(06-09-2025, 02:42 PM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: I'm kinda at a loss as to what DLive's value is around the league.  Any thoughts?  Can he be a piece to bring someone like Dyson Daniels in, or are we fortunate to get the price we paid (#12 pick)?

(06-09-2025, 02:56 PM)DallasMaverick Wrote: I think it’s higher than the #12 pick:

Upside:
He performed at an NBA-starting-center level as a rookie.
He’s got length and lateral quickness - a prototypical switchable center.
His injuries are all one-offs, not necessarily any indication that he’s “injury-prone”.
He’s still on a really cheap contract.

Downside:
He might actually be injury-prone.

(06-09-2025, 02:42 PM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: I'm kinda at a loss as to what DLive's value is around the league.  Any thoughts?  Can he be a piece to bring someone like Dyson Daniels in, or are we fortunate to get the price we paid (#12 pick)?

(06-09-2025, 02:31 PM)F Gump Wrote: Oh? In essence, that plan (we will address that massive hole in our lineup in 2026 rather than now and limp along  for a season) wastes a year of whatever LBJ has left, and is the last year of Luka before he's UFA. 

I expect their urgency level is WAYYYY higher than that. But you may be right, who knows?

And to be clear, personally I don't favor Gaff being traded anyhow, so my opinions are not some sort of desire to find a good price for a needed trade. I think he has high value for Mavs just like for LAL and would be greatly missed if traded. The proposed Knecht-GV package wasn't even in the same universe as his actual value imo. The only reason I would consider having Reaves instead is that he might help a lot an area of need (offense creating) in DAL (in the same way Gaff's skill set is greatly needed in LA). One negative on Reaves is that he only has one year left on his deal and he might become overpriced next summer, which is a problem for a team with payroll issues.

(06-09-2025, 04:10 PM)david75090 Wrote: I think it just might be the conundrum that Don Nelson faced in the Dirk Draft. Which player do you take between two players of what might be equal value. The tall guy or the taller guy? Lively is really young and should get better. Or he's injured too frequently. Dyson Daniels. Has he topped out? 7footer or the guy who's in the 6'5'-6-6" range, of which the NBA has in abundance? Dirk or Paul Pierce? And we're not talking about a player on the level of either of those guys, but maybe players of equal value to each other.

(06-09-2025, 04:28 PM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: MIP and first team all defense...  Daniels is a one off, not in abundance.  Let's not forget this team's number one need: PG.

(06-09-2025, 05:46 PM)david75090 Wrote: I think Daniels might be OK. MIP, which means he's recently gotten better from previously not being as highly thought of

(06-09-2025, 07:26 PM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: That's not an informed statement.  Dude is only 22yo, only played 2 prior seasons, was drafted #8, and made the all defensive first team.  That's not a shitty player finally coming around; it's a young player who has fulfilling his promise on a high trajectory.

(06-09-2025, 09:56 PM)david75090 Wrote: Oh, so he's really, really good. Why are they willing to trade him?

(06-09-2025, 04:24 PM)omahen Wrote: Main thing where our difference is, I don't think Lakers are in a complete win now mode. I actually think, they have close to zero chance to win it next season, unless they pull of a magical offseason.

(06-10-2025, 12:25 AM)F Gump Wrote: If Lakers aren't in win now mode and don't feel any high urgency to make something happen while they have the best of Luka-LBJ duo, that's fine. I agree they have MULTIPLE issues to solve, not just C. How they prioritize that, and when, that's certainly a question of importance to them. I don't have any dog in the hunt on what the LAL thinking needs to be (or is "most likely"). Because I have no fondness for anything Laker-related, I'm not one to objectively speak to their best direction. Lakers suck no matter what they do.

In the case in which they are NOT in a complete win now mode (as you opine), imo Gaff is not necessarily their answer UNLESS they see him (as I do) as a player who can help both now and later (because I think he is affordably priced on his contract and will stay that way, relative to his play). I think not only his play but also his contract and team-oriented attitude stand to offer a significant extra value for whoever has him, and will help him bring a better return IF the Mavs decide to trade him.

I hope they don't, however. I think he has been a significant asset to their ability to win, and would leave a hole.

Looking ahead, if LAL wanted to "wait" for him, I don't think Gaff will be gettable as a FA in 2026. I expect the Mavs will either lock him up to an extension, or trade him to a team who will do so. And I don't think the Mavs willing-to-trade price should be lower than Reaves/FRP (although I'm not eager to solve any problem for LAL so would still be uneasy even at that price).

(06-09-2025, 11:07 PM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: Huh?  You just stated that because he was MIP he used to be spare.

Why would they trade him?  Nobody in today's NBA is safe.  You do a deal if it makes your franchise better.

(06-10-2025, 09:41 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Lakers have a tricky path to build a contender.  I think a big and some wing depth are most haves.  As mentioned, they need to look further out.  It is difficult to do that with Lebron though.  He is still really good...just hard to do it for a long playoff series now.  Question...would it be better for the Lakers if Lebron opted out and signed somewhere else next year?  I don't think this happens at all, but would that be better in anyway?

I can tell you one thing though, I am not looking forward to the monster season Luka is going to probably have next year.  If it doesn't happen next season, I will be very, very suprised.  Still really weird to not feel like I can root for Luka.  Just a really sucky spot.  Still a lot of mixed emotions.

(06-10-2025, 05:21 AM)david75090 Wrote: I had to go look him up. A throw-in from the Dejounte Murray trade, finally got some playing time along side Trae Young, the PG.

(06-10-2025, 12:55 PM)Jym Wrote: If we do a trade with the Hawks, it'll probably be them absorbing Gafford into that big TPE they have
And they have the Lakers 22nd pick