(05-16-2024, 10:50 PM)The Jom Wrote: You keep saying Wiggins. But isn’t this series showing he isn’t playable? His minutes have diminished every game, while his coach searches for a guy to fill in for Giddey but isn’t choosing him. He’s hit 1 of his last 9 from the 3-point line. And he’s listed at 6-5, not 6-6. Don’t see what there is to love there.

(05-16-2024, 10:50 PM)The Jom Wrote: Josh and Tim both outplaying him from my vantage point.

(05-16-2024, 11:05 PM)RGP1981 Wrote:   especially if the Mavericks can also trade for Caruso...

(05-16-2024, 11:23 PM)F Gump Wrote: If the Mavs can trade THJ for Caruso, and then re-sign DJJ, I think they are way done (as far as players who will get regular minutes). I don't think a player who has other offers where he's likely to get minutes would sign here (for a minimum). Here's your 10 deep.

Gafford-Lively  (Powell)
PJW-Maxi        (Omax)
DJJ-Green       (Lawson?)
Kyrie-Caruso    (Hardy)
Luka-Exum       min

(05-16-2024, 11:23 PM)F Gump Wrote: If the Mavs can trade THJ for Caruso, and then re-sign DJJ, I think they are way done (as far as players who will get regular minutes). I don't think a player who has other offers where he's likely to get minutes would sign here (for a minimum). Here's your 10 deep.

Gafford-Lively  (Powell)
PJW-Maxi        (Omax)
DJJ-Green       (Lawson?)
Kyrie-Caruso    (Hardy)
Luka-Exum       min

(05-16-2024, 11:32 PM)RGP1981 Wrote: Trading for Caruso would be awesome in itself... but to cover all in-game scenarios, I think your 10-deep squad needs a good catch-and-shoot guard who also has good off-ball movement (like Isaiah Joe), to change things up at times. This seems more important than Exum in your list, since you already have DJJ, Caruso, Green... and Exum is like a timid-Caruso-lite.

(05-17-2024, 12:09 AM)F Gump Wrote: If you are wanting to make this about Exum vs Joe, Exum is a PG. None of the others are, nor is Joe. But just as relevant to the question about Exum and Joe, both are already under contract (at a very low price) for another season with their teams. Team options, technically, but neither will be declined. Joe isn't going anywhere.

As for whether the Mavs need a designated shooter, so to speak, I think it's already taken care of in the scenario you've created. Caruso would fill that role, of a backup who is a very efficient shooter, and he's also not going to be a drop-off in defense. Otherwise I also don't have any hesitation to see those shots going to players like PJW, DJJ, Green etc, both to keep them engaged and also to make them more of a 2-way threat.

I agree they would be wise to add a cheap guy to bring into such a role, either a PG type or a shooter type, because Hardy is not efficient enough to be the answer, and imo he's not getting better. All they will have is a minimum, assuming the MLE goes to DJJ. But just like OKC found Joe out there available, there should be someone available who is flying under the radar, if they can properly identify him.

(05-16-2024, 10:40 PM)RGP1981 Wrote: Herb Jones, Jaden McDaniels... those are the guys who would be defensive upgrades on DJJ, but not by much.

(05-16-2024, 08:54 PM)F Gump Wrote: ETA - I do think DJJ is such a good fit that it would make no sense to look for an alternative if you don't have to. How long have we longed for a superior wing defender? His agility, smarts, and length/leaping ability makes him pretty much everything we could want in that area, and he also has ways to be a factor on the offensive end. From time to time I see ideas of looking for better offense at his position, but I would much prefer to find that added offense from DJJ getting a bit better, rather than from a replacement whose defense will be worse (and likely MUCH MUCH worse). And if we pursue a player who is strong defensively AND on offense, we end up paying $40M rather than $10M, plus the cost to get him here is super expensive (and probably impossible).

(05-16-2024, 11:23 PM)F Gump Wrote: If the Mavs can trade THJ for Caruso, and then re-sign DJJ, I think they are way done (as far as players who will get regular minutes). I don't think a player who has other offers where he's likely to get minutes would sign here (for a minimum). Here's your 10 deep.

