When my original Nintendo console came home with me from the grocery store in the late 80s, I was on cloud nine. Mario Bros, Duck Hunt, and the possibility of new games and memories made with family and friends. I quickly learned that when the system was not functioning correctly after extended use, the best thing to do was power off, blow on the teeth of the game cartridge, and somehow that made things better for a while. Sure, it took a bit of time to power up, and you had better save your progress—but
at least the game felt balanced again, and the controller would respond.
That is what the Dallas Mavericks did on Wednesday. In another reference from that bygone era, they shook the Etch A Sketch. Sure, they sent out more talent than they received back. That is the price of the reset button on this particular gaming console of Naismith’s game.
Peruse social media, and you might hear some folks complain that owners will do anything to avoid a high payroll. While that is sometimes the motivating factor in trades, there is more to it than sheer frugality. The current collective bargaining agreement forced the Mavericks’ hand, and the cap relief outshines the draft capital and young prospects that were included in this deal.
Those voices who said that those of us continuing to lament the boneheaded nature of Nico Harrison’s vision loved Luka more than the Mavericks missed the point. It is possible to be emotionally wrecked by a blunder and have a clear-eyed read on why it clearly set the franchise back years, even if you leave out the sentimentality. You can be invested in a franchise and still believe the former General Manager failed spectacularly – and he did. This move today was the first step, not in correcting the mistake but in opening up the best possible scenario to try again in the Cooper Flagg era. They paid a high price, hit the reset button… shook the Etch A Sketch, and now it is time for a true rebuild. One that is coming 8-10 years sooner than it should have.
