2021-2022 MAVS NEWS: 4th in West | WCF loss [ARCHIVED]

[ItsGoTime]

I loved Donnie. But everything that has come out makes it sound like that he didn't actually command the team. It sounds like all he had were the scouts. Rick was doing his own thing. The analytics guys were doing there thing. Whether it's that Donnie didn't have that level of leadership ability, or that he was undercut by everyone answering to Mark, which essentially meant that he wasn't able to command the staff as a team, the end result from what we've heard was a disjointed, unorganized effort that completely lacked process. 

Hearing Nico talk makes me think that the staff is his, his focus is leading that staff, and that they will operate with coordinated purpose and defined processes.

I certainly hope you took note of how many times I said Donnie needs to be demoted to head of scouting and MC get a real GM in here!

[david75090]

I loved Donnie. But everything that has come out makes it sound like that he didn't actually command the team. It sounds like all he had were the scouts. Rick was doing his own thing. The analytics guys were doing there thing. Whether it's that Donnie didn't have that level of leadership ability, or that he was undercut by everyone answering to Mark, which essentially meant that he wasn't able to command the staff as a team, the end result from what we've heard was a disjointed, unorganized effort that completely lacked process. 

Hearing Nico talk makes me think that the staff is his, his focus is leading that staff, and that they will operate with coordinated purpose and defined processes.

Too bad Mark didn't back Donnie like he seems to realize he needs to back Nico. So far, Nico is making the right noises. Back in the day, if anyone asked, I was "working hard" whether I was, or not. I'm waiting to see if the rhetoric matches the actual.

[fifteenth]

I'll reserve a lot of judgment on how the team looks until after the trade deadline. A meh free agency is certainly a possibility. Difficult financial situation and not a ton of clear upgrades out there 
But something clearly has to be done tradewise. Be it a sign-and-trade or whatever it ends up being

It's all going to be results based judgement in the end. Nico could be a great leader but if he and his team don't do the things that lead to winning, then he'll have failed.

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I certainly hope you took note of how many times I said Donnie needs to be demoted to head of scouting and MC get a real GM in here!

Looks to me that over the years he had migrated downward to head of scouting as Mark allowed other folks to usurp the person he called his GM. Sounds like you may have seen it accurately.

[VintagePejav2]

From Marc Stein’s latest newsletter. More pain headed this way:

“Miami, Dallas and New Orleans will be at the forefront of the pursuit for Toronto’s Kyle Lowry once free-agent negotiations are permissible at 6 p.m. ET on Monday. Lowry is the top target for all three teams. The Heat would appear to have a recruiting advantage through Lowry’s close relationship with Miami star Jimmy Butler.”

[michaeltex]

From Marc Stein’s latest newsletter. More pain headed this way:

“Miami, Dallas and New Orleans will be at the forefront of the pursuit for Toronto’s Kyle Lowry once free-agent negotiations are permissible at 6 p.m. ET on Monday. Lowry is the top target for all three teams. The Heat would appear to have a recruiting advantage through Lowry’s close relationship with Miami star Jimmy Butler.”

Make sure none of the MBT has group dinner plans for Monday.

[michaeltex]

https://twitter.com/townbrad/status/1420869873140486148

"Nico Harrison says Mavs haven't been informed yet whether Josh Richardson will opt in to $11.6M contract for next season. Harrison says Mavs are in close contact with Richardson's agent (Bill Duffy) and Harrison says he believes Richardson will take full allotted time (Sunday)."

Sounds like there isn't much action on Duffy's phone for JRich. Waiting till Sunday hoping something moves after the draft, I guess. Either way, he's gotta know his time in DAL is done, doesn't he?

[JamesConway]

https://twitter.com/realgm/status/142116...97447?s=21

Re JRich: Zach Lowe and Bobby Marks also think he’ll opt into his player option.

[omahen]

Sounds like there isn't much action on Duffy's phone for JRich. Waiting till Sunday hoping something moves after the draft, I guess. Either way, he's gotta know his time in DAL is done, doesn't he?

