I don't think Nico was a fan from the outset - the dude is not into Euro players at all - and some of Luka's issues made it very easy to poison Dumont against Luka
***Official 2024 - 2025 Dallas Mavericks Season Thread***
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Last: 1 min ago by zgolfz85
are you saying Nico is racist? I like that angle, let's use that...jkDannyDuberstein said:
I don't think Nico was a fan from the outset - the dude is not into Euro players at all - and some of Luka's issues made it very easy to poison Dumont against Luka
There is definitely an anti-Euro sentiment among the basketball "establishment," for lack of a better term. We've seen it for about 30 years straight. As a Nike guy, Nico has been firmly entrenched in the establishment for decades.DannyDuberstein said:
I don't think Nico was a fan from the outset - the dude is not into Euro players at all - and some of Luka's issues made it very easy to poison Dumont against Luka
Just interesting how they have gone from 5-7 in his first year or two as GM to ….(checks notes) 0.
Maxi also being in the trade is the smoking gun.DannyDuberstein said:
Just interesting how they have gone from 5-7 in his first year or two as GM to ….(checks notes) 0.
The anti-European theory is insane to me. Nico is in a city that saw Dirk win a championship, he saw Jokic win one two years ago, and Luka make a Finals last year. The thought process makes zero sense...
Player A - 25 years old, generational savant on the court, not that injury prone
Player B - 32 years old, elite player, often injured
Buuuuuut Player A is European so we should trade him for Player B. Its idiotic.
Player A - 25 years old, generational savant on the court, not that injury prone
Player B - 32 years old, elite player, often injured
Buuuuuut Player A is European so we should trade him for Player B. Its idiotic.
I'm sure his analytics are telling him he wants the more athletic defensive player. But there's a lot of antiquated thinking with that too. In the end, you need creators, you need shooters to playoff those creators, and the right cast can overcome defensive deficiencies
Obviously it's a little bit in jest, but there is something to the idea that a lot of these guys deep down have an issue with the European player.
It's probably not a major factor in his decision, but it could have something to do with the initial seed being planted.
It's probably not a major factor in his decision, but it could have something to do with the initial seed being planted.
I think the fundamental flaw is they hired Nico to be a relationship guy. His experience is in business relationships and PR, not the actual game or analytics. First of all, massive fail in that dept if he couldn't resolve his issues with Luka. And now with a clueless owner, the entire shop is in Nico's extremely inexperienced basketball hands with no governor on it.
That relationship guy can work in a front office where there's a lot of collaboration with experienced basketball personnel and the right voices are being heard and given proper weight. But at this point, it seems like he's taken full control and autonomy.
DannyDuberstein said:
I think the fundamental flaw is they hired Nico to be a relationship guy. His experience is in business relationships and PR, not the actual game or analytics. First of all, massive fail in that dept if he couldn't resolve his issues with Luka. And now with a clueless owner, the entire shop is in Nico's extremely inexperienced basketball hands with no governor on it.
That have a whole analytics department, though. Do you think Nico is making basketball decisions without looking at anything in analytics or talking with Kidd?
I strongly question how much he did that in this case. I think he's never liked Luka, analytics-wise. He had his answer 3 years ago. I think he's never cared for that style of game, grew increasingly frustrated with his conditioning/diva-ness, and was eager to finally get the power to offload him. No voice of reason around anymore with any real power
Nico is a shoe salesman. He has no particular affinity for Dallas. He has no relationship with Dirk. You are taking Nico works for the Mavericks therefore he has an affinity for Dallas and the Mavericks. He sat in front of a microphone the day after the trade and told you to your face he doesn't by saying he doesn't anticipate being here in 10 years.Spaceship said:
The anti-European theory is insane to me. Nico is in a city that saw Dirk win a championship, he saw Jokic win one two years ago, and Luka make a Finals last year. The thought process makes zero sense...
Player A - 25 years old, generational savant on the court, not that injury prone
Player B - 32 years old, elite player, often injured
Buuuuuut Player A is European so we should trade him for Player B. Its idiotic.
What he appears to be trying to do is be the smartest guy in the room. He wants to turn a team that got dog walked in the finals last year, because they couldn't stop Boston offensively, into a dominant defensive team that has the capacity to shut down Boston. Envisioning himself as an executive of the year type for being bold and winning a championship the next year or two, put it on his resume that he can build a championship by being unapologetically focused on championships.
I would bet his career expectation is championships in Dallas parlayed into a job with Philadelphia/Miami/Brooklyn, which he views as a more prestigious basketball job.
Saturday showed why AD should not be like that...seems he tried to play through something and now he is going to be out much longer.Trucker 96 said:
I'd also call out there are 2 forms of dedication. One is keeping yourself in better condition which Luka could definitely improve at, but again, he's 25. That improvement can actually happen.
