Lakers owner Jeanie Buss was one of the few people with advance knowledge of the trade talks with Dallas involving Luka Doncic, but she wasn’t sure the deal would get done until the last minute, writes Khobi Price of The Orange County Register.
Speaking at an event on Thursday to promote her new Netflix show, Buss told reporters that the front office proceeded cautiously throughout the process, making sure to prevent leaks that might have affected team chemistry if the deal had fallen through.
“I mean, not until (general manager Rob Pelinka) told me it was done and they had made the trade call,” she said. “Because these things fall apart all the time. It was really important to me that we didn’t blow up the team. If it had leaked out and the trade hadn’t happened, that would be really unfair to the progress that the coaching staff had made with the team. Because it’s a huge distraction. And the trade deadline is part of the business. It increases the level of stress for everybody. And I’m really proud that it didn’t leak out and that we were able to execute the trade in a way that still was surprising to all the parties involved. But that goes with this business.”
Buss compared the acquisition of Doncic with two significant deals from Lakers history, Price adds. She cited the 2008 trade with Memphis for Pau Gasol and the 2011 agreement with New Orleans for Chris Paul that was eventually overturned by then-commissioner David Stern.
As the Doncic trade edged closer to reality, Lakers officials were worried about any unexpected snags that might prevent it from being finalized.
“There’s always this concern there’s going to be some new ruling that, like, now what’s going to happen?,” Buss said. “But what I have complete confidence in Rob is that he knows how to walk a deal through step by step to make sure that everything is complete and buttoned up and that’s exactly what happened.”
Buss praised Pelinka and Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison for their discretion in keeping the deal quiet, according to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times. From the time the first discussions were held on January 7, they were able to operate in near secrecy, even though Utah had to be brought in as a third team to take the salary of Lakers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Buss also compared the trade to the type of deals her late father, Dr. Jerry Buss, used to make when he built the Lakers into one of the NBA’s premier franchises.
“He’d be very proud. When you get a player of that stature, you have to give up a lot. My dad was such a great poker player, and he said that he always wanted me to remember that poker was a game of patience,” she said. “That you had to wait for the right cards, but once you got the cards, you had to go from zero to 100 and play the cards and not be afraid to play them. So, it was difficult because we were not looking to trade Anthony Davis or Max Christie. But it was a deal that he would’ve made, and we had to go for it.”
Pretty sure Lakers approach was “let’s get this deal done as fast as possible before these dummies come to their senses.”
Agree. “For the love of god, don’t let them sober up.”
Or it’s almost like Pelinka had some dirt on Nico. “Hey remember that crazy night in Vegas a couple years ago? We wouldn’t want anybody to find out about that, right Nico? You’re a happily married man, right? Give me Luka and let’s keep it that way”
Sorry comparing the way your run your team to that of the late Dr. Buss is out of line. Let’s see, owner dates coach, feud with brother goes public, lack of stability (e.g., revolving coaches), inability to develop own players (minus Reaves). I’m sure I’m missing. Jeannie called owning the Lakers a public trust. Well then behave like it.
Oh Im sure if Becky Hammon was around the Dr woulda made a pass on her during those long work nights!
The Dr also picked a fight with the biggest guy in the yard when he came in (Red Auerbach). They have very similar characteristics (daughter and Dad )
I wonder how many people who follow hoops these days have any idea who Aurebach is?
Approach?? Approach!!!!??
The only approach was “yes we’ll take luka no Q asked!”
It was simple…
“You want what? Send the paperwork…”
Easiest trade decision ever…
Why is this still being talked about? It’s over. The trade was dumb. Luka is on the Lakers and Davis is on the Mavs. Life goes on.
Cuz clicks.
You read it and commented on it. That’s why.
what approach ? ? you were gifted Luka by a future laker employee.. once Dallas fires him