I actually think all the owner and Nico's reasons were kind of valid. I will say I think a lot the people in charge of making basketball decisions overthink things and try to big brain things because they want to be the next genius, but this move and the logic they used isn't half as bad as people act like it is. One thing is for sure the Lakers aren't half as smart as people were saying they were a week ago, if nothing else they're completely cut throat for ruining the final year or two of Lebron's career. I think if we're being honest Luka isn't going to be a top five player in the next two years and he definitely hasn't been one this year, in fact this year I'd take the guy who they let walk to New York over Luka. Yes, they made the finals last year, what does that prove? That they made the finals last year... that's it. The Mavs this year even with a fully healthy Luka are probably not a top four team in the west and probably aren't better than the (AD) Lakers, the Clippers, or the new look Spurs, and they're not better than the Thunder, Grizzlies or Rockets and I'd take Jokic over Luka every time even if Luka has a slightly better supporting cast. I'd also like to point out that trading away a "franchise player" does not equal a dynasty. The Mavs timeline pre Luka trade was tied to how long Kyree and Klay would be able to carry the team through the regular season and still compete in the playoffs, when that time was up they'd be left with Luka, PJ, Lively, Gafford (assuming none of them get bigger contract offers from teams with more cap space), they would also have limited draft picks and depending when the vets regress, limited cap space meaning the Mavs would once again be starting from close to scratch. I have no doubt that the Mavs would eventually be able to build another talented team around Luka but it would be an older Luka with no doubt a few more injuries to his body. My view, the Mavs keep Luka they spend the next two-three years with second round exits then go into a one or two year rebuild possibly three assuming Luka sticks around that long. If 24 yearold Luka isn't willing to patiently wait for his front office to build a team around him I highly doubt that 30 yearold Luka would be willing to wait meaning that the Mavs would be losing Luke either by trade or FA without a championship banner I might add. It is also possible that Luka would stay and maybe win a title but that's just one title (Dirk Nowitzki style), is that something Mavs fans would apriciate, of course. So why not appreciate the fact that for the next two-three years the Mavs have a truly legitimate chance to win a title, and then end up in the same inevitable rebuild? Sure in the post AD trade rebuild the Mavs won't have a 30 yearold Luka Doncic to build around but they will have an extra first, Max Christie, and (much more likely, though still not necessarily probable) championship banner and I'd say that's not a terrible move. I'm more confident in an AD Mavs team than I am in a Luka led Mavs team is because the Mavs now have arguably the best frontcourt in the NBA and the only froncourts I'd argue are better are the Cavs and Bucks... both those teams are in the East so if the Mavs find themselves up against either it's a really good sign. When you look at the powerhouses in the west what are their weaknesses OKC (frontcourt depth and durability), Rockets (frontcourt depth and physicality/size), the Grizzlies (everyone not named Jaren Jackson Jr is unreliable). The Mavs don't just have an elite frontcourt duo, they have an elite frontcourt trio, with Lively off the bench, whatever variation of the trio that the Mavs role out it's going to be trouble for every other western conference contender. I haven't even mentioned Kyre and Klay, two guys who have championship rings and a desire to prove themselves as individual stars, not just guys who "helped" Lebron and Curry to get theirs. The unsung, underrated, darkhorse of this team is that now they actually have a legit wing defender and two way player in Max Christie, something the Luka led Mavs wouldn't have had. The number one mentioned "weakness" of this new look Mavs team is that they don't have a ball handler outside of Kyree, which obviously is incrediably insulting to Dinwiddie, who in the last 11 games has averages of 12-2-4 on 57%-50%-69% splits without needing starters minuets, also outside of his stint with Lebron (ruiner of on ball guards) has always played on par in the playoffs, which is all the Mavs will need this post season. There's a reason the Mavs have been able to compete against and beat good teams all year longwithout Luka or AD and it's because they're legit and even more so with the addition of Christie and the size and defensive upgrade of Luka to AD.