Time Is A Flat Circle: After The Mavericks Traded Luka Doncic In Part Because Of Concerns He Was Fat And Out Of Shape, Anthony Davis Showed Up To Training Camp This Year Looking Out Of Shape

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When Nico Harrison and the Mavs decided to trade their franchise cornerstone in Luka Doncic, they wasted absolutely no time leaking all this bullshit about how he was fat and out of shape, cared more about drinking and smoking hookah than being serious about his conditioning/basketball, it was very sad

It didn't exactly take a rocket scientist to see Luka's conditioning was a bit of an issue, especially with his defensive effort. Based on what we saw take place in the Finals and then to start last season, it's fair to suggest that Luka wasn't exactly in tip-top shape. So much so, that even his own new coach sneaky called him out for it

As we know, Luka then spent this offseason getting hot as shit. He dropped some weight, went on a publicity tour about it, and it's one of the reasons why I'm sure Lakers fans are excited for this upcoming season. Not only will it help to have Luka for a full training camp and whatnot, but if he's actually going to have gas in the tank now to at least try defensively, that's going to make a difference. For what it's worth, he did look great in EuroBasket back in August/September.

On the flip side, there's the Mavs. The centerpiece they got back in that Luka Trade was, of course, two-way monster Anthony Davis. Well, based on how things look at training camp opened up when it came to AD, time sure does appear to be a flat circle

“I feel good. I kind of almost going into every season, because I put on so much weight over the summer, then by the time November comes, I'm usually like 255, 258. I never want to come in at my playing weight, because then I lose weight during the season and then I'm too small. I lose about 10 to 12 pounds very quickly. During camp, I already lost five pounds - all the running and playing. So l'm never concerned about that. I feel great. I'm moving great. I feel good.”

Now there's two ways to look at this. On one hand, I do kind of see what he's saying. I guess it doesn't matter how you look on October 2nd, it matters what you look like come October 22nd. OK fine.

On the other hand, I have questions. Given the Mavs roster at the moment, is it fair to assume AD will be playing mostly at the 4 spot? I mean, they have a billion centers on that roster (once Gafford returns from injury). We know AD prefers to play the 4 compared to the 5, so what's the big deal if he came in under his LA weight (when he had to play center)? But fine, let's say he wants to be 255 or 258, my question is more when it comes to the reporting/takeaway from the Mavs side about all this.

So….now it's OK to play yourself into shape? Maybe I missed it, but were there any anonymous Mavs sources that are talking about AD being out of shape and what a concern it is moving forward? No? Hmmm, interesting!

Remember, the last time the Mavs had an overweight franchise cornerstone player, they couldn't wait to tell us about how it was a character and work ethic issue, so is that no longer the case now that it's AD and not Luka? 

I have to admit, it's a bit of a tough look for Nico Harrison in what has been nothing but 8 months of tough looks. Even if it ends up being no big deal and AD plays himself into shape and all that, it's still an awkward spot to be in given how hard in the paint they attacked Luka's weight/character/commitment etc, as a way to justify the trade for a player who…..then showed up to camp the next season overweight. 

As of now, AD has 2 more guaranteed years before his player option in 2027-28, and I think it's fair to suggest that it'll take a max extension to keep him in Dallas. Well, given the precedent the team just set by trading Luka for being out of shape instead of paying him his own supermax extension, is it fair to assume that could now also be on the table for AD? If so, does the worst NBA trade of all time somehow get even worse if either 

A) AD continues to come in out of shape every year?

B) They end up trading him before it comes time for the extension as AD enters his mid 30s?

Either way, somewhere in LA you know Luka has seen these pictures and the spinzone and is probably laughing his ass off while using it as even more motivation for when the Lakers play the Mavs this season.