The second form of dedication is the guy who will play through injury and deliver anyway. The guy who will lace them up, gut it out, and win. That was Luka. That was the 2024 Finals run. Davis has always seemed the opposite there; he has always seemed to be the "I gotta be right" cautious sort. And across 82 games and 4 playoff series, guys are gonna get hurt regardless of how well they condition themselves. You need guys that will keep playing.
I hate to say it and rarely do, but it does seem there are some dudes who are just more prone to injury. AD is certainly one of those unfortunate few. I don't think the guy is soft or does not want to be out there, but he is very clearly more prone to being hurt than the average NBA player.
Would not surprise me at all. I doubt any analytics department would sign off on this.Guitarsoup said:DannyDuberstein said:
I think the fundamental flaw is they hired Nico to be a relationship guy. His experience is in business relationships and PR, not the actual game or analytics. First of all, massive fail in that dept if he couldn't resolve his issues with Luka. And now with a clueless owner, the entire shop is in Nico's extremely inexperienced basketball hands with no governor on it.
That have a whole analytics department, though. Do you think Nico is making basketball decisions without looking at anything in analytics or talking with Kidd?
LADE EXCLUSIVE: It looks like the Lakers are giving away Luka shirts to everyone in attendance tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/C5KDtRy079
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) February 10, 2025
I think it's because he's carrying too much weight for his frame. He looks a lot better with all this bulk, but he's been injured so much more ever since he made bulking up a priority. He's faced media criticism over it as well. I like the strength in the post, but not at the expense of being out of the rotation frequently.Zachary Klement said:Saturday showed why AD should not be like that...seems he tried to play through something and now he is going to be out much longer.Trucker 96 said:
I'd also call out there are 2 forms of dedication. One is keeping yourself in better condition which Luka could definitely improve at, but again, he's 25. That improvement can actually happen.
The second form of dedication is the guy who will play through injury and deliver anyway. The guy who will lace them up, gut it out, and win. That was Luka. That was the 2024 Finals run. Davis has always seemed the opposite there; he has always seemed to be the "I gotta be right" cautious sort. And across 82 games and 4 playoff series, guys are gonna get hurt regardless of how well they condition themselves. You need guys that will keep playing.
I hate to say it and rarely do, but it does seem there are some dudes who are just more prone to injury. AD is certainly one of those unfortunate few. I don't think the guy is soft or does not want to be out there, but he is very clearly more prone to being hurt than the average NBA player.
Tonight, Jazz vs. Lakers ticket prices have TRIPLED, per @TickPick @TickPick has sold 5x the number of tickets since the Luka trade 🤯 pic.twitter.com/JhfSEW3bLL
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 10, 2025
Great business move by the Mavs FO!
It’s Showtime 🪄 pic.twitter.com/qj2ySbi9zs
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) February 10, 2025
Dirk Nowitzki, I’m told, will attend tonight’s game in Los Angeles to be present at the Laker debut of his close friend and former teammate Luka Dončić.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 11, 2025
More coverage of this seismic trade from me: https://t.co/N0S98fj8h2 pic.twitter.com/Iv7NXyMz3h
No PJ tonight either. He's probably going to be held through the break, I'd imagine.
Tough. This one is important.
Tough. This one is important.
LawHall88 said:Dirk Nowitzki, I’m told, will attend tonight’s game in Los Angeles to be present at the Laker debut of his close friend and former teammate Luka Dončić.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 11, 2025
More coverage of this seismic trade from me: https://t.co/N0S98fj8h2 pic.twitter.com/Iv7NXyMz3h
I will always be a Mav for life, but had to come support my guy 77 @luka7doncic in the first game of his new chapter!
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) February 11, 2025
Good for Dirk.
F Nico and Dumont
F Nico and Dumont
Oh my gosh Gafford is down and it looks terrible.
Gafford's knee
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This season is ****ing cursed. Of course the dumbest trade ever would happen in this season and of course the guy we traded for and all his backups would be/get injured also.
No no no no
watch Gafford's knee pic.twitter.com/Apn0XPlUHS
— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) February 11, 2025
Sabonis and Valenciunas about to go 50 and 30 the rest of the way
These guys can't catch a break. Karma being a real *****.
F* ck Nico
F* ck Nico
Hopefully just a hyperextension
It's my fault guys. I wore a Mavs shirt to the gym for the first time since the trade
No Gafford second half.
“Fire Nico.” *immediately zooms out* pic.twitter.com/nGNCV9ffNn
— MFFL (@Mavs_FFL) February 11, 2025
Quote:
"He doesn't take his conditioning seriously, and that something we take very seriously in Boston. We only want guys here who are committed 24/7" - Harry Frazee on WW1 Twitter. Probably.
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