MAVS NEWS:

[Winter]

Nothing going on except the Clippers stuff.  I saw Stein mentioned that the Lakers could have interest in Wiggins now that Luka has been extended.  So I was wondering, without considering salary which players would you prefer over PJ on this Mavs teams (again without factoring in salaries)

Andrew Wiggins
Michael Porter Junior
Cam Johnson
Keegan Murray
Brandon Ingram

None. I like just about everything in PJ's two-way arsenal. And I like his attitude. Everyone of those players you mentioned has some sort of wart (at least to me).

[omahen]

While I agree with all of this, I think his point was to compare PJ to similar players with bigger contracts.

Thanks, I see now I missunderstood. There are not only bigger contracts on that list though, as there is also Keegan Murray. I think PJ as he was playing in Mavs so far, fits somewhere with that group. Lesser scorer than some of the guys on that list, better defender than others. Prime Wiggins was better on both sides of the court, but we only saw that guy for a season or two. 

One thing to consider with PJ. If he will have a lesser role with the Mavs, his value might take a hit.

[mvossman]

Thanks, I see now I missunderstood. There are not only bigger contracts on that list though, as there is also Keegan Murray. I think PJ as he was playing in Mavs so far, fits somewhere with that group. Lesser scorer than some of the guys on that list, better defender than others. Prime Wiggins was better on both sides of the court, but we only saw that guy for a season or two. 

One thing to consider with PJ. If he will have a lesser role with the Mavs, his value might take a hit.

I'm less worried about PJ taking a value hit because I like his fit here longer term.  I am more worried about Gafford.  If AD and Lively manage to stay healthy, I think a reduced role will hurt his value and he probably makes the most sense to trade to balance out the roster.

[Chicagojk]

It wasn't really a well thought out post, just bored. 

I just wanted to pick similar players to PJ who may either be a tad better at the three than PJ (Wiggins, Ingram, Cam Johnson) due their ability to create a little better or PF types who defenses would fear a tad more if they are left open (Murray, MPJ).  PJ toughness he has shown in dallas would probably put him first on the list above, but just curious if a player with either more creating ability or a more feared shooter would have any preference with this roster.   

With the Mavs weird roster, PJ is sort of an interesting fit.  I like him much more as a PF type or at least a guy who is your 4th creator/option on offense.    It will be very interesting to see how the pieces fit together and what the strengths and holes are with the team.

[Chicagojk]

I just sort of wish Cuban would quietly sit in the background.   His changing statements are confusing.   He is a part of the dysfunction and appears to be jumping back into the picture.

https://x.com/KevinGraySports/status/196...2779245053

[Chicagojk]

I have no idea if Cuban is back in the picture.  I hope not.  I don't want him involved in basketball decisions.   Dumont needs a sounding board though.   Hopefully someone better than Cuban but at least Cuban has the pulse of the league.   

Things appear so fragmented.   Again, it is hard to know the workings internally but it feels like Nico is isolated.   He has the players, Kidd (? although who knows), but then there are other parts of the organization who either don't like Nico or he doesn't talk to them.   Not sure how this is sustainable if Nico doesn't at least try to mend fences.

[Winter]

I have no idea if Cuban is back in the picture.  I hope not.  I don't want him involved in basketball decisions.   Dumont needs a sounding board though.   Hopefully someone better than Cuban but at least Cuban has the pulse of the league.   

Things appear so fragmented.   Again, it is hard to know the workings internally but it feels like Nico is isolated.   He has the players, Kidd (? although who knows), but then there are other parts of the organization who either don't like Nico or he doesn't talk to them.   Not sure how this is sustainable if Nico doesn't at least try to mend fences.

I think the difference is that there still feels like the Mavs have no public presence. Cuban took up a lot of air. No one does that now.

