MAVS NEWS: Exum to Miss 3 Months w/Wrist Surgery | Mavs Keep Lawson

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum is expected to miss three months after undergoing right wrist surgery, sources tell ESPN. Extended early loss to Mavericks backcourt.

[Chicagojk]

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum is expected to miss three months after undergoing right wrist surgery, sources tell ESPN. Extended early loss to Mavericks backcourt.

It doesn't seem to be season ending, which is sort of good news.   Sucks, he can't build on solid health and is already hurt.    

It opens up an opportunity for someone else.   There was going to be someone who wasn't going to be happy with minutes.   It will be an opportunity for someone to sink or swim.

Regarding Exum vs Dinwiddie.  I think peak Dinwiddie is the better player, but he has been pretty bad since leaving Dallas.    I think I like Exum when everyone is healthy.   For instance, if I had to pick one player who would be more productive if they only scored 4 points in 12 minutes, I think Exum is the easy answer.  He just does a lot of little things.  Kidd seemed to lose some confidence in him in the playoffs though.   Peak Dinwiddie may be better when Luka is out and we need someone to get some baskets.   I expect Dinwiddie will get the minutes early, but I do wonder how long a leash Kidd has if he does not have strong runs early in the season.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Ya, anything we get from Exum and Maxi is extra. Neither can be counted on.

[RGP1981]

I don't want to be insensitive, but it makes sense. The Marshall hire was a PR counter to the mountains of sleaze that came out about the toxicity of Cuban's first decade or so of ownership (some of which I saw first hand while working there, even in just an arena entertainment capacity, which is so far removed from the inner circle I might as well have been a concessions worker, but I still saw stuff). The new owners/governor don't have to worry about fixing that, because they're not Cuban.

I only want to ask... why do we not think that Cynt Marsahll just wants to retire, since she has reached the grand ole age of 65?

This next question is open to anyone who thinks that she absolutely needs to stay, at 65 years of age. Please explain what has Cynt Marshall done that was so good and why you want this. Why, as in, what tangible and real benefits are there to her staying.

I saw someone else say earlier, "she quit because she didn't want to work for a bigot". To that person I say.... "Phooey! Stop seeing the world in terms of color. That seems like a 'you problem', not an 'us or they problem'. In other words, you are projecting how you actually are yourself on to the rest of us."

Btw, KL, I am only using your comment to make my reply to others, so please don't misunderstand my intention in quoting you there. Like, I did not want to quote the bigoted guy referenced above. :thumbsup:

[michaeltex]

"Lawson can sign a one year 2-way contract with Dallas, but thereafter the Mavs can only sign him to a regular season contract." AGREED. An NBA team is limited to having a player on a 2-way deal with them to 3 seasons. Any part of a season counts as a season. The Mavs have had Lawson on a 2-way for the last 2.

MORE NOTES and clarifications
1 I think Kidd was simply saying nice things about a player who fell short.
2 "Years of Service" is a defined technical term in the CBA which refers to NBA years and status. Years of Service were originally given while playing in NBA games on a 2-way deal, but that was changed at some point (not sure when), and 2-way players no longer get a year of service for anything (including playing in NBA games) under that 2-way deal. It takes a regular NBA contract.
3 It looks to me like Lawson's NBA deal last season was counted as his 2nd year.
4 The question of whether Lawson does a 2-way with Dallas -- imo it's not about the rules, but rather whether Mavs want him (more than other 2-way options), as well as whether he gets other offers he likes better

FWIW, I sorta want to see Sharp as a 2-way, although I can see a case to be made for Gortman if he continues to play well in pre-season.

For Sharp, he seems to move well for a 7-4 guy and he has a rep as a rim defender. I guess I'm thinking longer term, post 2024-25 season, when he will be in the final year of his rookie extension and looking for a payday. Be nice to, potentially, have a replacement backup for DLive that has 2 years of G-league and occasional NBA, experience. Personally, it's painful to consider Gaff leaving/ getting traded, but DAL has had a hole in the middle for soooo long, I'd like to keep the position stocked by developing likely candidates. 

