Since the surprising trade involving Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis, the Mavericks have faced increasing difficulties. Fans have chanted `Fire Nico` (referring to Mavericks GM Nico Harrison) at Mavericks games and other Dallas sporting events. Forward P.J. Washington even confronted a fan who was participating in these chants.
Adding to the negative sentiment, Nico Harrison`s explanation for the trade was unconvincing, as he admitted it might not be successful. Details surrounding the trade, such as Harrison not consulting Dončić and Mark Cuban stating the team didn`t understand his background, have been perceived negatively. Furthermore, Kyrie Irving suffered an ACL tear shortly after the trade, and Davis and other Mavericks players have also experienced significant injuries.
In short, the trade has been widely criticized as one of the worst trades in sports history.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd inadvertently made the situation worse on Wednesday before Dončić`s first game in Dallas as a Laker. He stated that it`s `kinda cool` that the trade is being compared to the infamous 1920 trade where the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees.
`This is a business. It happens, right? Trades happen. This won`t be the last trade,` Kidd said. `Some have compared it to Babe Ruth, which is kinda cool. When you look at the business of sports, change happens.`
Historically, Boston sold Babe Ruth`s rights to New York for $100,000, a significant sum at the time. Ruth, already a three-time World Series champion with Boston, was coming off a season leading MLB in home runs (29) and WAR, and was only 24 years old, not yet in his prime.
From 1920 to 1934 with the Yankees, Ruth became one of the greatest players ever, leading MLB in home runs nine times and winning four World Series. Yankee Stadium became known as `The House That Ruth Built,` and the Yankees accumulated numerous World Series titles. Meanwhile, the Red Sox, who won in 1918 with Ruth, didn`t win another until 2004, a period known as the `Curse of the Bambino.`
Only time will tell if Dončić leads a successful Lakers era while Dallas enters a title drought. However, Kidd`s comment about the comparison being `cool` was certainly out of touch.
Jasper Hawthorne