**These are just the Nico Harrison quotes explaining his thought process**. The full article above has the rest of the context
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“I understand why they would be shocked, initially,” Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison told The News. “But I do believe that we positioned ourselves to win now and also win in the future.
“And that’s ultimately the goal and why we’re here. It’s one of those things where it’s my job to make the tough decisions that put our goals first and foremost.”
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How, when and why did this megadeal come to fruition?
Harrison cited his two-decade relationship with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, starting when Harrison was a Nike executive and Pelinka was a player agent.
Harrison told The News that he and Pelinka began having “basketball” conversations more than a month ago.
“Then all of a sudden we’re like, ‘Would you ever do this?’
‘Nah, you’re joking, right?’
‘Hmm. Interesting. Maybe I would.’
Added Harrison: “And then it just built over time over the last three weeks.”
A person familiar with the Mavericks’ thinking told The News that Harrison got full support from team governor Patrick Dumont in the weeks leading to the trade and when it was time to pull the trigger late Saturday night.
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“We really feel like we got ahead of what was going to be a tumultuous summer, him being eligible for the supermax and also a year away from him being able to opt out of any contract,” Harrison said. “And so we really felt like we got out in front of that. We know teams, they’ve had it out there, teams have been loading up to try to sign him once that comes available.”
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“And then obviously, when you get an all NBA player who’s also a first team All-Defensive player, we think that’s gonna help us where we need it the most, on the defensive end.”
Davis primarily has played center the last three seasons for the Lakers and recently told ESPN that he longed for Los Angeles to acquire a center, which would allow Davis to return to power forward, his preferred position and the position he played when Los Angeles won the title.
In joining the Mavericks, Davis will play alongside center Daniel Gafford and eventually Dereck Lively II when he returns from his recent ankle stress fracture.
“I think if you look at the Cleveland Cavaliers, that’s what you’re going to see,” said Harrison, a reference to Cleveland’s imposing frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. “Anthony’s probably going to finish games at the five, but you’re going to see those guys play together. And when Lakers won, he played the four.”
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Harrison said he did text and leave a phone message for Doncic.
“My guess is he probably doesn’t want to talk to me,” Harrison said.
Delicious Tears of Green and White!!
Feel bad for the Mavs, but I still remember J Terry going nuclear vs Kob and Pau to end the Mambas final real title chance...so it's all working itself out 13 years later!!
Oh man thank you for this. I was feeling bad until you triggered my PTSD with jason friggin terry and that stupid headband and punchable face. F the mavs I hope Cuban is balled up in a corner crying. Same with those puke green leprechauns.
Holy (bleep), total cesspool. I feel bad for Mavs fan.
They’re getting Anthony Davis
Solid B+ player
We just happen to be getting a generational talent in return. I know I know, it’s like if Milwaukee traded Giannis for Paul George. Still, they shouldn’t be too down in the dumps.
I get what you are saying but if it’s about the Chip, this is a huge huge gamble.
Luka has already carried 2 Dallas teams to conference finals and a finals appearance too. He was a straight up assassin vs the Twolves. He shattered their dreams.
Holy (bleep), total cesspool. I feel bad for Mavs fan.
They’re getting Anthony Davis
Solid B+ player
We just happen to be getting a generational talent in return. I know I know, it’s like if Milwaukee traded Giannis for Paul George. Still, they shouldn’t be too down in the dumps.
I get what you are saying but if it’s about the Chip, this is a huge huge gamble.
Luka has already carried 2 Dallas teams to conference finals and a finals appearance too. He was a straight up assassin vs the Twolves. He shattered their dreams.
Bottom Line (IMHO)
Luka is Da Man while AD will always be a Great "Robin"
Even with LBJ saying that AD is Da Man, LBJ never trusted him enough to give AD the ball during last minute clutch times
AD was never a player that had the confidence to demand the ball, where one of AD's few faults is providing consistent aggressiveness.
AD was never going to have the "Perfect 5" while with the Mavs - he has two legitimate bigs playing the "5." Interestingly, automatically Gafford and Lively now are bench players - especially during crunch time.
Mavs will provide him a legitimate and deadly outside shooter as a "release" in Kyrie, while the same goes for LBJ in having Luka as a clutch outside shooter.
Mavs Projected Starting Five
Kyrie Irving
Klay Thompson
P.J. Washington
Anthony Davis
Daniel Gafford
-
Key Reserves
Max Christie
Spencer Dinwiddie
Dante Exum
Naji Marshall
Dwight Powell
~ JKidd is expecting AD to cover the others on defense, though they will have a long and lengthy lineup
Lakers Projected starting five
Luka Dončić
Austin Reaves
Rui Hachimura
LeBron James
Jaxson Hayes
-
Key reserves
Dorian Finney-Smith
Dalton Knect
Maxi Kleber
Jarred Vanderbilt
Gabe Vincent
~ If J.J. is commited to Small Ball lineups, Rui to DFS to Vanderbilt can be our final line of defense - ala what the Dubs did with Draymond Green during their last heydays
~ Players such as Knect to Rui to DFS to Vincent should have a field day because of how much "gravity" LBJ and Luka will always attract resulting into wide open shots. Even Vanderbilt will thrive for the same reason resulting in backdoor cuts while providing him room to roam in his relenatless effort to get rebounds.
