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[SleepingHero]

Regarding Dan and Smity's posts....

Player Ages

Morris = 34
Hardaway = 32
Kleber = 32
Powell = 32
Irving = 31
Exum = 28
DJJ = 26
Gafford = 25
Washington = 25
Doncic = 24
Green = 23
Prosper = 21
Hardy = 20

Most haven't hit their prime years. It's ideal really if you're seeking stability in the next few years.

The fact Lively isn't even on this list is mindblowing to me (I thought he was 19 just now, my bad! Happy Birthday DLive!). Dude is so young and already making a HUGE impact beyond what I ever reasonably imagined.

Luka (24)/Exum (28)
Green (23)
----/DJJ(26)
Washington(25)
Lively(20)/Gafford(25)

What a freaking YOUNG core.

[Smitty]

The fact Lively isn't even on this list is mindblowing to me (I thought he was 19 just now, my bad! Happy Birthday DLive!). Dude is so young and already making a HUGE impact beyond what I ever reasonably imagined.

Luka (24)/Exum (28)
Green (23)
----/DJJ(26)
Washington(25)
Lively(20)/Gafford(25)

What a freaking YOUNG core.

How dare you forget OMAX!

[SleepingHero]

How dare you forget OMAX!

WE HAVE TOO MUCH DEPTH I LOVE THIS PROBLEM!!

[Jason Terry]

One thing to maybe pump the breaks on with Gafford and Lively. There’s a chance that they get played off the court in a playoff series. Do we have enough to combat that? I could see this potentially happen against the Clippers…..it’s usually US though that’s doing the punishing of drop bigs

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

One thing to maybe pump the breaks on with Gafford and Lively. There’s a chance that they get played off the court in a playoff series. Do we have enough to combat that? I could see this potentially happen against the Clippers…..it’s usually US though that’s doing the punishing of drop bigs

It’s why Maxi staying healthy is so important for this team to reach its ceiling.

[Smitty]

One thing to maybe pump the breaks on with Gafford and Lively. There’s a chance that they get played off the court in a playoff series. Do we have enough to combat that? I could see this potentially happen against the Clippers…..it’s usually US though that’s doing the punishing of drop bigs

Having Maxi and PJW, who play a lot of small ball 5, is what gives this team so many options now.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Stein reporting that he knows of two mystery teams that think they can convince Lebron to sign at a discount if they draft Bronny.

Can someone remind me the teams that Stein is pretty plugged into again?…

[BigDirk41]

Stein reporting that he knows of two mystery teams that think they can convince Lebron to sign at a discount if they draft Bronny.

Can someone remind me the teams that Stein is pretty plugged into again?…

It would not surprise me if he came to Dallas in the off season after the Lakers stood pat at the deadline. I know that's a lot of money to give up, but he's rich AF and if he came to Dallas, he could probably catch MJ in titles. His legacy is probably more important than money at this point.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

It would not surprise me if he came to Dallas in the off season after the Lakers stood pat at the deadline. I know that's a lot of money to give up, but he's rich AF and if he came to Dallas, he could probably catch MJ in titles. His legacy is probably more important than money at this point.

I’ve been saying it since the trades were made. We’re basically set up for him to come in and chill until the playoffs assuming the price is like Hardaway/Green and the two picks. If there’s anything we know about Lebron it’s that he’s going where he thinks he can win and where it also counts towards his legacy. I truly believe that one of the main reasons they were so keen on keeping Green is to use him as a piece to make this happen.

[Jason Terry]

Stein reporting that he knows of two mystery teams that think they can convince Lebron to sign at a discount if they draft Bronny.

Can someone remind me the teams that Stein is pretty plugged into again?…

Mavs and Knicks

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Mavs and Knicks

Ya my guess was Mavs and then one of the Knicks/76ers but Knicks makes more sense.

Would be a very Lebron move.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I’ve been saying it since the trades were made. We’re basically set up for him to come in and chill until the playoffs assuming the price is like Hardaway/Green and the two picks. If there’s anything we know about Lebron it’s that he’s going where he thinks he can win and where it also counts towards his legacy. I truly believe that one of the main reasons they were so keen on keeping Green is to use him as a piece to make this happen.

A sign and trade means we are capped at the first apron.  Cost is an interesting question.  If he wanted to, he could just come for the TP-MLE (or go to a room team like Philly).  So, Green and two picks seems high.  I do find it interesting that we ended up with a very late second the year Bronny may be coming out.

