logo
Bulls Were Willing to Blow Up Roster for Lakers' Luka Doncic: Report

Bulls Were Willing to Blow Up Roster for Lakers' Luka Doncic: Report

Newsweeka day ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Los Angeles Lakers' acquisition of star guard Luka Doncic was one of the biggest surprises in sports history. Nobody saw the trade between Los Angeles and the Dallas Mavericks coming, leading to shock and drama throughout the entire NBA.
But part of the reason why the trade went down was due to the secretive nature of the trade. No other teams knew that Dallas was looking to unload Doncic, otherwise, a bidding war likely would have erupted for his services.
According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Bulls were willing to offer everything on their team for the chance to land Doncic. But the Bulls were never given the chance to talk to the Mavericks due to the behind-the-scenes aspect of the Lakers trade.
"A source told the Sun-Times that Karnisovas and his front office would have offered anyone and everyone on the roster had they been notified by the Mavericks that Luka Doncic was available in February, but even then, it wouldn't have been better than what the Lakers gave the Mavericks."
Luka Doncic and the Lakers (3) are favored over the Timberwolves (6) in Game 1 of this highly anticipated Western Conference first-round matchup.
Luka Doncic and the Lakers (3) are favored over the Timberwolves (6) in Game 1 of this highly anticipated Western Conference first-round matchup.This article will be updated...

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Stars goalie Oettinger surprised, embarrassed by pull in West final that DeBoer is still explaining
Stars goalie Oettinger surprised, embarrassed by pull in West final that DeBoer is still explaining

San Francisco Chronicle​

time2 hours ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Stars goalie Oettinger surprised, embarrassed by pull in West final that DeBoer is still explaining

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger said Saturday that he was surprised and embarrassed when he got pulled from Game 5 of the Western Conference final after giving up two goals on the only two shots he faced, and coach Pete DeBoer was still facing questions about that decision two days after the season-ending loss to Edmonton. 'No one's a bigger fan of Jake Oettinger than me, as a person or a goalie,' DeBoer said. 'There's one motive, and that's how do we survive this and get it to a Game 6. And I have to live with those consequences. If it works, great, we're in Edmonton tonight and you guys are telling me how awesome a move it was. And when it doesn't, I've got to stand up here and do this, and I understand." Oettinger was pulled only 7:09 into Game 5 at home Thursday night after Mattias Janmark's goal put Edmonton up 2-0. The Oilers scored again less than a minute after Casey DeSmith took over on the way to a 6-3 win that set up a Stanley Cup Final rematch against Florida, though Dallas got within 4-3 a minute into the third period. 'The reality is if I make one or two of those saves, then I'm still playing in the game,' Oettinger said in his first public comments since. 'The way I'm looking at it is, how can I get better from that? How can I can make those saves that I made all playoffs?" The 26-year-old goalie has been to the playoffs in four consecutive seasons and won six postseason series. That stretch began in 2022, when Dallas took top-seeded Calgary to a Game 7, and Oettinger had 64 saves before Johnny Gaudreau's OT goal ended the first-round series. Oettinger had a .905 save percentage and 2.82 goals-against average while facing 503 shots in 18 games this postseason, by far the most of any goalie. Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky, in one fewer game, has faced 408 shots and the next-highest total is 292. Oettinger had a .909 save percentage and 2.59 GAA in 58 regular-season games. When DeBoer was asked Saturday about his conversations with Oettinger since the season ended, the coach said they hadn't had the opportunity yet to have one. Oettinger was later asked if he had any concerns about their relationship, and he responded by saying the whole experience is something he would learn from and that was going to help him grow to be a better person and goalie. 'My job is to stop the puck. And I feel like I'm one of the best in the world when I'm playing well doing that. So that's all I'm in a focus on,' Oettinger said. 'All the extra stuff is just extra stuff to me. ... If I go out there next year and I'm the best goalie in the world, it doesn't matter. One of you guys could be coaching, it doesn't matter. Just try to be the best I can be, learn from the experience.' It was the third season in a row the Stars lost in the West final, and Edmonton also knocked them out last year. The Oilers finished the 2024 series with three wins in a row, and this time won the last four after Dallas won the opener. DeBoer said there had been discussions among the coaching staff before Game 4 at Edmonton about whether Oettinger maybe needed a break, and that the goalie had dealt with some upper respiratory issues during the series. While that didn't happen then, it was at least part of the quick in-game switch on Thursday, along with the recent playoff record against the Oilers. 'When you're in that moment, you're making that decision, what's going through my mind is, you know, we need to stop the bleeding here. Our team looked tentative. We're down 2-0,' DeBoer said. 'In the back of your mind, you know, is he a little bit fatigued, he's been through a lot. He's carried us through two rounds, is he going to be a better goalie in Game 6 and 7 for us fresh.' Oettinger said he felt great physically — 'as healthy as I've ever felt' — and felt like he could have played 40 more games. But he did acknowledge the potential mental grind of another long season.

