(07-18-2025, 10:25 PM)F Gump Wrote: APPLICATION? What does signing CT mean to them? I see him being retained to be an asset to trade at some point, I guess. (And obviously, to be a trade asset, the contract size is a HUGE part of the value, right?) Is he good enough to mess up their tanking for a 2026 pick? Are they trying hard to find a sign-and-trade taker for him, behind the scenes, so they don't have to be saddled with his salary? Do they HIGHLY care if they lose him? Or is he actually seen as a future star in BKN?

(07-18-2025, 10:51 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I'm not as up on other teams' situations just yet. I still follow the whole league, but things happen so fast during the off-season I usually become somewhat disconnected from the league as a whole at this time of year, and my focus becomes hyper-focused on the Mavericks. 

Here's the thing:

Davis
Flagg
Irving (injured)
Thompson
Washington
Marshall
Russell
Gafford
Christie
Exum
Martin

That's ELEVEN players who are all worthy of being in some team's top 9, imho. In fact, I bet all 11 expect to be in the Mavs' top 9 THIS SEASON. And yet, somehow, the Mavs' top 9 (although we might disagree which 9 names to choose from the list above) doesn't quite feel like a good enough team, with or without Kyrie. It's plausible that they miss the playoffs, even if relatively healthy.  

Williams (some would probably add him to the list above, and he might deserve it, but I'm being ultra conservative here, despite the idea that including him in the previous list might support my overall point)
Powell
Hardy
O-Max
Nembhard (2-way)
Kelly (2-way)

Those guys are all "end of the bench, not in the rotation" types, probably, and depending on how we feel about their contracts, potential or both, there's nothing really special to see. Some have value as up and coming players with potential, others have value as locker-room vets, etc. Some of them could possibly even be better than other teams' 9th, 10th or 11th men. 

To me, this situation is SCREAMING for a 2-for-1 or even a 3-for-1 consolidation trade where 1-2 names from the top group go out (possibly with 1-2 from the bottom group, but not necessarily) for an impact player who fits squarely into the top 9 (or preferably the top 6), so that:

1) the rotation makes more sense
2) player roles are more defined
and, most importantly
3) the amount of talent OF THE TOP 9 is significantly improved and not just relying on "depth." Depth is a good thing, particularly after a season nuked by injury concerns (some of which are spilling over into this season), but if your rotation isn't good enough when everyone is healthy, what good is depth? 

We don't know what was actually available and out there this summer. And, we don't know exactly how this team is going to fit together just yet, particularly regarding the Cooper Flagg of it all. Lastly, we don't know who's going to have a good year, health wise, so I'm ok for now just maintaining the status quo (assuming Washington is extended) but I just can't believe anyone over there at Mavs HQ thinks this roster is a finished product. If they do, then I think we're all about to wast quite a bit of time watching a style of basketball that has little chance to work.

TL;DR: I'm happy with each of this summer's moves in a vacuum, but I'm underwhelmed with the resulting team they have to show for their effort. I don't want to give players away, but I wouldn't want to go too much longer before creating better synergy and adding to the top of the roster, and I feel like not doing so at some point soon might end up making this next season or two a real missed opportunity.

(07-19-2025, 03:52 AM)Dahlsim Wrote: Lively?

(07-19-2025, 03:52 AM)Dahlsim Wrote: Lively?

(07-19-2025, 11:00 AM)ThisIStheYear Wrote: If the Mavs plan to go back to the 48 minute center split between Lively and Gafford and play AD mostly at the 4, PJ just becomes a luxury we can’t afford. Naji is a better 3 than PJ (as are other roster options) and Flagg gets the rest of the minutes. I’m afraid PJ’s days are numbered. If Nico doesn’t move him while he has value, even for a pick and an expiring, that would be malpractice.  I wouldn’t go with the AD at the 4 plan, but it’s too late to turn back now.  Top remaining priorities should be to extricate the team from the Klay and Martin contracts and deal PJ for at least 50 cents on the dollar.

(07-19-2025, 02:04 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Cavs’ Dean Wade Still Mentioned In Trade Chatter; Mavericks Interested? 

(07-19-2025, 02:04 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Cavs’ Dean Wade Still Mentioned In Trade Chatter; Mavericks Interested?
By Sam Amico
 July 19, 2025

File photo

The Cavaliers really like Dean Wade, but they may also like the idea of not being in the NBA’s second tax bracket.

For those unfamiliar with salary-cap jargon and implications, just know the Cavs are in a tough spot. When you pay out too much salary, you are handcuffed in making roster moves. The Cavs are basically there.