I’ll add that we are already hearing stuff about Trae or Murray to LAL (both are Klutch).  If Lebron turns down the money, they’d have enough room to sign Miles Bridges (also Klutch).  If I were a Klutch agent, I’d want Hardy in the outgoing for Lebron (maybe THJ/Hardy and protected 2025 which is backed by 2nds in 25 and 26).  That way Hardy gets some PT and can potentially shine in LA and get a good contract the summer of 25.  

Maybe you do something like $60mm over three years with THJ/Hardy going out.  You have to add another minimum in a two-for-one deal, so you probably can’t bring back DJJ unless he takes something well under the TPMLE.  The third year for Lebron is guaranteed for $10mm with the understanding he retires and gets the $10mm making the deal $25mm per year for two years.  So, he gets his $50mm in his contract and basically plays one more year with his son for ‘free’.

[Jason Terry]

A sign and trade means we are capped at the first apron.  Cost is an interesting question.  If he wanted to, he could just come for the TP-MLE (or go to a room team like Philly).  So, Green and two picks seems high.  I do find it interesting that we ended up with a very late second the year Bronny may be coming out.

I’ll add that we are already hearing stuff about Trae or Murray to LAL (both are Klutch).  If Lebron turns down the money, they’d have enough room to sign Miles Bridges (also Klutch).  If I were a Klutch agent, I’d want Hardy in the outgoing for Lebron (maybe THJ/Hardy and protected 2025 which is backed by 2nds in 25 and 26).  That way Hardy gets some PT and can potentially shine in LA and get a good contract the summer of 25.  

Maybe you do something like $60mm over three years with THJ/Hardy going out.  You have to add another minimum in a two-for-one deal, so you probably can’t bring back DJJ unless he takes something well under the TPMLE.  The third year for Lebron is guaranteed for $10mm with the understanding he retires and gets the $10mm making the deal $25mm per year for two years.  So, he gets his $50mm in his contract and basically plays one more year with his son for ‘free’.

There’s also the post-career side of this. Lebron wants to own a team in Vegas one day. What better person to play for than Patrick Dumont, Owner of NBA team and CEO of Vegas casino. 

Luka and Kyrie are two of his favorite players. Everyone loves Nico. He’s played for Kidd already. 

Basketball fit is there too. What’s a better team out there for him to spend the next 2-3 years and win a championship? It’s a short list and we are on it

[SleepingHero]

NBA Communications (@NBAPR)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 16 of the 2023-24 season (Feb. 5-11).

[Chicagojk]

I really hope Bronny stays in school. I like what I have seen but he is no where near ready playing in the pros. He is the classic example of a kid who stays 3 or 4 years in college and enters the league as a ready made support player. Entering the league now and being a pawn in the Lebron sweepstakes will do much more harm than good. I think Lebron sees this too...at least for another year. I would be surprised if we see Bronny try the NBA next year. That is just a personal guess though.

I would also be surprised to see Lebron sign anywhere at a discount. Who knows though.

[dirkfansince1998]

I really hope Bronny stays in school.  I like what I have seen but he is no where near ready playing in the pros.  He is the classic example of a kid who stays 3 or 4 years in college and enters the league as a ready made support player.  Entering the league now and being a pawn in the Lebron sweepstakes will do much more harm than good.  I think Lebron sees this too...at least for another year.  I would be surprised if we see Bronny try the NBA next year.  That is just a personal guess though. 

I would also be surprised to see Lebron sign anywhere at a discount.  Who knows though.

I doubt it. Playing with his son is one of LBJs top priorities and the clock is ticking. If he enters the 2024 draft it would be Bronnie (20) and LBJ (40) next season. Realistic to have them on the same team for 1-2 seasons. Unless LBJ goes full TB12 on the league and plays into his mid 40s it needs to happen within the next to seasons.

[F Gump]

My early thoughts re the summer ...

1 NT MLE? It doesn't feel like it would be a practical plan to try to carve out cap room to have it.

2 DJJ?  Without NT MLE, I see him as a target, but a real longshot. I expect they offer him the Tx MLE (limits of ~$5.2M starting salary, max 2 years) - all they can offer - and hope for the best. It is a raise. It would take him to a future where he has Bird rights and can be offered even more. But it seems likely he will be offered way more by a team looking for help that starts at 80-100% of the NT MLE and runs 3-4 years, like Thybulle and G Williams last summer.

