02-03-2025, 01:10 PM
DS, thanks for your detailed thoughts, I liked it all. A few comments flowing from your remarks --
1 You said "Maybe there was reason to believe Luka wasn't going to sign the extension this summer?" -- I think that's a wrong reading of the concern Nico was speaking to. It sounded to me like he did not want to OFFER the supermax, at least not this summer, because they aren't convinced Luka would work hard off the court, and then it would be a tumult leading to having to trade Luka under duress.
2 I feel differently than most about Kyrie. I don't think any of this changes his trajectory here. And the same issue (the apron penalties) that motivated him to cooperate on the last deal, I think we'll see that again.
3 Sexton is getting mentioned a lot, but I really hope he's not sought.
4 " I like Max Christie." -- I am hearing lots of comments by smart NBA people that Christie was the WAY BETTER fit for Mavs than Reaves or any of the others there, for two vital reasons: (a) he's a 2-way player, with very good defense and athleticism, which fits what this trade was designed to do (whereas players like Reaves and Knecht are not), and (b) his contract is VERY affordable, much smaller than Reaves AND there's cost certainty on that price. Mavs may envision him as the better, more affordable (7M per year) alternative to Grimes, which then allows them to use Grimes as a trade chip.
5 " I suspect Luka will take this as an insult to the core of his very being and (like Steve Nash) win the next two MVP awards." -- While I see that as possible, the more I think of it, the less I think it will matter. Nash didn't do anything different in PHX, he just had a system designed to maximize what he was already doing (and doing well) in Dallas. And he had a bigger spotlight. In LA, Luka will have a bigger spotlight, so he will have a better shot at MVP if he can stay healthy. But will he change off the court? He likes to just show up and play his game, which he can do because of his physical gifts, but the fact that he can play at a top level without the side work, makes it easy for him to see himself as not needing the other stuff that takes him to the higher level. We'll see.
6 Current summer numbers - Mavs don't have room for a full MLE right now. They are at about 180.5M, which is about 15.5M below Apron 1, with 11 players. MLE is about 14.1M.
.... " I'm not sure this team needs Grimes, Christie and Hardy. Naji overlaps their PT a little as well." -- Agree that they have room to whittle in those areas, which can not only potentially solve something they need now, but can also change their summer numbers. I think the plan is for Christie to be the keeper, since he's only 7M and under continuing contract at that level. Don't know if the other 3 are all expendable, but I can see how that's possible. The 180.5M doesn't include any salary for Grimes, but Hardy is in for 6M and Naji for 9M.
7 "Doing this deal differently may have landed us more picks (been there done that) " -- I strongly agree that the clamor for not getting a pile of picks is misguided. The only picks that matter are in the upper half of Round 1, and the piles of picks tend to be a pupu platter in the 20s. BUT - I find it weak they didn't also get LA's 2031 1st. That's bad negotiating. If you are giving a trade partner an exclusive, you better expect (and demand) he chases you with everything he can offer. Nico wasn't good enough to get that chase for LUKA. Ugh.
1 You said "Maybe there was reason to believe Luka wasn't going to sign the extension this summer?" -- I think that's a wrong reading of the concern Nico was speaking to. It sounded to me like he did not want to OFFER the supermax, at least not this summer, because they aren't convinced Luka would work hard off the court, and then it would be a tumult leading to having to trade Luka under duress.
2 I feel differently than most about Kyrie. I don't think any of this changes his trajectory here. And the same issue (the apron penalties) that motivated him to cooperate on the last deal, I think we'll see that again.
3 Sexton is getting mentioned a lot, but I really hope he's not sought.
4 " I like Max Christie." -- I am hearing lots of comments by smart NBA people that Christie was the WAY BETTER fit for Mavs than Reaves or any of the others there, for two vital reasons: (a) he's a 2-way player, with very good defense and athleticism, which fits what this trade was designed to do (whereas players like Reaves and Knecht are not), and (b) his contract is VERY affordable, much smaller than Reaves AND there's cost certainty on that price. Mavs may envision him as the better, more affordable (7M per year) alternative to Grimes, which then allows them to use Grimes as a trade chip.
5 " I suspect Luka will take this as an insult to the core of his very being and (like Steve Nash) win the next two MVP awards." -- While I see that as possible, the more I think of it, the less I think it will matter. Nash didn't do anything different in PHX, he just had a system designed to maximize what he was already doing (and doing well) in Dallas. And he had a bigger spotlight. In LA, Luka will have a bigger spotlight, so he will have a better shot at MVP if he can stay healthy. But will he change off the court? He likes to just show up and play his game, which he can do because of his physical gifts, but the fact that he can play at a top level without the side work, makes it easy for him to see himself as not needing the other stuff that takes him to the higher level. We'll see.
6 Current summer numbers - Mavs don't have room for a full MLE right now. They are at about 180.5M, which is about 15.5M below Apron 1, with 11 players. MLE is about 14.1M.
.... " I'm not sure this team needs Grimes, Christie and Hardy. Naji overlaps their PT a little as well." -- Agree that they have room to whittle in those areas, which can not only potentially solve something they need now, but can also change their summer numbers. I think the plan is for Christie to be the keeper, since he's only 7M and under continuing contract at that level. Don't know if the other 3 are all expendable, but I can see how that's possible. The 180.5M doesn't include any salary for Grimes, but Hardy is in for 6M and Naji for 9M.
7 "Doing this deal differently may have landed us more picks (been there done that) " -- I strongly agree that the clamor for not getting a pile of picks is misguided. The only picks that matter are in the upper half of Round 1, and the piles of picks tend to be a pupu platter in the 20s. BUT - I find it weak they didn't also get LA's 2031 1st. That's bad negotiating. If you are giving a trade partner an exclusive, you better expect (and demand) he chases you with everything he can offer. Nico wasn't good enough to get that chase for LUKA. Ugh.
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