[omahen]

I just sort of wish Cuban would quietly sit in the background.   His changing statements are confusing.   He is a part of the dysfunction and appears to be jumping back into the picture.

https://x.com/KevinGraySports/status/196...2779245053

Cuban and his statements related to the sale are just weird. He is still claiming that NBA refused a contract where he would have control of the basketball operation, which doesn't seem logical at all. Point is, a role of "person in charge of basketball operation" is not of interest of the league at all. The only relevant role for the league is the team Governor. According to the contract, Dumont was (is) the governor. He is the official team representative and the one with the final say. It doesn't seem league cares at all who is employed on positions below the Governor. Who is president, GM, or whatever other title. It just doesn't sound logical that the league would prevent Cuban to have any of those titles, as that is for the Governor to decide. But league could be against that some other "title" would represent the team towards the league instead of the Governor. If Cuban wanted that, than I would not be surprised that the league was against it. I would be surprised though, that Cuban wouldn't know that and even if he did know, that he wouldn't push for an official position in team hierarchy (like president, GM or whatever), if he wanted control of the basketball operations. Is it really possible that he would be so naive to think that verbal agreement is giving him all these powers?

Jeanie Buss sold the majority share but she remained in position of the team Governor, which is also in the contract, according to several sources. I would assume the majority owner probably has ways to replace her, if he would think she is not doing a good job, but until he does replace her, she will be the one making decisions and representing Lakers.

It also seems weird that all Mavs people "went into hiding" while Cuban is rather aggresively present in the media, mostly saying positive things about Mavs - the only excemption are some negative statements against Nico. I think this is not by chance, I think this is Mavs PR plan. Part of plan how to get fans back. Nico or Dumont would probably only receive negative reactions from most of fan base, no matter what they would say. Dumont could likely win (most) fans back by firing Nico, but it looks like this is not on the menu. And I really wonder why not. 

Part of me thinks, that actually all three (Nico, Cuban and Dumont) were in agreement to trade Luka, were aware of negative reactions that will follow and that Cuban actually is much more involved in basketball decisions. They would really have to be ignorant to not expect the reactions as they were. That is why I think Nico is taking most of the heat, Dumont basically went into hiding (because he also holds responsibility for approving the deal) and Cuban is playing the role "I didn't know what they will do" to serve as a safety net. If things won't go well, Nico will be eventually fired and Cuban will publicly step up in basketball operations while Dumont will be "cleared" with "he didn't know what he was doing and Nico took advantage of his inexperience" story. Perhaps it is just my conspiracy theory, but it does clear some things that are not very logical. 

On the other hand, I think it could also be possible that Nico and Dumont are not very capable persons in their positions and they went into hiding, while Cubes just enjoys the spotlight.

[myconsumerclub]

On an individual basis, I think what you are saying about each of those players seems about right. But I have a hard time seeing any of it actually happen because of the way they sit with their rotations, and with their payroll. 

On Martin and Hardy, sure, the best way to move them is after a season where they get minutes and demonstrate value. But how are either of them going to get any minutes? They are 3rd stringers, and there are too many good players in front of them (and barely enough minutes to feed the 1st and 2nd stringers). An injury or 3 at SG or SF opens up minutes, but otherwise Martin and Hardy look like an afterthought here except in very limited specialty situations. And neither has a team-friendly contract for being about 9th or lower in the pecking order.

In addition, what the Mavs would get from a Martin-Hardy package is probably more self-limited besides finding somewhat-equivalent player value.

What they need most from a Martin-Hardy package is probably an expiring contract, rather than a player they need to keep, because they are well over A2 next summer with the players they have (plus minimum salary adds). 

If you add in a good player (such as Gafford, for example) to that package and access a bigger salary (and better player) in return, you should definitely expect to get back a good player, but then you are KEEPING that player (and his salary) which locks you into remaining at that over-A2 status. That's a problem.

Good GM work (not) to be in trapped into such a situation, with bad contracts that are going to continue running year after year. I really don't know what they are going to do about Martin and Hardy, but imo they are both a problem looming.

I always expect to see the guys who get paid to build a team to perform way better than the we folk here on this site but in recent years hind sight tells me we got more brains here than previous Anal ysis indicates and our Anal itical types are doing better than Nico. 

