(01-18-2024, 04:35 PM)HoosierDaddyKidd Wrote: Brown said he was shocked at being traded after he was courted hard by Haliburton and other Pacers. But I've come to learn nothing shocks me when it comes to the NBA.

(01-18-2024, 02:01 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: Another thing to think about, maybe Hardaway is used in a deal like this with the intention of Green being used in a way that nets us a PF.  Would really balance stuff out.

(01-18-2024, 06:30 PM)loki Wrote: I guess his agent left out the detail that the entire point of a massive overpay on a 1 year deal was to use him as trade filler.

(01-18-2024, 09:31 AM)surfpuckmd Wrote: Christian Koloko was waived as part of the Siakam trade yesterday.  He was one of the better rookies in the NBA last year so this is really surprising.  He has missed this entire season thus far due to a vague "respiratory issue".  It must be something career-threatening for the Raptors to give up on this promising young player.

Nevertheless, I think the Mavs should take a gamble on Koloko.  If he recovers, he gives a really talented defensive big.  We would have to cut Markieff Morris who is useless.  Why not make a bet on Koloko for the rest of the season?

(01-18-2024, 06:44 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: A few thoughts…

Grimes fits into our TPE, so we don’t have to send out actual salary.

He’s extension eligible this summer, so similar to Green last summer.

(01-18-2024, 06:44 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Grimes isn’t a great finisher or creator, so think THJ with better D.

If Grimes were here taking the THJ spot then THJ could be outgoing for a PF/C type. I still think there would be plenty of room for Grimes/Green and Exum on this roster in such a scenario.  Luka guards forwards, so you need bodies who can guard 1’s and 2’s.  Between that trio and Kyrie, you’d be pretty set.

(01-18-2024, 06:44 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Grimes isn’t a great finisher or creator, so think THJ with better D.

If Grimes were here taking the THJ spot then THJ could be outgoing for a PF/C type. I still think there would be plenty of room for Grimes/Green and Exum on this roster in such a scenario.  Luka guards forwards, so you need bodies who can guard 1’s and 2’s.  Between that trio and Kyrie, you’d be pretty set.

(01-18-2024, 06:44 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Grimes fits into our TPE, so we don’t have to send out actual salary.

(01-19-2024, 01:57 AM)RGP1981 Wrote:  
With Lively at C, I don't know about needing a PF/C type. Kleber is already there for that. So whoever is brought in at PF needs to have good foot-speed and some length. I think the team needs a PF/SF type or an SF/PF type more, someone who can defend the good big wings like Kawhi, PG3, Durant, Tatum.

If the FO can get Jerami, then I'd much rather Jerami as the 3rd scoring option behind Luka and Kyrie instead of THJ.  

(01-19-2024, 01:57 AM)RGP1981 Wrote: With Lively at C, I don't know about needing a PF/C type. Kleber is already there for that. So whoever is brought in at PF needs to have good foot-speed and some length. I think the team needs a PF/SF type or an SF/PF type more, someone who can defend the good big wings like Kawhi, PG3, Durant, Tatum.

If the FO can get Jerami, then I'd much rather Jerami as the 3rd scoring option behind Luka and Kyrie instead of THJ. Then when Luka or Kyrie sits, Jerami gets bumped up to being 2nd option on offense, which I would again prefer compared to THJ being 2nd option. This role fits Jerami too. He likes a more prominent role on offense but he can't be the 1st or 2nd initiator on offense regularly. The 3rd option behind Luka and Kyrie is perfect.  And the best or only place for him to function properly as a 2nd option is also behind extra-creative 1-on-1 guys like Luka or Kyrie, when one rests.

That being said, I wish Jerami was 2-3 inches taller and 3-5 years younger.

(01-19-2024, 08:42 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: However, the class of 4's with better D and better rebounding don't tend to create scoring or hit 3's the same as the J. Grant's of the world.  I still like WCJ as my favorite for this spot, but I see him able to play next to and in place of Lively.  He is hitting 3's and has the footspeed to guard on the perimeter.  Having one of WCJ or Lively waiting near the rim when the other gets switched onto a ball-handler on the perimeter is attractive to me.  Other's don't see it (despite the fact he played a ton next to Bamba last season).  I also think Orlando is arguably the best THJ destination out there.  I would really like a world where Carter was acquired for THJ and another 3/D guy like Grimes could be had for Hardy/2025 2nd.

