(05-15-2025, 10:54 AM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: I'm not super sold on Ben Simmons but am bracing for him signing here based on his Klutch ties.

(05-15-2025, 01:38 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Is this the summer of FGump where he predicts everything that happens?????

(05-15-2025, 01:38 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: @All_Things_Mavs
Marc Stein on @DLLS_Mavs when asked specifically about Lonzo Ball being a target for the Mavs:

“I would just say… he’s an interesting name that we need to keep on the radar.”

(05-15-2025, 01:50 PM)Smitty Wrote: What Klutch wants, Klutch gets...

(05-15-2025, 01:56 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I like the defense, I like the transition offense...when healthy. 

Add him to the list of non-pick and roll masters who wouldn't help that much, from my POV. 

Still, I'd be fine with it if he comes at a reasonable price, trade wise.

(05-14-2025, 07:11 PM)vfromlmf Wrote: OK I'm late to this because I never bothered to watch the Memphis play-in game. Obviously the Mavs were terrible in the first half. Second half was better but whatever. I thought the first half disordered chaos was the story but my goodness Anthony Davis got hurt THREE times in that game. Groin. Back. Calf. 

I don't know. AD is a fine player but now that the Mavs have Flagg incoming, who wants off the AD train?

There are reportedly a bunch of teams who will be putting together packages for Giannis, who may or may not even be traded. Any of these ideas interesting:

Orlando Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, Jett Howard, and Orlando’s first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031, with pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 for AD. 

Detroit Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland, Tobias Harris, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, and a 2031 first-round pick for AD.

Houston: Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and first-round picks in 2025 and 2027, plus one of the Suns’ future firsts for AD.

(05-15-2025, 02:03 PM)Smitty Wrote: No picks and no PJ, I'm fine with it. I view him as a low-cost stopgap PG that can fill in for 3 months until Kyrie is back. If he gives any more than competent play at the PG position, it's a bonus.

(05-15-2025, 02:08 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: See, that's not enough for me. I'm officially thinking bigger. 

I agree that what you're describing IS a hole that needs filling, but...even with a healthy Kyrie Irving, I feel there's a specific pick and roll initiator void here with Luka's departure that still needs to be filled. Maybe that's Cooper Flagg in time, but I kind of doubt it. Maybe it's Cooper Flagg in time, and the team moves away from being such a pick and roll-heavy team/roster, and we see signs of that change right away, but I struggle to envision how Lively fits into that idea, long term, and I believe Lively is very much a part of the next decade for this team. 

To be clear, I know this incoming player isn't going to be a Luka/Haliburton/Brunson level guy, but I'm very hopeful they can identify someone only 1-2 tiers down from there, and possibly even a player with hopes of reaching that tier (when it comes to playing off of screens, specifically).

(05-15-2025, 01:46 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: The post before suggested Simmons FOR THE MINIMUM. If those are the stakes, I can get behind the experiment. Not super sold myself, due to him not being the pick and roll type I personally believe is needed here.

(05-15-2025, 02:15 PM)Smitty Wrote: I just don't think a player like that is available, if they are, I don't know that I want to pay the cost. Sure, if we could swap AD for that guy, I'm all-in but it's not happening.

I also don't know that I want to put Lively in a box as a high PnR player only. I think he can develop an outside shot to some degree, and I want to see him used even more with DHO's. Either way, his value is on the defensive end. With Flagg, Kyrie, AD there's going to be a lot of ISO until Flagg shows that he can take advantage of defenses in the PnR.

(05-15-2025, 02:15 PM)Smitty Wrote: I just don't think a player like that is available, if they are, I don't know that I want to pay the cost. Sure, if we could swap AD for that guy, I'm all-in but it's not happening.

I also don't know that I want to put Lively in a box as a high PnR player only. I think he can develop an outside shot to some degree, and I want to see him used even more with DHO's. Either way, his value is on the defensive end. With Flagg, Kyrie, AD there's going to be a lot of ISO until Flagg shows that he can take advantage of defenses in the PnR.

(05-15-2025, 02:23 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: Having perimeter players who can simply beat their man off the dribble and get two feet in the paint could be helpful for him as well. 

(05-15-2025, 01:48 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I'm still in awe over him speaking the lottery win into existence.

(05-15-2025, 02:33 PM)F Gump Wrote: LOL if only it worked like that.

(05-15-2025, 02:21 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: They're not trading AD. We both know that, so that's a dead end. 

But, I think packages built around some combination of Gafford, PJW and Naji Marshall are VERY much in play this summer. I have no burning hole in my pocket to get rid of any of them, and like you, I struggle to identify a specific player who fills this need I'm describing, but then again, I have a high opinion of all three players mentioned, and I bet the league does, too. I'm not convinced a deal that makes sense isn't out there. I'll continue to hope they find it, because I think financially, both in terms of contract timing and salary structure, at least one of PJW/Gafford almost has to be moved, and I think Naji Marshall is very unlikely to have a role here next year (unless PJW is moved, maybe). 

Agree about Lively with the DHO stuff - I like that a lot. I have very little desire to see them use him as a spacer. I think that is the surest way to waste his talent. Working in some pick and pop, maybe, but that ALSO requires a player like what I'm describing.

(05-15-2025, 02:33 PM)F Gump Wrote: LOL if only it worked like that.

(05-15-2025, 09:32 AM)omahen Wrote: Boston has most of their picks available. If they find a cheaper replacement, I don't think it will be a problem for them to pay a third team to take some extra salary. KP for Boston has been great when healthy, but that wasn't often. He had injury problems both seasons in the playoffs. 

Just as an example. Lets say Lakers see JRue as the guy and Boston likes AR. They could send AR to Boston and one of them pays third or potentially even fourth team to take Maxi and Vincent into capspace.