MAVS NEWS:

[F Gump]

Yes. 

Here's the quote from the NY TIMES that I was talking about:

"Last summer, Kidd contemplated leaving the Mavericks to go coach the New York Knicks. There was mutual interest between the two sides, league sources said, but the Mavericks refused to let Kidd leave and rewarded him with an extension. That gave Kidd power in any disagreement with his front office. He had more years on his contract than any of them."

Do you not see my point? I do not think any GM should be beholden to any coach. Maybe your point is that he wouldn't be, regardless of the current power dynamic, and hopefully you're right. 

I think you are spinning the article in a much different way than I think is fair. 

Beholden? Maybe a fairer word is outclassed. 

Yes, Kidd had a longer contract (true) so he had more influence (probably true). But don't confuse chicken and egg. The bigger contract was BECAUSE he was more valuable, rather than causing the value. And wasn't he a valued coach whereas Nico was an abysmal GM? Thats not about something nefarious but rather about relative value.

Are you saying that when the GM sux, you only want a bad coach too? Or you fire the good coach lest he be deemed more valued? The same can be said of coach vs player, and it falls apart there as well. NBA stars make way more than coaches or GMs. So they are evil?

For all that is said about Kidd, I observe he has stayed in his lane through the whole fiasco with Nico and Luka. Says little or nothing, just does his job in the best way he can. If they want players developed or games tanked, or a major effort to win, he goes to work. I think that has a lot to do with why they prioritized keeping him and extending him. I think he's learned over the years.

[F Gump]

Does it make sense to fire sale anyone not named Flagg with value? I seem to remember OKC taking that approach and netting the massive pile of picks they are still working through.

OKC never fire saled (trade in a hurry, offering a big discount) anyone. They would keep talent, showcase, be in no hurry, then wait til a team came chasing. Some players were shopped for a couple years. No rush. Stars, role players, it didnt matter, it was about waiting for the right deal to get offered. 

Mavs need to hire Presti, frankly. He gets it.

[KillerLeft]

I think you are spinning the article in a much different way than I think is fair. 

Beholden? Maybe a fairer word is outclassed. 

Yes, Kidd had a longer contract (true) so he had more influence (probably true). But don't confuse chicken and egg. The bigger contract was BECAUSE he was more valuable, rather than causing the value. And wasn't he a valued coach whereas Nico was an abysmal GM? Thats not about something nefarious but rather about relative value.

Are you saying that when the GM sux, you only want a bad coach too? Or you fire the good coach lest he be deemed more valued? The same can be said of coach vs player, and it falls apart there as well. NBA stars make way more than coaches or GMs. So they are evil?

For all that is said about Kidd, I observe he has stayed in his lane through the whole fiasco with Nico and Luka. Says little or nothing, just does his job in the best way he can. If they want players developed or games tanked, or a major effort to win, he goes to work. I think that has a lot to do with why they prioritized keeping him and extending him. I think he's learned over the years.

Ah, I see. We're talking about two different things. 

You're talking about how he got the contract, and comparing it to Harrison, specifically. That takeaway is interesting, because without context (paragraphs from the article are cherrypicked by SH) I can't tell if that is the point the writer is getting at or not. I assumed that it was Harrison, specifically, who denied Kidd interviewing with NY and who decided to give him the extension...that it was Harrison, specifically, who MOST valued Kidd. But, either way, it doesn't matter, because...

MY point is about whether or not the NEW guy, Harrison's replacement, is going to feel pressured in any way to make it work with Kidd, whether he feels Kidd is a good coach (as you do) or not. And even more alarming for me, if not you...I sure hope Kidd doesn't get too much of a voice in the DECIDING of who gets the job, personally. For me, this isn't searching for negatives. I really think it's important that the slate is wiped clean and someone great is actually PUT IN CHARGE. If that person evaluates Kidd for a while and likes him, so be it. I just hope Kidd's contractual status doesn't make him overly heavy, politically, because that is the exact type of thing that has gone wrong with this franchise for decades.

[cow]

OKC never fire saled (trade in a hurry, offering a big discount) anyone. They would keep talent, showcase, be in no hurry, then wait til a team came chasing. Some players were shopped for a couple years. No rush. Stars, role players, it didnt matter, it was about waiting for the right deal to get offered. 