Probably not a course wiser minds would follow, but I think it's worth a spot.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

Would anyone be looking to extend Hardy or Grimes if they came in at reasonable numbers? Especially with Exum out. They are both restricted FA if I’m not mistaken. They will both be in the sweet spot of contacts that are valuable to collect for trade matching purposes. I think I would do 3yr-27m for Jaden and give him a full-time role. Grimes for Josh Green money? That’s a tougher call for me with him coming off an injury and traded twice in one year. 

I haven’t really looked at cap situations for free agency next summer, but I could see Hardy and/or Grimes getting some interest. Just curious what people think.

[KillerLeft]

I only want to ask... why do we not think that Cynt Marsahll just wants to retire, since she has reached the grand ole age of 65?

Sure, I bet that's at least part of the motivation. But, there's the note that this announcement comes at the tail end of a negotiation to extend her contract to consider, too. And anyway, wherever that line is, it doesn't change the equation, at least for me. She was hired as a PR remedy for the Cuban-led front office being outed as the very picture of "male toxicity" during a time when the villagers all had their pitchforks out looking for exactly that type of thing to complain about. It was a perfect storm of problems that a pro sports team doesn't need, and those circumstances have almost completely dissipated now, due to time and new ownership. A couple of WCF appearances didn't hurt, either.

[OBX Maverick]

I find it totally odd that Exum has this major injury, and it’s even announced that he has surgery today, yet not one word can i find about what the injury actually is. I’ll assume it’s some kind of ligamentous injury given how nebulous this has been, but what’s with all the cloak and daggers??? It’s not like we’re playing hockey and guys will target the injured area when he returns to action!

[F Gump]

FWIW, I sorta want to see Sharp as a 2-way, although I can see a case to be made for Gortman if he continues to play well in pre-season.

For Sharp, he seems to move well for a 7-4 guy and he has a rep as a rim defender. I guess I'm thinking longer term, post 2024-25 season, when he will be in the final year of his rookie extension and looking for a payday. Be nice to, potentially, have a replacement backup for DLive that has 2 years of G-league and occasional NBA, experience. Personally, it's painful to consider Gaff leaving/ getting traded, but DAL has had a hole in the middle for soooo long, I'd like to keep the position stocked by developing likely candidates. 

Probably not a course wiser minds would follow, but I think it's worth a spot.

Who is "he" in the part bolded? I can't tell how it would pertain to any of the players you are talking about.

[F Gump]

Would anyone be looking to extend Hardy or Grimes if they came in at reasonable numbers? Especially with Exum out. They are both restricted FA if I’m not mistaken. They will both be in the sweet spot of contacts that are valuable to collect for trade matching purposes. I think I would do 3yr-27m for Jaden and give him a full-time role. Grimes for Josh Green money? That’s a tougher call for me with him coming off an injury and traded twice in one year. 

I haven’t really looked at cap situations for free agency next summer, but I could see Hardy and/or Grimes getting some interest. Just curious what people think.

"Reasonable money" means different things to different people. But I have no interest in either at the numbers you propose. I think the odds are high that neither gets offers like that next summer -- I really think both have a lot to prove, frankly, and I'm not interested at much more than current salary for either based on what I have seen so far.

I'm perfectly happy waiting to see what they show, and taking my chances I can still re-sign them if I want to using RFA control, to a smaller deal than those. Maybe MUCH smaller.

[Mavs2021]

"Reasonable money" means different things to different people. But I have no interest in either at the numbers you propose. I think the odds are high that neither gets offers like that next summer -- I really think both have a lot to prove, frankly, and I'm not interested at much more than current salary for either based on what I have seen so far.

I'm perfectly happy waiting to see what they show, and taking my chances I can still re-sign them if I want to using RFA control, to a smaller deal than those. Maybe MUCH smaller.

The cap is projected to increase by nearly $50M over the next three seasons. $9M will be slightly above half of the mid-level exception. If you don´t think Hardy is worth that you are basically saying he´s not an NBA player.

[F Gump]

The cap is projected to increase by nearly $50M over the next three seasons. $9M will be slightly above half of the mid-level exception. If you don´t think Hardy is worth that you are basically saying he´s not an NBA player.

