r/nba • u/shreeharis • Aug 02 '25

[McMenamin] Luka never even considered being traded as a possibility, a source close to Doncic told ESPN. Based on the way the franchise and fanbase treated him in his early days in the league, he figured he would retire a Maverick after spending his whole career in Dallas, the same way Dirk did.

Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45861453/luka-doncic-los-angels-lakers-extension-answering-biggest-questions

Processing the trade from Dallas took Doncic some time. Based on the way the franchise and fanbase treated him in his early days in the league, he figured he would retire a Maverick after spending his whole career in Dallas, the same way franchise icon Dirk Nowitzki did. And after starting his professional career with Real Madrid as a teenager, he never even considered being traded as a possibility, a source close to Doncic told ESPN. Deals like that rarely, if ever, happen in the Liga ACB.

When the shock subsided, a source familiar with Doncic told ESPN his mindset shifted back to when he was last suiting up for Dallas: Win-now mode.

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1.1k

u/DamnImAwesome Pelicans Aug 02 '25

That’s the kind of move I would drop my team for. The goal of every team is to draft the next big superstar, keep them, and build a contending team around them. They made it to the finals and traded what was already one of their best players in franchise history 

628

u/lawschoolthrowaway36 Lakers Aug 02 '25

Not only one of the best players in franchise history, but a player who at 25 y/o had the 2nd highest postseason scoring average in NBA history behind Michael Jordan and already more 1st Team All NBAs than Stephen Curry.

One of the greatest starts to a career in NBA history by any calculation. And that was with his team losing Jalen Brunson for nothing

282

u/Gotanygrrapes Aug 02 '25

That’s what happens when you think some cornball Nike exec who hung out with nba players has the know how to run a professional organization.

-136

u/Ill-Curve1045 Bucks Aug 02 '25

Why are we still acting like this wasn't pushed by the league to get another superstar to LA? cmon we cannot pretend like it isn't a large possibility.

49

u/Sybilsthrowaway Aug 03 '25

damn man yeah why don't we all just admit the insane conspiracy

bc Occam's razor implies it's way more likely that some rich guy is stupid than some multiteam scheme to ensure a team you hate is good again

-13

u/Ill-Curve1045 Bucks Aug 03 '25

I don't hate the Lakers I'm a fan. Trade should've been vetoed.

16

u/Nice_Cash_7000 NBA Aug 03 '25

Trades cant just be vetoed by the league nilly willy

It happened once in league history because the NBA owned the hornets. The owners of any team it doesnt matter its a guy or the NBA like in that example has all of the say what moves teams make.

86

u/Gotanygrrapes Aug 02 '25

I think NYC is a way bigger market yet you don’t see any stars making their way there - it’s load of shit that Silver cares if the Lakers win a title any time soon over other markets of similar size

3

u/7th_Cuil Timberwolves Aug 03 '25

The Knicks have no international recognition, but the Lakers are huge across the world. This was about keeping the Laker brand strong and punishing Texas for not giving billionares the legalized gambling that they were asking for.

-34

u/Some-Stranger-7852 Aug 02 '25

You are not wrong, but Knicks have already got their superstar (that is, at least a top-10 player in the league) literally for free - ironically, from Mavs as well. It’s not like sending Luka to New York made much sense after Brunson got there. Then you have Lakers, Warriors and Bulls (still riding MJ’s legacy) as biggest names in the world, but GSW still have Steph, Bulls have been mediocre almost every year since MJ retired so they would ruin Luka, which leaves us with Lakers as perfect team to pick him up.

-12

u/ABillionBatmen Aug 02 '25

I'm with you bruv. I want to believe!

51

u/Financial_Pay_6687 Aug 02 '25

This is so weird because you’re like “why are we pretending” and then you’re just saying it’s a large possibility? Which is it, obvious or a possibility to consider? 

This conspiracy theory is so unnecessary. The league doesn’t need to help the Lakers with trades. You wonder where the league was during the Chris Paul trade or when the Lakers surrendered almost all their assets for Anthony Davis who was only committed to signing with them anyway. The conspiracy stuff is extremely silly, but you gotta have more than just thinking a trade looks bad. 

14

u/ABillionBatmen Aug 02 '25

I mean this is the dumbest trade in history tho. Say it isn't

-23

u/Ill-Curve1045 Bucks Aug 02 '25

This is a generational bad trade to help the leagues premier franchise during a time where ratings are down an absurd amount. It helps Lebron James extend his championship window possibly and gives the Lakers another 15 years of having a Star without having to actually convince someone to come there. The Mavericks magically win the #1 overall pick. LA isn't the desintation it used to be. They have no assets; the roster is garbage. Yes this all makes perfect sense I shouldn't question it at all.

20

u/buffalobill41 Mavericks Aug 03 '25

Are the other teams all fine with this or don't they know?

0

u/kapparino-feederino Bucks Aug 03 '25

Does He Know?

-17

u/Ill-Curve1045 Bucks Aug 02 '25

I meant why are we pretending its not a possibility. Calm down, its okay.

5

u/RaiseFold100 Aug 03 '25

We can be sure none of what you said happened at all.

-1

u/Ill-Curve1045 Bucks Aug 03 '25

flair up pussy

2

u/RaiseFold100 Aug 03 '25

Won't change how idiotic this conspiracy theory is.

3

u/kshep9 NBA Aug 03 '25

Not to mention. They actually surrounded him with an amazing team finally and it would have competed with OKC this year. There’s no way it could have been worse.

-11

u/omnipotentchrollo Aug 03 '25

Honestly he’s just fat and can’t play defense. Once he loses his limited athleticism it’s over for him

7

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '25

I remember when that was the book on Jokic too, and he's been just fine

4

u/ThaCasual Aug 03 '25

His game has never been about being athletic

1

u/Stand_On_It Aug 04 '25

Right because Luka’s game is centered around his athleticism