OT: Nico Harrison Fired

[Brian in Mesa]

i would quit watching basketball if my team traded luka for ad - dallas lost alot of fans

It is great though when your team trades AD for Luka.

 

[Phrazbit]

They're shopping Davis now too.

I get the notion that Luka is unreliable and extremely difficult to play with. But trading him for a far less reliable and far older player is complete insanity... and they basically did it straight up.

They are going to be pretty bummed out when they see how little of a market Davis has.

 

[gimpy]

The very worst part of this trade, is that they traded Luka to the Lakers.

 

[angel_ofthe_south]

I saw someone point out that the order to dump (not trade, dump) Doncic (not "Luka"--Doncic) probably came directly from Mark Cuban; and because I'm a slow thinker, it took the following realization a few minutes to sink in. Mark Cuban looks pathetic for blaming his general manager for a decision he, Cuban, made. It's very similar to how owners fire coaches just because it's much easier than "firing" players who played poorly.

Well, I'm not aware that anyone likes Mark Cuban anyway. If he sold his team, surely no one would miss him.

 

[BirdGangThing]

I saw someone point out that the order to dump (not trade, dump) Doncic (not "Luka"--Doncic) probably came directly from Mark Cuban; and because I'm a slow thinker, it took the following realization a few minutes to sink in. Mark Cuban looks pathetic for blaming his general manager for a decision he, Cuban, made. It's very similar to how owners fire coaches just because it's much easier than "firing" players who played poorly.

Well, I'm not aware that anyone likes Mark Cuban anyway. If he sold his team, surely no one would miss him.

mark cuban sold the team in 2023

 

[Raindog]

The whole lowball deal to the Lakers thing still smells to high heaven. It would be, let's say, "interesting" if at some point, Harrison re-emerges as employed by the Lakers... or the NBA itself.

 

[Lorenzo]

Oh...then the new owner looks pathetic, whoever he or she is.

But this is misleading. Researching this, I learned that Cuban doesn't majority-own the team anymore, but is still said to be directing basketball decisions. If true, he surely did direct Harrison's firing, and had to have advised the new owners to approve trading Doncic.

Not completely true. As far as whether or not Cuban has to be made aware of any transactions, IDK. He says it’s not the case and many others have said this as well. So mark Cuban appears to be not involved in the Luka trade. But I did hear today that Cuban will be involved in future business decisions. Without looking it up, I think Cuban retained about a third of the value.

As for basketball operations, Dumont has been the governor since Cuban sold the team. Cuban did mentor dumont for about a year but then stepped aside to let dumont have total governorship after the finals season. Dumont was technically the governor that season as well, Cuban was just assisting.

 

[Lorenzo]

They're shopping Davis now too.

I get the notion that Luka is unreliable and extremely difficult to play with. But trading him for a far less reliable and far older player is complete insanity... and they basically did it straight up.

They are going to be pretty bummed out when they see how little of a market Davis has.

From my understanding all of Luka’s teammates were stunned and disappointed after the trade. They were in the finals the year prior and probably the only team in the west equipped to beat OKC. The difficulty was between the player and the front office. In that situation you fire the front office. Basketball is the one sport where the legendary players should get all the power. I go back to 1998 when an egomaniac front office was cool with blowing up the bulls because they thought they were smarter than Michael Jordan. It robbed the sports world at the end of the day and prematurely ended a sports dynasty.

 

[Lorenzo]

I probably agree with you. I don't know if it applies here but I can think of a few reasons I'd part with a 25 year old superstar even if he were beloved by the fan base. But regardless of whether or not they actually had legit reasons, not getting the best price for him was inexcusable. I understand their rationalization but I believe they were blinded by their fears rather than making a sound business decision.

Definitely agree. I think the reason mavs fans are so upset is because of the player in this situation. Doncic is the best overall player in mavericks history and he’s not even halfway through his career yet. Watching him play games (win or lose) was a treat. I’m partial to dirk and dirk will always be known for his clutch and unstoppable shotmaking, but Luka is a once and a lifetime player.

 

[Mainstreet]

It is great though when your team trades AD for Luka.

In yesteryear, the NBA Commissioner would have stepped in and voided the trade.

Even the casual fan knew it was absurd.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Oh...then the new owner looks pathetic, whoever he or she is.

But this is misleading. Researching this, I learned that Cuban doesn't majority-own the team anymore, but is still said to be directing basketball decisions. If true, he surely did direct Harrison's firing, and had to have advised the new owners to approve trading Doncic.

None of this is right.

 

[elindholm]

He should be banned from going anywhere near an NBA front office for life. He traded one of the best players in the league for next to nothing. I cannot think of a worse move in the history of the league

You can't? The Suns' acquisition of Durant was much, much worse, as several of us pointed out as soon as it was consummated.