So Wade could be the odd man out, it was suggested by Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, via Jackson Flickinger of Fear The Sword.
  
Several opposing scouts have told Hoops Wire that their general managers have an interest in Wade — and could make a run at him now that the free agency dust has cleared. The scouts did not know if those GMs had yet called the Cavs.  Flickinger summarized Fedor’s report by noting that rumors persist about moving Wade, as he’s entering the final year of his deal. Fedor wrote that “the current belief is Wade likely wouldn’t return.”
 
One league source told Hoops Wire that the Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards are among the teams with a likely interest in Wade, and Fedor reported that the Mavericks have been “fans for a few years.”

He added that “contenders from each conference expressed interest.”
If Wade is indeed moved, it would hardly be for anything that’s considered splashy. It would just more likely serve as a salary dump. The Cavs may not go that route before the season, because again, they value Wade’s perimeter defense.

“Wade still remains useful for the Cavs despite his offensive limitations due to his unwillingness to take open threes,” Flickinger wrote. “Cleveland has been considerably better with him on the court compared to when he’s off every season since 2021-22. Last season, they were 1.8 points better per 100 possessions with Wade on the floor.”

So, will the Cavs move Wade? Well, let’s just say it’s still a possibility, as we relayed it was earlier this summer.
 
Wade, 28, appeared in 59 games with the Cavaliers last season, averaging 5.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and shooting 36.0 percent on 3-pointers. He has spent all of his six NBA seasons in Cleveland.

(07-19-2025, 03:28 PM)F Gump Wrote: I see we are back to fretting over the depth at C/PF and who will play where. But it doesn't take a trade to resolve. Quality depth is a good thing. 

(07-19-2025, 03:28 PM)F Gump Wrote: I see we are back to fretting over the depth at C/PF and who will play where. But it doesn't take a trade to resolve. Quality depth is a good thing. And once there's an injury (it's a safe bet there will be some), or someone needs a rest day, the minutes lengthen for everyone.

If everyone is healthy and it's not a big game where AD is playing extended minutes, I think AD plays ~30, PJW ~32, and PJ will actually play more minutes at PF than AD will (and way more PF than SF).

Here's what I see as their regular rotation with Gaff/Lively, AD, PJW:
C -  Gaff/Lively split 38-40, AD ~10
PF - AD 20, PJW 28
SF - PJW 4

Of course, injuries and rest days will change things regularly. But overall what I see is quality depth and flexibility rather than issues.

Yes, they COULD trade some of their quality big man depth for a different player. (And I am so leery of how AD value will turn out, in relation to his giant contract and injury likelihood, that I would welcome a trade to alleviate my huge concern.) But imo the kind of guy to target would be another SGA, a younger Curry, a healthy Haliburton, etc, while the guys available won't be much more than the caliber of DAR, Exum, etc. ... ugh.

(07-19-2025, 03:54 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: They'll be playing two bigs on the floor at the same time. It's not just that I don't think that can work (which I don't), it's that I'm not interested in watching them try to make it work. It's just a repulsive style of basketball, imo. 4 minutes at the 3 from PJ is 4 minutes too many. I'm not even sure that Flagg is right for the 3, though he could be. HE needs time at the 4, too. Thompson really isn't a 2 anymore, and that's where he'll be forced to play...the displacement goes on and on. 

(07-19-2025, 03:40 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: This ignores the obvious lack of talent at other positions.  This team is reliant on Dangelo Russell being good.  

(07-19-2025, 04:16 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: I see you're still complaining about too much depth.  

(07-19-2025, 04:18 PM)F Gump Wrote: A trade just to get rid of a body is not needed. 

(07-19-2025, 03:54 PM)KillerLeft Wrote:  It's not just that I don't think that can work (which I don't), it's that I'm not interested in watching them try to make it work. It's just a repulsive style of basketball, imo.

I stand by my opinion. The top 9 rotation of this team isn't a contender, with or without Kyrie. 

(07-19-2025, 05:06 PM)F Gump Wrote: KL, your last 2 posts to me read like
1 stating why a trade just to move a body is badly needed, and
2 a statement that no one is pushing for number 1.

I'm not trying to ever put words in your mouth. But you do keep saying number 1 in essence at times, and when I speak against that, I get a reply like this last one.

I believe trades WILL happen, and the roster WILL inevitably evolve. But I don't believe in giving away useful, used, talented players just to thin the roster. Ever. And even more so when your main guys cant stay healthy (which means you really are NOT as deep right now as you think you are.)