Luka was an MVP candidate in his second and third seasons, and is only 22. Dallas just needs to do a better job of building around Luka, before the team is able to take that next step. The next best player for Dallas is Porzingas, who is extremely unreliable. Let’s also not forget, Dallas was able to draft Luka (3rd overall via trade) because they were 24-58, and a bad team.
I understand the argument for Giannis, especially since he is still only 26. However, unlike Dallas, the Bucks sold out last offseason by trading 5 first round picks to acquire Jrue Holiday, in hopes of winning a title (and showing a commitment to Giannis). In other words, the Bucks were built to win a title, with their trio of Giannis, Holiday, and Middleton. There were talks of the team firing the head coach if the team didn’t win the title during the Brooklyn series, as they were a huge disappointment based on expectations. Let’s also not forget, Milwaukee doesn’t even make it out of the second round last season, if Durant’s foot wasn’t a half inch past the 3 point line, which ended up being a game 7 tying basket, instead of the series ending basket.
I know it's not a perfect thought experiment, but if you substitute Doncic for Giannis, do the Bucks win the title last year?
I don't think they do. There's an age gap in Luka's favor, but there's a skill gap in Giannis'. They're equal scorers, Giannis is more efficient, and Giannis is a better rebounder. Yes, Luka is a better passer, but is the gap there even close to the gigantic defensive chasm between the two?
How does Giannis fare on the Mavs team? They're a very poorly constructed roster. I don't think Giannis gets past the Clippers either last season or the one prior on the Mavs, as we've seen how Kawhi + another athletic wing defender can bother him.
It's hard to say, but I can't see how more efficient scoring coupled with much, much, much better defense would hurt.
Meanwhile, the Bucks don't win a title with Luka in place of Giannis.
It's a pretty easy analysis to me. Giannis is great on both sides of the ball. Luka is great on offense. If he lifts his game to become an elite shooter -- significantly surpassing Giannis' efficiency -- then maybe there's an argument. However, right now he's a much less efficient player. Does his superior passing make up the gap? I don't think so. He averages three more assists, but one more turnover. The value added over Giannis there just isn't that great, particularly because Luka has a history of freezing out teammates and not getting the most out of them.
Yeah, don't get me wrong - I'd pick Giannis first, and I'd pick Luka second. However, if Luka can become a consistent 75% shooter from the stripe and 37% from deep (both of which I think will happen next season) then he's essentially an unstoppable force on offence with his already really solid 2PT shooting. He was also taking much more mid-range shots last season, which I think is crucial for playoff success as a wing-type (Jordan, Durant, Kobe, even LeBron in certain stages of his career, Middleton).
I think Milwaukee has done a much better job at surrounding Giannis with complementary talent than Dallas has with Luka. Middleton, Jrue and Lopez are immensely superior to Porzingis, Hardaway Jr. and Richardson/Finney-Smith.
I think the GMs got this one wrong, but at least it was close (43% to 40%). The more egregious ones, like LA being far and away the best team out West, bothered me more.