 

[Cheesebeef]

You can't? The Suns' acquisition of Durant was much, much worse, as several of us pointed out as soon as it was consummated.

I'd be surprised if there's many people outside Phoenix who would agree with that statement, much less that the KD trade was "much, much worse" to boot. As AWFUL as our trade was, and it was TRULY awful, the Suns still at least made the playoffs 2 out of 3 years and were able to get some kind of value for KD after. In addition to that, no generational talent like Luka was involved, the Suns hadn't just made the Finals on the back of someone like Luka and in the aftermath of the awful Luka trade, AD immediately got hurt as usual and the Mavs missed the playoffs in their first year of the trade, are now the worst team in the league in their second year, with no hope in sight for next year and likely will never get any value trying to trade a continually broken down and aging AD.

 

[Lorenzo]

The whole lowball deal to the Lakers thing still smells to high heaven. It would be, let's say, "interesting" if at some point, Harrison re-emerges as employed by the Lakers... or the NBA itself.

The problem with him working at the Lakers would be Doncic being there. that's not going to happen. The lakers are probably laughing right now and they should be.

If we are going to blame Mark Cuban for anything, it would be his error in judgement on the Harrison hire. Cuban made a lot of mistakes before that hire and was desperately looking for help, but he chose the wrong person to pass the torch. Dumont and Harrison did not value the mavericks fans and disrespected them repeatedly after the trade. I think that finally reached a point of no return. If only cowboys fans would learn from Mavericks fan and pressure the cowboys to fire their GM.

 

[SirStefan32]

You can't? The Suns' acquisition of Durant was much, much worse, as several of us pointed out as soon as it was consummated.

I don't think it's even close. Suns traded two really good role players and a bunch of picks for KD. Mavs traded Luka Doncic- easily a top-five player in the league.
In retrospect, Suns made an awful trade (and then made it worse by taking on Beal), but it is not even remotely on the same level with what the Mavs did.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I don't think it's even close. Suns traded two really good role players and a bunch of picks for KD. Mavs traded Luka Doncic- easily a top-five player in the league.
In retrospect, Suns made an awful trade (and then made it worse by taking on Beal), but it is not even remotely on the same level with what the Mavs did.

In some ways I think it is close but the Luka trade wins out as the dumbest NBA trade ever IMO.

 

[elindholm]

I don't think it's even close. Suns traded two really good role players and a bunch of picks for KD.

Why did you leave out all of the draft picks, which made the trade truly crippling?

 

[BirdGangThing]

1. boston trading babe ruth
2. dallas trading luka
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58. phx trading twins and 4 first rounders

 

[SirStefan32]

Why did you leave out all of the draft picks, which made the trade truly crippling?

Um, I literally said: "...two really good role players and a bunch of picks for KD."

 

[elindholm]

Um, I literally said: "...two really good role players and a bunch of picks for KD."

Oops, I missed that, sorry. Thanks for the correction.

 

[SirStefan32]

Oops, I missed that, sorry. Thanks for the correction.

No worries, I figured you simply missed that part. Your point is valid, though. I was in favor of the trade at the time, and I can now say that I have never been more wrong about anything. It will be four or five years before the Suns dig themselves out of the mess they created with KD and Beal.

 

[Phrazbit]

I'd be surprised if there's many people outside Phoenix who would agree with that statement, much less that the KD trade was "much, much worse" to boot. As AWFUL as our trade was, and it was TRULY awful, the Suns still at least made the playoffs 2 out of 3 years and were able to get some kind of value for KD after. In addition to that, no generational talent like Luka was involved, the Suns hadn't just made the Finals on the back of someone like Luka and in the aftermath of the awful Luka trade, AD immediately got hurt as usual and the Mavs missed the playoffs in their first year of the trade, are now the worst team in the league in their second year, with no hope in sight for next year and likely will never get any value trying to trade a continually broken down and aging AD.

As much fun as this year has been so far (largely as a contrast to last year) it's very difficult to map a path out to true contention for us for probably another 7 or 8 years.

While the Mavs can just reset, they have their picks still. They threw away a superstar for beans but they're in no worse shape than any of the other struggling franchises. If they stop stupidly trying to make Flagg a point guard they could be on the rebound pretty soon.

So... I'd peg the Luka trade as the stupidest trade I can ever think of, and the Durant trade as the most damaging. They each get their own trophy.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Meanwhile, many Suns fans here are clamoring for a Booker trade.

I would have done Booker for Luka. Better trade for Dallas anyway

 

[Dback Jon]

I would have done Booker for Luka. Better trade for Dallas anyway

And to think we could’ve had them both

 

[Ronin]

Anthony Davis trade rumors: Davis must get healthy to garner serious offers from Bulls, Raptors, others

Davis is out at least another week with a strained calf. He's going to have to return and play for a couple of months to spark offers.

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