[Trending News] The NBA is a “wild place” and with the exchange of Luka Dončić taught us that no one is untouchable

February 2, 5:12 in mainland Portugal, less one hour in the Azores, minus six in Texas, eight minus in California. Shams Charania, the top NBA transfers expert, announced that Luka Dončić had been exchanged for Anthony Davis, leaving the Dallas Mavericks to head to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The US League trembled. I'm in shock. What is this? I never saw anything like that. They are reactions impossible to attribute, such the trivialization they suffered in the megaphone of a public opinion to deal with the sensations of the unexpected business, an authentic blockbuster.

The next morning, the outskirts of the American Airlines Center, the Dallas Mavericks Pavilion, received about a hundred people dissatisfied with the departure of the new life embryo franchisefinalist won in 2024 the first time Texans went to the decisive series since they were champions in 2011. The meeting was intended for the team's metaphorical fosters. Sweater with number 77 accumulated in a memorial figure and posters criticized the direction (“worst exchange of NBA history”).

“We are mourning. A lot of people just became a fan of the MAVs because of Luka. ” The report of The Dallas Morning News replied several testimonies like this. “It's the end of our culture,” “Luka was our culture.” It is no coincidence that, in 2023, “Luka”, a predominantly European name, became in the 68th most attributed to Babies in Texas and the 95th in all the United States, second the administration of US social insurance, quoted by the newspaper. In the middle of the frustration of an unwanted farewell, a coffin with the mavericks symbol on the top was taken to the place.

The grave was set up with the Dirk Nowitzki statue, a 21 -year -old player in the team, which led him to have the stone recorded features with the epigraph “Loyalty Never Fades Away” [“A Lealdade Nunca Desaparece”, uma referência à técnica de lançamento que o alemão patenteou na NBA]. There was no one who misses the opportunity to mock the inscription that became a motto in Dallas.

Ezra Shaw

The exchange that will gather Luka Dončić and LeBron James in the Lakers was negotiated “in the Shadows” and “Came out of nowhere.” Even Shams Charania, a credible NBA behind -the -scenes pulse meter, was surprised. In turn, Dončić was “stunned” with what happened to him, as none of the players involved asked or knew what was going to happen.

The desire to perform the exchange came from Dallas Mavericks. Nico Harrison, the general manager From the team, he called Lakers' homologist Rob Pelinka and was interested in recruiting Anthony Davis to join the other star of the team, Kyrie Irving. In a while, Harrison was Davis's representative at Nike, the brand that sponsors him. Since it became a member of front office Dos Mavericks in 2021 developed interest in featuring “The Brow” on the squad. According to Chris Haynes, another famous figure in the art to be backstage, two years ago the desire became more bound.

Pelinka, who never considered releasing the pole when he heard that the Mavericks were willing to give in Dončić (as well as Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris), was forced to think about the case, although he answered the phone, he thought it was A joke. Thus, the Lakers were not shame in including Max Christie and a first -round 2029 draft choice. All of this will have passed on the back of LeBron James, one of the best players ever made to use the status to infer decisions. directives of franchises wherever it goes.

Nico Harrison has been accused of being the only person satisfied with the outcome. The mavericks fans have arranged on an excuse to Dončić. “Time will tell me if I'm right,” said the leader. “We want to create a culture and we believe the players who bring it exemplify that. The defense wins championships and we are bringing one of the best players two-way [com capacidade de defender e atacar] of the league ”.

Abdicating a 25 -year -old player, the squad of the current West Conference champions is based on two elements over the age of 30. Nico Harrison thinks of a “future three or four years from now” and considers that Anthony Davis “fits the team's chronology”.

Tim Heitman

Luka Dončić was selected by Atlanta Hawks with the third choice of 2018. Before heading to Los Angeles, the base left a message to Dallas, the “house away from home.” “I thought I was going to spend my whole career here and I really wanted to give you a championship,” he shared. “Thank you for sharing my joy in our best times, but also for getting up when I needed it.”

The reactions emerged throughout the league. In this “wild place” that is NBA, Kevin Durant, for 18 years in these wanderings, can still be surprised. “We never thought Luka Dončić was exchanged at his age, in the middle of the time. If it can be changed, everyone can. ” The news came to Devin Booker without nickname for what also the Phoenix player Suns thought it was Luka Garza, Minnesota Timberwolves post with tiny recognitions in the face of the Slovenian namesake that won the Rookie Award of the Year, was five times all-star – As many as it was in the ideal quintet of the League, “won the Western Conference MVP prize and managed to once have been the best scorer in the NBA.”

The logos for already reached left many surrendered. Mark Cuban, one of the owners of Dallas Mavericks who was not involved in the negotiations that led to the departure of Dončić, swore that if he had to choose between his wife or keep Luka in the team, people would find him in their lawyers to prepare the divorce. The wife will be happy (at least someone).