~ Question: Does OKC have capable defenders to guard Luka and LBJ "one-on-one" hence providing an intriquing way for this Lakers team to defeat them
~ Will this lineup/roster force the Cavs' two excellent big men to defend on the perimeter hence minimizing their strenthts in the paint - hmmm
~ Since AD can't guard Joker, forcing Joker to work much harder on D (plus their lack of depth) because of our small ball lineups could be beneficial
Of course, this is before the Mavs and Lakers will be making their next trades before Thursday
Luka Dončić deal originally included multiple first-round picks, Dalton Knecht, and more, but was chiseled down after Rob Pelinka was able to convince Nico Harrison that taking on Luka Dončić was a big risk due to his weight and injury history.
Ok if this is true, then Rob is a "god" of a GM. Any other GM would have responded "dude its Luka." ADs injury history is worse than Luka.
Luka Dončić deal originally included multiple first-round picks, Dalton Knecht, and more, but was chiseled down after Rob Pelinka was able to convince Nico Harrison that taking on Luka Dončić was a big risk due to his weight and injury history.
Ok if this is true, then Rob is a "god" of a GM. Any other GM would have responded "dude its Luka." ADs injury history is worse than Luka.
Don’t play poker with Rob, the dude doesn’t show anything.
Danny Ainge reportedly had no idea he was helping the Lakers land Luka Dončić, and by the time he found out, it was too late for him to do anything about it, per @espn_macmahon
“Even the Utah Jazz, the third team that facilitated the transaction by collecting two second-round picks for absorbing Jalen Hood-Schifino, didn't know Doncic and Davis were a part of the deal until about an hour before it was completed, league sources said. Even Jazz President, Danny Ainge, who hails from the Lakers' hated rival, the Boston Celtics, had only about 30 minutes notice, sources said, that Los Angeles was about to acquire Doncic to be the new face of its franchise. But by then it was too late to do much about it. NBA history was about to be altered.”
_________________ Don't blame me. I voted for Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton.
Danny Ainge reportedly had no idea he was helping the Lakers land Luka Dončić, and by the time he found out, it was too late for him to do anything about it, per @espn_macmahon
“Even the Utah Jazz, the third team that facilitated the transaction by collecting two second-round picks for absorbing Jalen Hood-Schifino, didn't know Doncic and Davis were a part of the deal until about an hour before it was completed, league sources said. Even Jazz President, Danny Ainge, who hails from the Lakers' hated rival, the Boston Celtics, had only about 30 minutes notice, sources said, that Los Angeles was about to acquire Doncic to be the new face of its franchise. But by then it was too late to do much about it. NBA history was about to be altered.”
Omg, that's pure gold! On another note, it probably means that Kessler is truly not coming this way now. Ainge would not want to aid us in a trade for his big unless we were willing to send Utah guess who?
Luka Dončić deal originally included multiple first-round picks, Dalton Knecht, and more, but was chiseled down after Rob Pelinka was able to convince Nico Harrison that taking on Luka Dončić was a big risk due to his weight and injury history.
Ok if this is true, then Rob is a "god" of a GM. Any other GM would have responded "dude its Luka." ADs injury history is worse than Luka.
Rob is doing his job as GM much better than many people expected
Getting a generational player as the New Face and Da Man for the Lakers, in exchange for a superstar (AD) who is a fantastic "Robin" (since he is not the Alpha Male needed to be the Next Face of Da Lakers)/Max Christie/draft choice but could hopefully a productive "Robin" to Kyrie (is he a "Batman????")
Hopefully Luka's idol that he patterned his game will be the one who has the personal/basketball cachet, experience and success to having a long career that starts with his successful fitness/365 days training/therapy. Hopefully losing $100+M will motivate Luka - he is probably the only player that is in the position of having the ear of Luka
As it stands now, with Luka to LBJ to AR having the gravity to attract defenders - players from Vanderbilt to Vincent to Reddish will be able to stay on the floor
Maybe CWood (whenever he comes back), Koloko, Hayes, DFS, Jemison or Rui can provide some resistance at the rim.
LaLaLand is hoping that there is another move in the pipeline before the Trade Deadline
NBACentral @TheDunkCentral
Danny Ainge reportedly had no idea he was helping the Lakers land Luka Dončić, and by the time he found out, it was too late for him to do anything about it, per @espn_macmahon
“Even the Utah Jazz, the third team that facilitated the transaction by collecting two second-round picks for absorbing Jalen Hood-Schifino, didn't know Doncic and Davis were a part of the deal until about an hour before it was completed, league sources said. Even Jazz President, Danny Ainge, who hails from the Lakers' hated rival, the Boston Celtics, had only about 30 minutes notice, sources said, that Los Angeles was about to acquire Doncic to be the new face of its franchise. But by then it was too late to do much about it. NBA history was about to be altered.”
Justin Zanik (Jazz's GM) did his job well and completed a deal that resulted in getting LA Clippers' 2025 2nd round pick, Mavs' 2025 second round pick and Jason Hood-Schipino (young plaer that physically has the potential to be a NBA player). that fulfills Ainge's mission to acquire as many draft choices as possible without doing much
This is the biggest sign that the Lakers nailed this.
He would always float them trading LeBron or AD, so he got his wish but in that trade they got a 25 year old 5-time all nba first team player in return
I feel like I'll always remember this moment like 9/11.
Quote:
Woke up this morning, opened the espn app and saw some pic of Luka in a lakers jersey and thought “wow espn has really sunk so low that they have to make up dumbass fake trade scenarios for clicks” and turns out it actually happened lol
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