3 Hard cap at Apron 1 ($178.65M)? I don't think it will come into play. Getting DJJ probably lands them past it, but without him they probably still want to leave an opening for using the TxMLE, and/or the TPE's (about $5M and $4M) and going past Apron 1. So I think they will do things that don't force them to stay under that line.

4 Apron 2? They will stay under the Apron 2 line ($189.5M). You incur real penalties by ending up past it regularly. They can use ALL of the TxMLE and both their TPE's and still be below it.

5 One path to changing all the math and possibilities is a THJ trade, where he is sold for pick(s) and the salary in return is way smaller, or even none. In the summer when cap space is more available, that type of deal has potential. I was hoping for a THJ-Brown trade at the deadline to solve that question.

6 I don't think trading Kyrie will be considered at all this summer. He's too good, injuries and all, and raises the ceiling.

7 With the new owners, I think payroll limits will expand from "stay below the tax line" to "stay below Apron 2" and you can even pass Apron 2 if it's only for a year or two. 

8 But even with a higher limit, the money runs out fast. They will still need to successfully target players making MLE money or so, or less, to fill the rotation to complement Luka-Kyrie.

9 Finding more rotation players like Exum and DJJ for minimal outlay, even though it's a longshot, will be crucial to having needed depth. You find them at the end of free agency so it's risky and tricky. Having excellent player evaluation skills is key, and it's also a game where you get such players with minutes to offer (which means you have left a hole in your roster to fill). It's a tricky road to navigate.

10 They need to find a young talent, for the future, even if it's a two-way. I'm guessing that's how pick 58-ish will be used, rather than filling an NBA roster slot at a reduced cost. I like that they are targeting players with length. Having excellent player evaluation skills is key here as well.

[F Gump]

Stein reporting that he knows of two mystery teams that think they can convince Lebron to sign at a discount if they draft Bronny.

Can someone remind me the teams that Stein is pretty plugged into again?…

Bronny is really meh so far, a marginal starter with bad stats on a bad team. It would be in his best interest NOT to enter the NBA this year. And it's not like he's a dirt-poor kid who desperately needs to get paid to play.

Of course, he may have no way to get drafted other than coat-tailing on teams' desire to get his dad, and his dad is more desirable now than later, so there's that factor too.

Because of the LBJ factor, he will undoubtedly get drafted whenever he declares, and far higher than his ability deserves. And probably languish on the bench (or inactive) and not sent to GL to work on his game. But if he's really interested in his own career, he will wait another year or two, if he has any real potential at all.

What he chooses will definitely have a ripple effect.

PS - On the idea of a sign-and-trade for LBJ, that's easily doable IF the Mavs stay under Apron 1, and if they send out more salary than they receive. What would be harder would be drafting Bronny at pick 58 if he declares this season - someone is going to grab him much earlier, and if LBJ has no interest, they will swap his rights to a team that interests him (at a profit, of course).

[SleepingHero]

I really hope Bronny stays in school.  I like what I have seen but he is no where near ready playing in the pros.  He is the classic example of a kid who stays 3 or 4 years in college and enters the league as a ready made support player.  Entering the league now and being a pawn in the Lebron sweepstakes will do much more harm than good.  I think Lebron sees this too...at least for another year.  I would be surprised if we see Bronny try the NBA next year.  That is just a personal guess though. 

I would also be surprised to see Lebron sign anywhere at a discount.  Who knows though.

To be fair, Lebron already has taken a discount (in his prime no less) to join a Miami Heat squad to team up with 2 other all-stars.

He'd be doing the same thing again here, except its 13 years later and he's pushing 40. Dan's scenario doesn't seem that outlandish to me. Especially considering Luka is a bonafide megastar and the best player Lebron would have ever teamed up with. Add in the history with Kyrie, Kidd, and Nico and we got all the typical elements that make the pundits go: "Yeah I can see why Lebron went there."

Also like Jason Terry said, Lebron wants to own the next Vegas team. The league is 100% waiting for him to retire. So why wouldn't Lebron try and gain favor with one of the biggest Vegas moguls (if not the biggest) who currently owns the Mavs for the last year, maybe two, of his career.

[SleepingHero]

Brad Townsend (@townbrad)
I’m hearing that new Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont will meet in person with Mavs employees for the first time and tonight attend his first game as governor when the Mavericks host Washington @AACenter.