Mavs need to hire Presti, frankly. He gets it.

#TeamPresti

There's a good chance he'll have back-to-back championships after this season due to his architecture and the potential for a few more.  My Googlefu estimates him earning 4.5 million a year.  I wonder what it would take to make him consider.  Would $10m per pry him loose?  Maybe throw in a small ownership stake?  Does your average fan know who he is and would he help the healing process of the metroplex and help the fanbase understand what could be a lengthy rebuild process?

[KillerLeft]

#TeamPresti

There's a good chance he'll have back-to-back championships after this season due to his architecture and the potential for a few more.  My Googlefu estimates him earning 4.5 million a year.  I wonder what it would take to make him consider.  Would $10m per pry him loose?  Maybe throw in a small ownership stake?  Does your average fan know who he is and would he help the healing process of the metroplex and help the fanbase understand what could be a lengthy rebuild process?

I can't believe that's all he's making. Donnie Nelson (without even a contract) was getting north of $30 million per year by the end of his time here, according to all that mud that got thrown a couple of years ago. If your Googlefu is correct (it can't be, can it?) then I'd say it would be relatively simple for a lot of teams to snag the guy away from OkC...although, I'm not sure how easy it is to get out of a contract for a GM. It doesn't seem like there's any room left for a promotion.

[Mavs2021]

It was quite good.  Brief synopsis:

He was pretending he was new GM and what he would do:

Have a conversation with Kyrie about what he wants to do and act accordingly.  If he wants to stay, then keep him.

Have similar conversation with AD letting him know we are not doing an extension (or at least not max extension).

Trade Klay ASAP.

Prefer to hold onto guys like Max, PJ and Lively but move them if blown away by offer.

Talk to Charlotte about getting our 27 back (or at least improving protections) especially if sending Kyrie and AD out.  Maybe Naji?

It has some quality humor mixed in as well.

I can see that like suggesting to give AD any sort of extension. You have to be a moron to extend him (early), which also might be a huge stumbling block in the trade. Who in their right mind wants to go longer and higher than $62M for 35 year old AD. That is mental. Who is the last center getting paid at that age? Vucevic, Horford and Lopez made in the $25M range at age 35 and then it dropped quickly to MLE money.

Also I don´t need the Mavs 2027 pick back necessarily. Charlotte has their own and the Orlando pick in the draft this year. Charlotte will very likely be in the lottery this year.

Bulls have their own and the Blazers pick, if they make the play-offs. The only problem I see is that you can´t be sure the picks will be really high or converting at all. Charlotte could also make the play-offs, very small chance.

The Pelicans pick is realistically the only pick that we could get that is guaranteed to be bottom seven in odds. So I´d do more or less any deal with the Hawks.

Let´s say John Wall is right. LOL. The Bulls packages are not all that great. Best one is probably something like

White
Vucevic
Collins 
Okoro
Essengue

+ Bulls + Blazers 2026 picks

for 

AD
Martin
Powell
Exum

I liked Essengue going in the draft. He had a nice G-League debut with 28/8. Assuming they not giving you Giddey or Buzelis, I´d be most interested in Dosunmu and Essengue. Dosunmu is 26 already and needs to be paid just like Coby White, so probably better to keep it cost-controlled.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

 The Bulls packages are not all that great. Best one is probably something like

White
Vucevic
Collins 
Okoro
Essengue

+ Bulls + Blazers 2026 picks

for 

AD
Martin
Powell
Exum

I'm not taking credit for this idea or advocating for it but this is the biggest package I've seen ANYONE bring up.  A young guard we could plug in right away and TWO 1st rd picks in the best draft/next year.  Everything else I've seen brought up seems like a poo poo platter in comparison.  I'm not sure the Bulls would even do this.

[Dirknows]

I'm not taking credit for this idea or advocating for it but this is the biggest package I've seen ANYONE bring up.  A young guard we could plug in right away and TWO 1st rd picks in the best draft/next year.  Everything else I've seen brought up seems like a poo poo platter in comparison.  I'm not sure the Bulls would even do this.

