(02-10-2024, 10:19 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: That's actually a big part of it. Gafford is basically a better version of what McGee was supposed to be. It's still 2020 Lakers 2.0. 
On defense: Big rim protector in the paint. Drop defense and ice against the pick and roll. Overload the strong side and pre rotate.
On offense: Iso heavy. Luka and Kyrie create the rest of the guys screen or space the floor. Not a lot of ball movement.

The guys they are adding right now are supposed to fill roles in that system. Gafford allows them to play 48 minutes of drop defense/rim protection + rim running. PJ is more versatile but for the most part he is going to space the floor or function as an outlet when teams double/trap Luka. I guess the idea is that he can take advantage of the resulting 4vs3.

This is just as much a test of Kidd's scheme as it is as about the players.

(02-10-2024, 07:25 AM)omahen Wrote: You made a great summary and as I said before, I totally agree Mavs are better than they were. 

However, I remember you saying early in the season, I can't see how Mavs offense can be stopped with Luka/Kyrie/Lively and two shooters. Turns out Mavs offense is as good as it always was, but Mavs defense was so bad that good teams easily scored even more. I don't see Mavs significantly improved in that area.

This last paragraph you posted is why I am not enthusiastic. If Mavs ceiling is a 2nd round exit, how do they improve from here? As you said - going from Green and PJ to a serious upgrade isn't easy. Give it another try and finish with another 2nd round exit? Perhaps even WCF. Kyrie will turn 34 after that. 

I don't buy "we got young players (Gafford, PJ) who will keep their value" narrative some have posted. Both PJ and Gafford will be 26 next year and they have been around long enough. I could see Gafford having same value as Mavs paid. But PJ was greatly overpaid for what he is and will have to be considerably better in Dallas to have an almost unprotected FRP value.

I am not interested in being decent. I want rings. I am sure Luka does too.

(02-10-2024, 10:39 AM)youzigizag Wrote: I have seen some PJ highlights where he is standing at the free throw line as Ball gets doubled at the Logo(similar to Luka doubles) and Ball outlets to PJ (with one guy between him and basket and tons of space around them)at the free throw line with tons of space around him and just turns around and does a push shot for an easy bucket.

Couldnt Holmes do that?

I guess they tried and it wasnt working?   Holmes has the push shot to make that work...like in the PJ highlights of him being the outlet man for Ball on Ball doubles.   Most of the highlights I saw of PJ as the outlet and exploiting 4v3 was him catching the ball, turning around and doing a push shot.

I get that PJ is more well-rounded skill wise and a better athlete than Holmes...maybe the Mavs think PJ is better suited to attack the basket for an easy layup in that situation if push shot is not there with his skillset?

I will say that PJ seems to be the better option in that specific scenario over Maxi, Holmes and Grant Williams.  Lively does really well at exploiting that situation as well.

(02-10-2024, 02:00 AM)Dundalis Wrote: I'd be interested to know the situation is with some of the other teams who have trade capital that absolutely dwarf the Mavs. I feel like some of them held back this TDL in order to understand more about their roster letting the season play out (OKC), before potentially going ham in the off season. Making this TDL a better opportunity for us to have gotten something of value than the off season will be given what we are competing with. But haven't looked too deeply at that situation.

(02-10-2024, 10:33 AM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: Having had a couple of days to reflect on the moves, a few thoughts:
1) PJ, for all his question marks and inefficiencies, is a more skilled player than Green, DFS, or GW. We've lacked skilled guys around here lately. This is a good thing.
2) PJ as he is now is overpaid, which gives great credence to the "Mavs got fleeced" narrative. Why did we have to give a FRP for a guy who got more than market value last summer?
3) PJ is undersized for the sort of starting PF we're looking for.
4) His skill level should serve to make things easier for Luka.
5) Bottom line on PJ is that there had better be a big Luka bump, and a lot of hard work to learn to play effective and efficient defense.
6) Many are also grousing that Gafford is overpaid. I know many here simply hate centers, but the bottom line is that Lively has shown how effective it is to have a strong center with Luka.
7) Gafford may be a backup, but he's very, very good as far as that sort of role goes. Think of all of the money we've shelled out on Powell and Maxi.
8) Seems to me that Gafford would be very effective next to Maxi or PJ. Maybe not so much Lively or Powell.

(02-10-2024, 12:01 PM)BigDirk41 Wrote: Can teams still buy first round picks? The new owners are rich AF so maybe they will buy a later first rounder some years.

(02-10-2024, 11:59 AM)mvossman Wrote: In what world did PJ get more than market value last summer?  He was a starter playing over 32 minutes a game and scoring 16 per at only 24 years old.  That is the profile of a player who is going to get paid.  He was an RFA, which is always going to depress your contract.  In fact there are hints that he was a little disgruntled about getting strong armed into that contract.  I feel like folks are reading too much into half a season and ignore everything before.

(02-10-2024, 12:09 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: K. Hope you're right and I'm wrong.

(02-10-2024, 12:11 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: In all seriousness, Washington is taking an unnecessary beating around here. It may not happen right away, but by this time next year he will have blossomed into a much better player than people are expecting. He just has so many attributes that the Mavericks need.

(02-10-2024, 12:11 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: In all seriousness, Washington is taking an unnecessary beating around here. It may not happen right away, but by this time next year he will have blossomed into a much better player than people are expecting. He just has so many attributes that the Mavericks need.

(02-10-2024, 12:12 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: As others have pointed out, his advanced metrics have always been toiletsville. I'm praying that his joy at playing for the Mavs translates into an effort level that corrects those concerns.

(02-10-2024, 12:14 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: He has always been under 25, and has always played for the Charlotte hornets. I’m thinking that his advanced metrics might not be the best judge of what’s to come in the future. I like what he brings to the table a lot.

(02-10-2024, 10:33 AM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: Having had a couple of days to reflect on the moves, a few thoughts:
1) PJ, for all his question marks and inefficiencies, is a more skilled player than Green, DFS, or GW. We've lacked skilled guys around here lately. This is a good thing.
2) PJ as he is now is overpaid, which gives great credence to the "Mavs got fleeced" narrative. Why did we have to give a FRP for a guy who got more than market value last summer?
3) PJ is undersized for the sort of starting PF we're looking for.
4) His skill level should serve to make things easier for Luka.
5) Bottom line on PJ is that there had better be a big Luka bump, and a lot of hard work to learn to play effective and efficient defense.
6) Many are also grousing that Gafford is overpaid. I know many here simply hate centers, but the bottom line is that Lively has shown how effective it is to have a strong center with Luka.
7) Gafford may be a backup, but he's very, very good as far as that sort of role goes. Think of all of the money we've shelled out on Powell and Maxi.
8) Seems to me that Gafford would be very effective next to Maxi or PJ. Maybe not so much Lively or Powell.

(02-10-2024, 12:12 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: As others have pointed out, his advanced metrics have always been toiletsville. I'm praying that his joy at playing for the Mavs translates into an effort level that corrects those concerns.

(02-10-2024, 01:16 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Free agent F Justise Winslow is signing a 10-day deal with the Toronto Raptors, sources tell ESPN. Winslow has been playing with the Raptors’ 905 G League team.

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Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
The Oklahoma City Thunder are adding frontcourt depth, signing veteran center Bismack Biyombo to a minimum deal, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Biyombo averaged 5.2 points and 6.4 rebounds over 30 games for Grizzlies this