter. so their TS% is almost equal this season (although Luka has a strong advantage in TS% for his career). And many of us still have PTSD remembering what Luka did to us in the playoffs last season, so we know how he performs under the bright lights. Ant is 2 years younger of course, but his biggest advantage over Luka is his durability...he does play more games than Luka every season.

Any reputable publication would have Luka in their top 5 best players in the Association, and I don't see Ant in any top 5's. And while Ant has made a huge jump this season, Luka also continues to get better. His VORP has increased in each of his last 4 seasons to a peak of 8 last season...more than double Ant's 3.7 despite him playing more games.

Now, I (and most Wolves fans) do find Ant extremely likable and entertaining, while I personally don't like Luka's smirking demeanor. But I suspect a lot of that has to do with his kicking our asses in the playoffs last year...I'm holding a grudge. He is beloved in Dallas though (just like Ant is here), and I know I would love him too if he were a Timberwolf.

So with the fairly significant differences in their statistics and reputation around the league, I don't think Dallas would have proposed a straight up swap...you don't go out and get a 3.7 VORP player for an 8 VORP, even if the former is 2 years younger. I'm fairly confident they would have also wanted draft capital or for us to take on a bad contract or two. TC is a savvy guy and I think would have bit on a straight up swap...it was likely other factors that made him shy away. Personally, I wouldn't have hesitated to trade Ant straight up for a 25 year old in his prime and dominating statistically, but I wouldn't have wanted to add the Detroit pick or take on bad contracts. But I suspect others on this board would see it differently. Maybe it deserves its own thread!

But you can't just consider it from an "on paper" perspective, in which case you and Cool are right that Doncic is the better player right now, at least on offense (although Ant has had one hell of a run of late). Nico Harrison is finding out how fan attachment and passion also matter and needs to be factored into the equation. He can't even sit in his normal seat for Dallas home games anymore, for fear of being booed out of the stadium or physically threatened!

Also, we still don't know if Doncic is capable of leading a team to a title. Boston did what the Wolves seemingly failed to do and relentlessly targeted Doncic when he was on defense. And it worked. That really isn't a weakness for Ant and something a stat like VORP just doesn't reflect.

[Coolbreeze44]

The latest paternity skinny on Ant is 3 children confirmed and one just born that is being contested. Four different women involved. But no chance this becomes a distraction eventually................or so I'm told.

[rapsuperstar31]

The latest paternity skinny on Ant is 3 children confirmed and one just born that is being contested. Four different women involved. But no chance this becomes a distraction eventually................or so I'm told.

This is a basketball forum, lets leave it at that.

[Coolbreeze44]

The latest paternity skinny on Ant is 3 children confirmed and one just born that is being contested. Four different women involved. But no chance this becomes a distraction eventually................or so I'm told.

This is a basketball forum, lets leave it at that.

I believe it's relevant to the basketball discussion.