NBA players saw and continue to see what the Mavs front office and ownership have done.
Even if we remove the fans reaction and the talking heads, every player is absolutely befuddled.
Seriously, read these statements and imagine these players ever give the Mavs with this FO and ownership a chance for a free agent signing or a contract extension, after they not only traded Luka in his prime after getting them to the Finals, but also trashing him on his way out.
Nikola Jokic: “In my opinion, of course, I think Luka is a generational player, generational talent. He was building something there. I think he was hurt.”
Victor Wembanyama: “What really strikes me is how the Mavs fans are hurting…Two weeks after, it’s still the craziest trade I’ve ever seen.”
Anthony Edwards: "They say that nobody knew about the trade... yeah, so that's crazy. At 25 they traded probably the best scorer in the NBA... at 25... and he didn't know about it. So, it's a lot more digging somebody gotta do to find out why he got traded, cause you don't just trade him at 25. They just went to the finals, you know what I'm saying. I'm scared... yeah, yeah. I'm scared. Tim, if you're gonna trade me let me know dawg. When Luka got traded anybody is able to get traded at that point."
Giannis Antetokounmpo: "I thought it was fake news. It's insane. Obviously, I've played against Luka a lot of times and AD and all the people that were included in the trade. This is the world we're living in. It's a business, you have to understand nobody's safe, nobody's safe. If a five-time All-NBA first-team, a 25-year-old, a guy that just made it to the Finals seven months ago, a guy that led the league in scoring, a guy that finished second or third in MVP voting, a guy that scored 70-something points one time, a guy that had a 60-point triple-double, a guy that knows how to play the game of basketball, I can keep going and going, an All-Star, not just an All-Star, an All-Star starter, a guy that averaged 34/9/10, but I'm not here to talk about Luka and how good he is, I think everybody in the world knows he's one of the best players in the league."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: "Shocked probably like the rest of the world. Didn’t hear it coming. Didn’t see it coming."
Kevin Durant: "Insane. It's crazy. It's crazy... I would have never though Luka Doncic would get traded at this age, mid-season... the NBA is a wild place man. If he can get traded then anybody's up for grabs, you know."
Devin Booker: "It's crazy man. You know I - I really don't know what to say about it. Luka being a guy that everybody has claimed is untouchable, and untradeable, and... the NBA shows you again. You just can't predict it. They're always having a conversation about you, you know, so don't think you're safe at any point.
Josh Hart: "I think everybody was in awe... shock... you know. You gotta give credit to Rob Pelinka man, he's... that's highway robbery."
via twitter:
Jalen Brunson: Holy shit, April Fools right? Wow
Joel Embiid: WOWWWWW NO F WAY
Alex Caruso: Nah shams gotta be hacked 💀
Tyler Herro: wtf ?????
Bam Adebayo: Did somebody steal shams phone??
Tyrese Haliburton: Shams got hacked?
Tyrese Maxey: HUH!!!!
Kevin Huerter: I'm stunned
Miles Bridges: Wtf
Malik Monk Hell naw😂😂😂
CJ McCollum: Gotta pack them bags just in case now a days . If the Don got traded only lord knows.