Gafford-Lively  (Powell)
PJW-Maxi        (Omax)
DJJ-Green       (Lawson?)
Kyrie-Caruso    (Hardy)
Luka-Exum       min

(05-17-2024, 12:39 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Thybulle might be gettable, as are some of the other names I’m reading.

Caruso is not, I don’t think.

(05-17-2024, 01:00 AM)mvossman Wrote: You think he will cost more than Timmy + first?  Would you do Green + first and then dump Timmy with a second or two to sign DJJ?

(05-17-2024, 01:07 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I don’t know if Hardaway and a first does it or not (kind of doubt it), but I wouldn’t make ANOTHER deal sending out a first from the distant future for a bench player. Further, I highly doubt a bench role is the best option the league will have to offer Caruso, so I don’t think he’d be up for it. 

Dumping Hardaway, along with a small sweetener, in order to take back less salary and then allocate the money more wisely (DJJ) is much more in line with what I think we can expect.

(05-17-2024, 12:39 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Thybulle might be gettable, as are some of the other names I’m reading.

Caruso is not, I don’t think.

(05-17-2024, 01:20 AM)mvossman Wrote: This is where we are on a different page.  I think Caruso starts.  He can play defense at the same level as DJJ while bringing more on the offensive side of the ball.

(05-17-2024, 01:28 AM)F Gump Wrote: You may be right, but THJ-Caruso (with side value added by Dallas) was an idea I felt hit the sweet spot for Dallas, and I'm willing to talk that idea.

THYBULLE. I think Thybulle is likely to be available at a much lesser price (an even THJ swap with no picks imo), but I also think he's a much lesser player than AC. His offense is generally bad, and mostly invisible. I have others I like way better for THJ. He doesn't entirely solve the money-for-DJJ with certainty (it's probably only up to 6.5-7.0M, instead of 5.2M, which is something but it's not a relatively huge bump). Then again, FWIW yes I would swap THJ for MT before I'd want to keep THJ.

(05-17-2024, 01:31 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I might have been right there with you two months ago, but I actually think DJJ is a better POA defender. I think he’s good enough at it to where you’d be giving up some of your defensive versatility with Caruso. 

Before this season, I wouldn’t have thought DJJ could handle that role consistently, but with so many big ball handlers in the league right now, he ends up there more often than not, and he can even keep up with some of the smaller guys, which is great, because he smothers them with his length. But, he gives you the option of moving him off of the ball where he can still wreck havoc in situations wherein Luka is able to handle one of the guards.

If you switch him out for Caruso, you are stuck with Caruso on a backcourt player whether they are good enough to justify using your best defender on them or not. This leaves Dončić stuck guarding threes and fours all the time, even when they are Paul George types. Trust me, I get that there’s an argument to be made about the offensive benefits of Caruso. A couple of months ago, I would have thought exactly as you are, wanting to get quicker and thinking of Luka more overtly as a forward. 

Idk… watching this defensive length that Dallas has working is winning me over. I am very close to just accepting and believing, finally, that Jones Jr is a special defensive player and the perfect fit on this team. I just think he gives you options that Caruso wouldn’t, matchup wise.

I would be thrilled to have Caruso as the third guard behind Dončić and Kyrie Irving, but again, I think his britches are a little bigger than that.

(05-17-2024, 01:38 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: No argument here, other than what I believe is an overly optimistic view on a path to acquire Caruso.

I think Thybulle is one of the most overhyped players this board has ever fetishized, and said so often and loudly during that hellish few days when the Mavericks had an offer sheet signed by him. In no way do I think he compares to Caruso in terms of all around skill or playability, and I even think his defense is overrated in a vacuum.

I agree with you that he is gettable for something similar to just Hardaway, and the only reason I would be slightly interested in that deal this time around is that we would no longer be talking about the job that Derek Jones Junior just won, but rather a chance to compete for the bench job Green can’t quite get his arms around. I can reluctantly envision him having a chance to be successful there.