Stars goalie Oettinger surprised, embarrassed by pull in West final that DeBoer is still explaining
Stars goalie Oettinger surprised, embarrassed by pull in West final that DeBoer is still explaining

Fox Sports

time3 hours ago

  • Fox Sports

Stars goalie Oettinger surprised, embarrassed by pull in West final that DeBoer is still explaining

Associated Press FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger said Saturday that he was surprised and embarrassed when he got pulled from Game 5 of the Western Conference final after giving up two goals on the only two shots he faced, and coach Pete DeBoer was still facing questions about that decision two days after the season-ending loss to Edmonton. 'No one's a bigger fan of Jake Oettinger than me, as a person or a goalie,' DeBoer said. 'There's one motive, and that's how do we survive this and get it to a Game 6. And I have to live with those consequences. If it works, great, we're in Edmonton tonight and you guys are telling me how awesome a move it was. And when it doesn't, I've got to stand up here and do this, and I understand." Instead of a Game 6 in Edmonton on Saturday, the Stars had their season-ending availability in North Texas. Oettinger was pulled only 7:09 into Game 5 at home Thursday night after Mattias Janmark's goal put Edmonton up 2-0. The Oilers scored again less than a minute after Casey DeSmith took over on the way to a 6-3 win that set up a Stanley Cup Final rematch against Florida, though Dallas got within 4-3 a minute into the third period. 'The reality is if I make one or two of those saves, then I'm still playing in the game,' Oettinger said in his first public comments since. 'The way I'm looking at it is, how can I get better from that? How can I can make those saves that I made all playoffs?" The 26-year-old goalie has been to the playoffs in four consecutive seasons and won six postseason series. That stretch began in 2022, when Dallas took top-seeded Calgary to a Game 7, and Oettinger had 64 saves before Johnny Gaudreau's OT goal ended the first-round series. Oettinger had a .905 save percentage and 2.82 goals-against average while facing 503 shots in 18 games this postseason, by far the most of any goalie. Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky, in one fewer game, has faced 408 shots and the next-highest total is 292. Oettinger had a .909 save percentage and 2.59 GAA in 58 regular-season games. When DeBoer was asked Saturday about his conversations with Oettinger since the season ended, the coach said they hadn't had the opportunity yet to have one. Oettinger was later asked if he had any concerns about their relationship, and he responded by saying the whole experience is something he would learn from and that was going to help him grow to be a better person and goalie. 'My job is to stop the puck. And I feel like I'm one of the best in the world when I'm playing well doing that. So that's all I'm in a focus on,' Oettinger said. 'All the extra stuff is just extra stuff to me. ... If I go out there next year and I'm the best goalie in the world, it doesn't matter. One of you guys could be coaching, it doesn't matter. Just try to be the best I can be, learn from the experience.' It was the third season in a row the Stars lost in the West final, and Edmonton also knocked them out last year. The Oilers finished the 2024 series with three wins in a row, and this time won the last four after Dallas won the opener. DeBoer said there had been discussions among the coaching staff before Game 4 at Edmonton about whether Oettinger maybe needed a break, and that the goalie had dealt with some upper respiratory issues during the series. While that didn't happen then, it was at least part of the quick in-game switch on Thursday, along with the recent playoff record against the Oilers. 'When you're in that moment, you're making that decision, what's going through my mind is, you know, we need to stop the bleeding here. Our team looked tentative. We're down 2-0,' DeBoer said. 'In the back of your mind, you know, is he a little bit fatigued, he's been through a lot. He's carried us through two rounds, is he going to be a better goalie in Game 6 and 7 for us fresh.' Oettinger said he felt great physically — 'as healthy as I've ever felt' — and felt like he could have played 40 more games. But he did acknowledge the potential mental grind of another long season. ___ AP NHL playoffs: and recommended

Jalen Brunson is not buying into the Karl-Anthony Towns ‘soft' narrative one bit
Jalen Brunson is not buying into the Karl-Anthony Towns ‘soft' narrative one bit

New York Post

time3 hours ago

  • New York Post

Jalen Brunson is not buying into the Karl-Anthony Towns ‘soft' narrative one bit

INDIANAPOLIS — Jalen Brunson heard the reputation when Karl-Anthony Towns was with the Timberwolves. Now teammates on the Knicks, Brunson believes he's seeing the reality. Rather than a player who is soft, he has seen one who constantly has fought through injuries. 'I mean, there are narratives with traded players on other teams,' Brunson said Saturday morning at Knicks shootaround ahead of Game 6. 'And when you get to the team, it's, 'Oh, that guy is not really like that.' It's just, that's how narratives work. They're usually probably false. I have the utmost respect for him and the way he's been able to play throughout this entire season and playoffs. We're all banged up, but we're all gonna push through. I had faith that he was gonna play last game.' Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks react during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27, 2025. Getty Images Towns was questionable for Game 5 with a knee injury, but he played 36 minutes and recorded 24 points on 10-for-20 shooting and 13 rebounds. Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. He was not on the Knicks injury report entering Saturday's Game 6. Towns, whom the Knicks acquired from the Timberwolves in the blockbuster deal that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota, was named to the All-NBA third team this year. But due to his preference to shoot from outside the arc rather than bang bodies in the paint and his weak defense, a narrative that Towns is soft has hovered over him much of his career. Brunson isn't buying it. New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns driving to the basket guarded by Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner in the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post 'I knew that he was a player that was gonna help us win,' Brunson said. 'He's helped us get to this point. And so I think no matter what the situation is, he's gonna continue to do that.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store