(01-19-2024, 10:28 AM)surfpuckmd Wrote: I think WCJ, Daniel Gafford or Isaiah Stewart would be the three best targets for our needs.  WCJ is probably the one obtainable without draft compensation so that would be my choice as well. He's definitely an injury risk though.

(01-19-2024, 10:34 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: All good players, but I do not believe any of them can play the 4 during any meaningful stretch of minutes against a good team. (I know Stewart the least, to be fair, so I'm just guessing on him). 

They also don't appear to fit the "guys at least 6'8" who can dribble" criteria we've been discussing. 

I don't believe backup center is the right place to look.

(01-19-2024, 08:42 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Hardwood Knocks just did a Pod where they picked one trade target for each team (no repeats).  They picked Grant for Dallas for the reasons you listed.  There are several players in the J. Grant class who fit what you are talking about (3rd scoring option with more size than THJ).  The problem I see with that group is you are still counting on Maxi's health and Lively's ability to stay out of foul trouble.  It seems like a formula to give away playoff games.  

The other thing about J. Grant (in particular) that we have to come to grips with is cost.  What would Portland want?  They have guards, so absentmindedly throwing Green/Hardy into a deal doesn't make sense.  It would probably take OMax and 2027 plus salary (maybe you get away with GWill and Holmes as the filler, but it might have to be THJ to a third team and OMax/Pick).  I like Grant, but he's not the over-the-top final move and OMax/2027 is a lot.

However, the class of 4's with better D and better rebounding don't tend to create scoring or hit 3's the same as the J. Grant's of the world.  I still like WCJ as my favorite for this spot, but I see him able to play next to and in place of Lively.  He is hitting 3's and has the footspeed to guard on the perimeter.  Having one of WCJ or Lively waiting near the rim when the other gets switched onto a ball-handler on the perimeter is attractive to me.  Other's don't see it (despite the fact he played a ton next to Bamba last season).  I also think Orlando is arguably the best THJ destination out there.  I would really like a world where Carter was acquired for THJ and another 3/D guy like Grimes could be had for Hardy/2025 2nd.

(01-19-2024, 10:49 AM)surfpuckmd Wrote: WCJ can definitely dribble.  He's not Kyrie but he has pretty good handles for a big...almost as good as Naz Reid who would work well here.  WCJ's issue will be if he can defend the perimeter.  I am much less certain of that.  WCJ would hide the weaknesses of our forwards who are small and don't rebound.  I think we definitely need another center.  The issue with a THJ for WCJ trade is that we don't have anyone who replaces THJ.  All of Jaden Hardy's potential seems to have dissolved this year.

I also know the least about Stewart.  I like his advanced stats, rebounding and 3-point percentage.  I haven't watched many Pistons games though.  I've tried to watch a couple but I think watching the Pistons could quickly lead to depression so I stopped.

(01-19-2024, 09:13 AM)Winter Wrote: Dan, you convinced me of this two days ago - even though I have concerns about his health. I posted two Youtube Videos (below) - one of WCJ's offense and one of his defense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fheoA938M9M&t=120s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGwT0kVOorQ

My feeling about him is that if you're going to roll the dice on a trade, a trade for WCJ could make more of a difference than any other player I've seen in the rumor mill. The price for him will likely reflect his health problems, otherwise he'd likely be out of our price range - or simply unavailable for a trade.

(01-19-2024, 11:22 AM)mvossman Wrote: The offensive highlights are very interesting.  A lot of going to the rim from the perimeter, which is nice.  But the defensive highlights are just a bunch of blocks and a few steals.  Then you look at his stats and he gets less than a block per 36 minutes (his block percentage is roughly 2% which is not rim protection territory).  I would much rather see how he guards the perimeter, and its concerning that there is not a lot of that on the real.

(01-19-2024, 12:07 PM)Winter Wrote: Unfortunately, Youtube has its limitations. I agree with your assessment in general. What interested me was his footwork down low, and how competent he was around the basket

I think any player of interest is going to have strengths and weaknesses, so he will have his. 

But I'm going back to what Cuban has said... and I think we should just bank this: "6'8" or taller, rebounds, can dribble". We should believe that. I think that's why we don't see the Mavs listed in Grimes rumors.