I think JRich not yet opting in is sort of positive. It indicates me that his camp is still scouting free agency opportunities. Or even Mavs might need his contract if SnT is in place

[fifteenth]

I think JRich not yet opting in is sort of positive. It indicates me that his camp is still scouting free agency opportunities. Or even Mavs might need his contract if SnT is in place

Maybe Duffy and Nico working for the best outcome for both parties?

[michaeltex]

If JRich stays, is there anything worthwhile for the staff to work with for improving his game? He was brought in as a 3D man, but supposedly more D than 3. That didn't happen and he turned into a d2 guy. A little bit of defense and a, sometimes, decent midrange game.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I think JRich not yet opting in is sort of positive. It indicates me that his camp is still scouting free agency opportunities. Or even Mavs might need his contract if SnT is in place

Who would've thought that a year later we'd all be crossing our fingers that JRich would just go away.

[VintagePejav2]

Maybe Duffy and Nico working for the best outcome for both parties?

This is just way too rational of a take for my liking, except I actually did like the post.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I think JRich not yet opting in is sort of positive. It indicates me that his camp is still scouting free agency opportunities. Or even Mavs might need his contract if SnT is in place

Josh provides a way of leveraging what we bring back to $16mm instead of the $11mm of space he creates.  So, I tend to agree that waiting is potentially positive.  I think his highest and best use is probably to a team that would be hard capped if they took back a S&T player and has no real way to replace a departing FA.  Oubre, Caruso, Batum and Dinwiddie come to mind.  

Josh is feeling like a r-MLE or tp-MLE kind of guy right now.  So, it would take 2 years to make up what he's walking away from.  The payoff for opting out is the possibility of a third year at half of what he'll make next year in guaranteed money.  Doesn't sound enticing.  Or, you work with Dallas to get to a good location, make your $11.6 and hope for good things a  year from now on a team that will be hard pressed to replace you.  

Two random thoughts...

1.  Does the Garuba rumor and the players we actually signed for summer league tip us off to Nico having a different "type"?  Fells like these guys are really athletic and disruptive defenders for the most part.  Do we need to rethink FA targets with that in mind?

2.  I've pointed out the THJ/Lowry agent relationship.  It can be a positive.  It can also work the other way.  Maybe Dallas is willing to go a little higher on THJ if the agent delivers Lowry.  Maybe not so much if he doesn't.  Where do we go with $20.6mm-$23.7mm (depending on WCS) before leveraging JRich into someone else if THJ is no longer a "priority".

[cow]

Josh provides a way of leveraging what we bring back to $16mm instead of the $11mm of space he creates.  So, I tend to agree that waiting is potentially positive.  I think his highest and best use is probably to a team that would be hard capped if they took back a S&T player and has no real way to replace a departing FA.  Oubre, Caruso, Batum and Dinwiddie come to mind.  

Josh is feeling like a r-MLE or tp-MLE kind of guy right now.  So, it would take 2 years to make up what he's walking away from.  The payoff for opting out is the possibility of a third year at half of what he'll make next year in guaranteed money.  Doesn't sound enticing.  Or, you work with Dallas to get to a good location, make your $11.6 and hope for good things a  year from now on a team that will be hard pressed to replace you.  

Disagree a bit with your valuation of Josh but I think you are right about it taking more than a year to get the value of his opt-in back but that's unimportant. I think the more important thing is that there are a lot of options out there if the rumored Lowry plan falls through.

[KillerLeft]

Sounds like there isn't much action on Duffy's phone for JRich. Waiting till Sunday hoping something moves after the draft, I guess. Either way, he's gotta know his time in DAL is done, doesn't he?

Absolutely! They (Josh and his team) are probably trying to use whatever leverage they have to try to steer Richardson to a place he can live with.

[ClutchDirk]

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status...0367209475

[ItsGoTime]

For who!!!

[ClutchDirk]

Air...

[Kammrath]

The Heat would appear to have a recruiting advantage through Lowry’s close relationship with Miami star Jimmy Butler.

[Tyler]

https://twitter.com/johnhollinger/status...8427468806