The Luka Trade Mailbag - A Historical Record of Your Feelings

The trade that everyone will continue talking about, and your voice deserves to be heard.

I remain stunned by what the sports week has brought us. But again, the tone of this community suggests that this is not the day to return to Cowboys content or Super Bowl week.

I want to give you all a chance to sound off, and I have no intention of missing out, as I have received hundreds and hundreds of pieces of feedback from you.

Let’s just say that we may never feel fully better about this deal. Like I said a few days ago, the last month has left many questioning how much they still want to let their lives be affected by the local teams, and while that might not be great for my little business, I assure you that I get it. So, let’s let you talk some today.

Some of you just want to vent, and some of you want my reaction on issues, ideas, or even conspiracies, so I will obviously join in when appropriate.

I know I can’t get to even a fraction of you, but let’s make a small dent:

From Richard Heruska:

Still shell shocked that this would even be considered. The more I read, the more it feels like it was a move made out of fear vs confidence they could keep Luka. As many have said, the joy of seeing a savant grow into what no doubt will be a future Multi-time MVP vs a short sprint seems so ridiculous. I’ve gone from shocked to mad - Luka was The Franchise - everything else seems to be going through the motions. LA rubbed salt in the wound knowing they not only Got “The franchise” player, but fleshed us to do so. Thanks for your clarity in writing what we all feel.

From Tommy Blake:

I could give a damn about the Mavs winning a championship. Nico and Crew ruined it. It had nothing to do with the money… It had to do with his conditioning and Nico and crew couldn’t crack the code. They should have fired themselves.

From Justin Leming:

First off thanks. Your words and opinion have been fantastic. You keep it positive and real all at once which is almost impossible to do. Question 1: In what world can we still be fans of the Mavs? As mentioned today or yesterday I forget, take away Powell and Hardy is the longest tenure Mav. Allegiance is not really there. Love Gafford, Lively, and PJ, my goodness PJ, but it’s not like I’m going to watch because of them. Kyrie was an absolute model superstar but it’s Kyrie. It’s not like you can count on him to stay past this year and I wouldn’t blame him. And the team winning means Nico wins. It’s just the worst possible situation.

Justin, this is a very sad reality. Without any sort of context or connection, there is little reason to love our teams. Usually, what binds us to our teams are “our guys” and the feeling that we share a city with them, and they represent it for us on a national and worldwide stage. Luka Dončić was a beacon of Dallas to the world, and now we will be the city that sent him away. So, yes, that connection has been violently severed, and we still have not really felt that a satisfactory explanation has been offered.