(09-17-2023, 01:03 PM)surfpuckmd Wrote:  My other hope is the Mavericks stop trading picks and start drafting more players.  I'd like us to find our own elite role players in the draft.  It's difficult to draft stars when you're not in the lottery.  We don't need stars though.  We need good role players.  Those are usually available outside the top 14 picks.

(09-17-2023, 01:03 PM)surfpuckmd Wrote: Tari Eason would be perfect here.  Hopefully, OMax becomes our Tari Eason  My other hope is the Mavericks stop trading picks and start drafting more players.  I'd like us to find our own elite role players in the draft.  It's difficult to draft stars when you're not in the lottery.  We don't need stars though.  We need good role players.  Those are usually available outside the top 14 picks.

(09-17-2023, 01:07 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: For sure, especially since they have low key gotten pretty good at drafting, recently. 

I won't go so far as to say "don't trade picks" but then again, they don't have many left as it is, and that's because they've been giving them away like cans of Liquid Death after a rock concert. They definitely need to stop doing that.

(09-17-2023, 04:56 PM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: I think OMax can be that player *if he develops a 3pt shot.  33%3pt would keep him in the 8-man rotation.  OMax is taller than OG and bigger than Eason.

If/when we can start OMax at the 3, he replaces Green/THJ in the starting lineup with insane size.  I want to see him play POA on defense.

(09-18-2023, 08:54 AM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: We have to get a LOT more rebounding from our frontcourt.  We were the last in rebounding last season.  Of the top 10 teams in wins, only one has a REB% lower than 50%.  We were 47.1%.  I'm not saying we need to be HOU, but we to be around 50% (average). 

G.Williams - below average
Powell - terrible
Maxi - terrible
Holmes - above average
OMax - average (?)
Lively - average (?)
Luka - stud

One of the many reasons I consider Luka a PSF.  He's not like R.Westbrook; he's not out of position or stealing rebounds from teammates.  Our backcourt is a terrible rebounding backcourt, even worse if you consider THJ and J.Green as SFs.

IMO, the best solution is to get a stud rebounder at SF who could also be our POA defender.  Tari Eason has an insane REB%.  I have two questions:
1.  Could Eason be our POA defender?
2.  Could Eason be had for something like THJ/J.Green/27FRP for KPJ/Eason?

(09-18-2023, 11:15 AM)surfpuckmd Wrote: I like Eason but that would be an overpay.  I don't believe he's worth that. 

I agree that a rebounding small forward would fit well here.  A rebounding big would be even better though.  I like Josh Hart as a guy who would fit well as a small forward.  Maybe the Knicks will unexpectedly struggle and want to get off of that contract.

I think an inexpensive center is likely our best bet for our rebounding woes.  Andre Drummond would fit that bill nicely.  The Bulls are a good candidate to disappoint.  Derozan is 34 and Vucevic is about to turn 33.  Zach Lavine has failed to improve over the past few years.   They own their first round pick this season so they would have an incentive to tank this season if they struggle early.  Drummond is my favorite candidate for a realistic, low-cost solution to our center and rebounding conundrums.   I can imagine a Seth Curry and a 2nd-round pick swap for Drummond later in the year.  Powell, Drummond and Kleber as the center rotation.  

If Richaun Holmes bounces back, obviously that would be an even better solution.

(09-18-2023, 11:32 AM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: My fear with Josh Green is that someone is going to offer him a contract we don't want to match.  He walks.

HOU is overloaded with SFs: D.Brooks, A.Thompson, Tate, Whitmore (who some say is the steal of the draft), and Eason.  Thin at SG: Jalen Green.  I bet they'd be willing to part with Eason for equal value at SG.

What do you think a fair trade would be for Eason?

(09-18-2023, 08:54 AM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: We have to get a LOT more rebounding from our frontcourt. We were the last in rebounding last season. Of the top 10 teams in wins, only one has a REB% lower than 50%. We were 47.1%. I'm not saying we need to be HOU, but we to be around 50% (average).

G.Williams - below average
Powell - terrible
Maxi - terrible
Holmes - above average
OMax - average (?)
Lively - average (?)
Luka - stud

One of the many reasons I consider Luka a PSF. He's not like R.Westbrook; he's not out of position or stealing rebounds from teammates. Our backcourt is a terrible rebounding backcourt, even worse if you consider THJ and J.Green as SFs.

IMO, the best solution is to get a stud rebounder at SF who could also be our POA defender. Tari Eason has an insane REB%. I have two questions:
1. Could Eason be our POA defender?
2. Could Eason be had for something like THJ/J.Green/27FRP for KPJ/Eason?

(09-18-2023, 11:32 AM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: My fear with Josh Green is that someone is going to offer him a contract we don't want to match.  He walks.

HOU is overloaded with SFs: D.Brooks, A.Thompson, Tate, Whitmore (who some say is the steal of the draft), and Eason.  Thin at SG: Jalen Green.  I bet they'd be willing to part with Eason for equal value at SG.