"$9M will be slightly above half of the mid-level exception"

Not correct. MLE at most will be 14.1M next summer. 

But those are ridiculous numbers to put in the convo anyhow. Hardy's play has been nowhere near that value, or even half of it. You get a player like DJJ for that sort of salary. So far Hardy is a poor man's THJ, at best.

FWIW -- I was curious and took a peek at next summer cap and limits. As is, they enter the summer with 10 players, about 170M payroll, and 5 slots to fill.

Expiring - to replace or re-sign = Grimes, Hardy, Exum, Dinwiddie, Morris

I expect their planned limit will be Apron 1. That gives them room on paper for those 5 players to be 1 full MLE, 2025 1stR draft pick, and 3 minimums. With a Luka mega-contract looming, this is probably the last summer they'll have an MLE to add talent, so they need to land a good one from somewhere.

So I suspect "the caliber of player the MLE can buy" will be the alternative the Mavs weigh, with any returning players who might want more than a minimum.

They are not screwed if they have 2 good players returning and worth more than MLE together. In that event, they can toss the MLE away, which moves their limit up another 10-12M to Apron 2, and should be enough payroll room to sign both.

But imo that's who Grimes and Hardy will be competing with as they play for a new contract -- are they worth throwing away the MLE?

[michaeltex]

Who is "he" in the part bolded? I can't tell how it would pertain to any of the players you are talking about.

Sorry, he = Gafford.

Usually re-read for clarity. Damn job keeps distracting me though!

[mvossman]

Would anyone be looking to extend Hardy or Grimes if they came in at reasonable numbers? Especially with Exum out. They are both restricted FA if I’m not mistaken. They will both be in the sweet spot of contacts that are valuable to collect for trade matching purposes. I think I would do 3yr-27m for Jaden and give him a full-time role. Grimes for Josh Green money? That’s a tougher call for me with him coming off an injury and traded twice in one year. 

I haven’t really looked at cap situations for free agency next summer, but I could see Hardy and/or Grimes getting some interest. Just curious what people think.

Hard to see a full time role for Hardy even with Exum out.  Grimes can provide the shooting with much better defense, and Dinwiddie is a better 3rd point guard.  I'm not sure he would get an offer more than tax MLE so it does not make senses to offer near double that for a player you have a hard time fitting into the lineup.

I would argue Grimes has already done more than Green did to warrant Josh Green money, but he had a weird year last year and based on how little he cost in trade it does not seem like his market is very high right now.  If he plays like he did in his second year and is meshing well on the team, I could see a Josh Green like extension near the TDL.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Hard to see a full time role for Hardy even with Exum out.  Grimes can provide the shooting with much better defense, and Dinwiddie is a better 3rd point guard.  I'm not sure he would get an offer more than tax MLE so it does not make senses to offer near double that for a player you have a hard time fitting into the lineup.

I would argue Grimes has already done more than Green did to warrant Josh Green money, but he had a weird year last year and based on how little he cost in trade it does not seem like his market is very high right now.  If he plays like he did in his second year and is meshing well on the team, I could see a Josh Green like extension near the TDL.

Ya, Hardy has to at least get active on defense and score in bunches.  Otherwise, he's JAG.

[The Jom]

THJ is not a bad comp. But he’s 22, with all kinds of potential.

[Chicagojk]

well that was melodramatic

Charania] The Dallas Mavericks are bringing back F AJ Lawson on a two-way NBA contract, sources tell ESPN. Lawson played 42 games for the Mavericks last season and averaged 18.4 points and five rebounds for Dallas’ summer league team.

[WillE]

well that was melodramatic

Charania] The Dallas Mavericks are bringing back F AJ Lawson on a two-way NBA contract, sources tell ESPN. Lawson played 42 games for the Mavericks last season and averaged 18.4 points and five rebounds for Dallas’ summer league team.

Clearly retaing Lawson wasn't the plan all along, otherwise Kidd wouldn't have made those comments.

Question now is if this means he's locked in for that spot or if he still might be cut at the end.