Let’s Make A Deal

That’s what Rob Pelinka told Niko Harrison a few days ago. Unfortunately, the deal was done. After last night’s Los Angeles debut for Luka Doncic, the Laker GM was smiling as he waited to give Luka a big hug after their win. After Anthony Davis played in his first game for Dallas, the Dallas GM was nowhere to be seen. He may have been arranging an MRI for Davis, who suffered an abdominal injury (?) early in the second half and will apparently be unable to play again for at least a month.

I was reminded of the trade that brought Cy Young winner Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers for the 2020 season. He threw one scoreless inning, tore a muscle in his shoulder, and never pitched again for Texas. To add insult to injury, he signed with the Yankees after the season and threw a no-hitter against the Rangers in 2021. By the way, one of the players that Texas traded to Cleveland, Emmanuel Clase, is now considered the best closer in the American League. I hate it that basketball trade makes me think of an ill-fated baseball trade, but it does.

For those who are saying trading Luka was the worst transaction ever, I would remind you that the owner of the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees for four annual installments of $25,000. The “Curse of the Bambino” was born, and the Red Sox didn’t win a World Series for 86 years. Let’s hope that the “Slovenian 77” curse doesn’t haunt the Mavericks franchise for that long!

That’s one man’s opinion - what’s yours?