El Segundo, California – it was a familiar face on a famous site, but something was missing.
The splendor was present in the Lakers facility, complete with the Larry O’Brien trophies looking over the exercise floor, certainly sparkled to look golden for the occasion.
And the Buss family was distributed, team governor Jeanie Buss were in the shade while her brother, Jim Buss, was sitting on the other side, pulled a hat low over his face.
The number of retired Laker sweaters loomed on the walls, the perfect background.
But the modest look at the face of Luka Dončić showed the reality of this. Not that the cold had anything to do with the Lakers, not for Dončić.
But it hung in the air for the morning, in the 20 -minute press conference and it was pronounced in the corners for a few moments afterwards, the people behind the scenes kept saying:
“It’s a company.”
Usually, when the Lakers introduce their newest star, whether it is through a tap or sign or trade, he is all smiling, bathed in tradition and the dignitaries, who would like to add to Lakers Lore.
It is their choice, their destination, their happiness. Things are in the background, not the foreground.
“It’s a gift,” said Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka. “You are talking about a 25-year-old who is a top three player in the universe. I can’t think of a amazing starting point to build a selection for the next decade. “
Shaquille O’Neal was a top three player when he arrived in Los Angeles, just like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, also LeBron James. These gifts happen for this franchise and the Lakers are not shocked when happiness laughs at them.
But you didn’t get the feeling that Dončić was unhappy about being in Los Angeles, with the Lakers, with James. It felt very moving and sincere when he called the deceased Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, wish they could be here to see this.
He just seemed distracted, still in shock – to be honest, the entire sports world is still frozen on time.
“I mean, everyone was surprised, you can imagine how surprised I was,” said Dončić. “I almost slept, so when I was called, I had to check it [if] It was April 1. I couldn’t believe it. They were difficult moments for me. It was at home. “
When he noticed the April, it didn’t really feel like a joke, although laughed laughs. The only way he could have been traded was due to a cruel practical joke, or someone who was hacked or jokes – that’s what he distracted.
Every time he reported the inconvenience, he tried to soften the feelings of his new home by complimenting the franchise by name the weather and the ocean that is not far from his new excavations. He was careful not to insult, but it is clear that he is still very much processing in the business end of a transaction that has surprised as much as they are enthusiastic.
His body language was noticeable, so Pelinka had to make a note of Dončić is a fierce competitor on the floor while looking quiet.
“I know he may seem calm and casual and quiet here, but we know it will be alter ego,” Pelinka said. “I know he has the drive to win we have here. Our fans will see that on the field every evening. ‘
It was even strange to let Pelinka speak about the clandestine nature of his meetings with Mavs GM Nico Harrison, who started about three weeks ago with the Mavericks approaching the Lakers. Pelinka complimented Harrison about the thing that ensured that Dončić felt every bite of the deep deed and betrayal written on his face.
“And when the concept was initially introduced to us, it was:” Hey, the only way we can even have these discussions was when it is between owners and GMs, “said Pelinka.” And there was a dedication to that, and as if We break that dedication to someone else, so I think trust was central to all those discussions.
Trust is what is broken between Dončić and the Mavericks, or even franchise player and employer, in a general sense. If Dončić and his representation find out about the commercial interviews, Pelinka is probably correct: the deal is said to have been blown up before the finish line was reached.
But in that scenario, at least for Dončić, he would have had an agency in it, a way to lobby to stay in the place he wanted to stay before his career, or to recover fences if that was possible at all.
However, it is clear that Dončić feels a way about what has been whispered from Dallas in recent days. His conditioning and habits, which retain his weight in a place that enables him to stay on the ground for a whole season and even his wishes to sign an extension of five years worth more than $ 350 million this season when when He was expected to be presented to him.
“Absolutely not,” he said flat when he was asked if he had given any indication that he would not sign the super-max extension.
When a trade in this size happens, it becomes a struggle for rhetoric and controlling the story. The truth is rarely so clean and clear, rarely so one -sided that there is a real villain and victim.
It all depends on perspective, but what is clear from Dončić’s first words was how shocked he was here, on the first Tuesday in February – and it will take a while before it feels at home.