What do you think a fair trade would be for Eason?

(09-18-2023, 02:49 PM)surfpuckmd Wrote: I think THJ and the 2027 1st for KPJ and Tari Eason is probably fair.  I think THJ fits well in Houston as a good shooter, decent defender and high-character veteran presence.  

(09-18-2023, 09:20 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: I'm sorry. Am I understanding you correctly that your trade is the Mavs send THJ and THEIR 2027 first for Kevin Porter Jr and Tari Eason?

The same KPJ that is currently in custody for domestic violence...?  

Whatever you're smoking you gotta give me some of that.

(09-18-2023, 11:04 PM)surfpuckmd Wrote: Yes, that would be the trade I suggested.  An earlier poster suggested that plus Josh Green.

Eason is a terrific young player who would fit perfectly.  He's already good defensively and projects to be an elite, high-energy defender.  He is a great rebounder for a forward.  He is limited on offense but can hit open 3-pointers.  I think he projects as being a top-50 player in the NBA.  

I believe he'll be an above-average starter in the NBA which is what we need.  

An alternative trade I would suggest would be the 2027 1st and Omax for Eason.   That would also make us much better immediately.

(09-18-2023, 11:30 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: A revised trade following your desires (and is much more palatable/realistic) would be: THJ for Eason+KPJ+1st. Why does HOU send additional draft compensation? Because the Mavs are footing the bill on KPJ AND giving up the best player in the trade. 

(09-19-2023, 12:30 AM)ItsGoTime Wrote: I think this goes the other way as far as realistic and fair value. THJ for Eason and KPJ is pretty much fair value. We float KPJ for a year then send him away for $1M. Don't allow him near the team all year (might be easy if he stays in legal problems all year). Have our SF/PF rotation set for the foreseeable future. Use Holmes and Maxi for the Cap trade and finish up with...

Luka/Exum
Kyrie/Hardy/Curry
Green/Eason/OMax
GWill/DJJ/Morris
Capela/Lively/Powell

Roll with that group til the young guys are all ready to go and in a couple years when Kyrie is on his last year, trade him to make room for Green to be the SG next to Luka and Eason or OMax to win the SF starting spot with Lively coming online and starting as well.

(09-18-2023, 11:30 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: I appreciate the reply and clarification. Unfortunately I think your valuation for Eason, and KPJ especially, are a bit out of the solar system...

Eason put up middling stats on an objectively horrible team. He was a bright spot for sure, one of their better guys, but I don't think he is vastly better than what we'd be getting from Green or even OMax. To give up either one in addition to our last best trade piece for Eason who wouldn't be anywhere close to being our 3rd best player the day the trade is finalized is roster building suicide and malpractice imo. 

Further, KPJ's valuation as an asset is probably the worst in the NBA right now. He is literally worth nothing more as an expiring deal that can be sent away before training camp. His time in the NBA has come to a close. HOU has been saying they're willing to attach draft compensation to any team who could take KPJ and give them a vet.

A revised trade following your desires (and is much more palatable/realistic) would be: THJ for Eason+KPJ+1st. Why does HOU send additional draft compensation? Because the Mavs are footing the bill on KPJ AND giving up the best player in the trade. 

Another downfall for such a trade is that the Mavs lose their last middle tier contract for trade matching for someone who's making star level money. THJ+Holmes can bring back a lot money wise. Is Eason and the PR storm KPJ will inevitably bring worth cashing in all of that?

(09-19-2023, 09:40 AM)DallasMaverick Wrote: It seems like the only possible reason a team might trade for KPJ is to salvage/rehab him. It's like buying a stock at a really low price.  Makes no sense to cut him.

Here's what we know about guys who do stupid / hurtful / illegal things off-court:

1. Given enough time, and perhaps a heartfelt public apology, people forget.  And if the player performs well, they forgive.  Remember when Kobe was accused of rape in Colorado?  And had to buy his wife the $4m diamond ring?

2. In the moment, teams can respond very emotionally to off-court antics, basically selling at the lowest price.  Remember when Rondo quit on the Mavs?  They were just done with him, and made zero effort to re-sign him in free agency. He went on to have several productive years with other teams. The Mavs gave up assets to get him, and received no value in return, mostly because of emotion.

In contrast, when Miles Bridges screwed up, the Hornets chose to hunker down, wait for the public backlash to blow over, and then re-sign him to a cheap, $7.9m contract.  If he performs well, they'll sign him again.  And the Charlotte fans will quickly forget his sins.

If Ja stays clean off the court, and continues to appear on the highlight reels, in another year or two it will be like he never got in trouble to begin with.  But if his play drops off...

We fans are a fickle bunch, and our perception is heavily influenced by how we feel.  When our teams win, we think everyone involved is amazing. But when they lose, we need to find the responsible party so we can vent.

Right now, Houston fans are venting on KPJ.  Will their front office respond emotionally?

For all my dislike of Daryl Morey, I have to admit that he's done a good job of extracting value from players who's stock is very low.  No knee-jerk emotion.