Still need a better GM. Hopefully one that is not overly friendly and as close to the management of our most hated rival the Lakers. Now give us a shot at reuniting with Luka all will be forgiven.

Problem with letting expiring players expire is now you have to give that money to someone else and everyone here needs to be a keeper to get a raise. Keeping Grimes and cutting OMAX without resigning Exum might have made a better combo move and then if any more needed to be trimmed Powell is expiring so just get rid of it.

[SleepingHero]

I have no idea if Cuban is back in the picture.  I hope not.  I don't want him involved in basketball decisions.   Dumont needs a sounding board though.   Hopefully someone better than Cuban but at least Cuban has the pulse of the league.   

Things appear so fragmented.   Again, it is hard to know the workings internally but it feels like Nico is isolated.   He has the players, Kidd (? although who knows), but then there are other parts of the organization who either don't like Nico or he doesn't talk to them.   Not sure how this is sustainable if Nico doesn't at least try to mend fences.

From what I understand from the whole Luka trade fiasco is that Kidd was not happy that Nico traded him away mid season like that. Despite that, Kidd also wasn't unhappy that Luka was traded at all. Reports said he constantly clashed with Luka's carefree attitude in the season regarding weight/training. 

But Kidd wants/wanted to win. And giving Luka away mid-season was a surefire way to blowup the team and made Kidd figure shit out on the fly. Plus adding in the injury woes that were exacerbated when we gutted the team and traded for 2 injured players. I'm sure Kidd was not happy about that at all. 

I agree though. Nico feels isolated currently. I don't think Dumont/Adelson's are happy they tanked the value of their franchise and sowed irreperrable harm with their fans overnight. I don't think Kidd was happy that Nico lumped him in on a choice that he wasn't really apart of and made his last 3 months very hard at work where he had to face the entire media every night and the wrath of fans. 

I don't think Cuban was happy being forced out. Nico made a Machiavellian move and succeeded the battle but also failed the war. What I don't understand is why he hasn't been fired yet given how blatant the fragmentation is within the org due to Nico.

Cooper Flagg please save us.

[F Gump]

On the other hand, I think it could also be possible that Nico and Dumont are not very capable persons in their positions and they went into hiding, while Cubes just enjoys the spotlight.

This ^.

[SleepingHero]

@DLLS_Mavs
Mavericks training camp is less than 3 weeks away with the season just around the corner…

Will Anthony Davis, who is recovering from eye surgery, be ready when camp opens and the season begins?

Check out what Marc Stein had to say about AD’s status on today’s show #MFFL

https://x.com/DLLS_Mavs/status/1965990591843676592


Spoiler alert, it is not good news!

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6616715...-decision/


Cuban says Nico didn't value his input on franchise decisions.

[Chicagojk]

@DLLS_Mavs
Mavericks training camp is less than 3 weeks away with the season just around the corner…

Will Anthony Davis, who is recovering from eye surgery, be ready when camp opens and the season begins?

Check out what Marc Stein had to say about AD’s status on today’s show #MFFL

https://x.com/DLLS_Mavs/status/1965990591843676592


Spoiler alert, it is not good news!

Yeah not great.  Added on this that it appears both AD and Lively could not lock themselves in the gym this summer to work.

I guess all the talk about PJ’s spot could be settled right away.  Ha ha

Was there ever any talk while surgery waited so long?  He was injured in a game right?  Seems like a few months delayed from injury to surgery.

[Jym]

Can Dumont go 2 for 2 in the lottery?

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Can Dumont go 2 for 2 in the lottery?

Naw, he already gave his soul to the devil for Flagg.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Naw, he already gave his soul to the devil for Flagg.

What soul?

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

What soul?

Touche.

[myconsumerclub]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xRCbdFrSSc
They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!

[myconsumerclub]

We need a thread for everyone to make a suggestion for a nickname that we think would fit for our newest star Cooper Flagg.

I was inspired after having googled it to discover the meaning of the phrase. So I'm suggesting Cracker Jack.