I mean the Blazers pick is lottery protected. And if AD helps the Bulls get to the playoffs that leaves us with 1 pick in the late teens maybe 2 if the blazers make the playoffs. It’s not a great return.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I did not know that about the Blazers pick.

But anywhere he goes is likely to not have a high pick. It'll be a team looking to be really good. A young guard seems very important in a return.

[myconsumerclub]

I'm not taking credit for this idea or advocating for it but this is the biggest package I've seen ANYONE bring up.  A young guard we could plug in right away and TWO 1st rd picks in the best draft/next year.  Everything else I've seen brought up seems like a poo poo platter in comparison.  I'm not sure the Bulls would even do this.

they would likely say no to it if we cannot prove that AD is better

[cow]

I can't believe that's all he's making. Donnie Nelson (without even a contract) was getting north of $30 million per year by the end of his time here, according to all that mud that got thrown a couple of years ago. If your Googlefu is correct (it can't be, can it?) then I'd say it would be relatively simple for a lot of teams to snag the guy away from OkC...although, I'm not sure how easy it is to get out of a contract for a GM. It doesn't seem like there's any room left for a promotion.

GM contracts are not typically public, but it looks like Bob Myers was offered north of 10m in 2023 to become what would be the highest paid GM in the league (though, how does a reporter know who is the highest if that information is not readily available?).  Not that I don't believe you, but Donnie getting $30 million per year sounds fishy.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Let´s say John Wall is right. LOL. The Bulls packages are not all that great. Best one is probably something like

White
Vucevic
Collins 
Okoro
Essengue

+ Bulls + Blazers 2026 picks

for 

AD
Martin
Powell
Exum

In a deal like this I don't see the value in keeping Vucevic. 

I did a 4 way with the Mavs, Bulls, Nets a Lakers in which LA winds up with Vucevic. The Mavs would get back Maxi and Vincent, as well as LA's 2030 swap and 2031 unprotected 1st. The Nets are involved so that the Mavs and Lakers don't take on plus money. 

I had the Mavs winding up (the value pieces) with Coby White, Buzelis, 2 1sts from Chicago and one 1st from LA (plus a swap).

[KillerLeft]

GM contracts are typically public, but it looks like Bob Myers was offered north of 10m in 2023 to become what would be the highest paid GM in the league (though, how does a reporter know who is the highest if that information is readily available?).  Not that I don't believe you, but Donnie getting $30 million per year sounds fishy.

Idk...maybe there were other duties, like with the G League team he co-owned, mixed into that salary, but I distinctly remember my jaw dropping when I read that total. 

Interesting.

[F Gump]

Idk...maybe there were other duties, like with the G League team he co-owned, mixed into that salary, but I distinctly remember my jaw dropping when I read that total. 

Interesting.

You must have misread. Or you need to stop listening to whoever (you think) said $30 million a year is NBA GM pay. It's so far away from reality that it's laughable. Not close. (FYI Donnie sold out his share of the Legends in 2017.)

A better number is Donnie's sworn numbers he provided in 2020 or so, when he sued Cuban for an extension that, he said, was taken off the table when Donnie filed a complaint. He certainly had no incentive to minimize the number. Donnie said Cuban's offer (September 2020) was a 10-year, $66 million contract extension.

[cow]

At any rate, my $10m might have been "low" and you'd probably need to blow him out of the water for him to consider a move. So closer to $15m per.

[SleepingHero]

If Finley knew about the Luka trade before it was official, he´s not fit to work for the Mavs either. He should have leaked this to Luka and Stein/MacMahon to sabotage the whole trade. I´m sorry. That is weak sauce. He goes to Luka and says listen this dumb mofo wants to trade you. Talk to Cuban. Talk to Duffy. Talk to Dumont personally. We all got your back. You can´t tell me Nico could have pushed this through, if 99% internally speak out against it, including the part-owner.

The discussions could have been as short as:

Nico: What do you think about trading Luka for a different star?

Finley: "Are you smoking crack?"

*2 months passes*

"The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka"

Nico had a goal and wouldn't have been deterred. I don't think he actually discussed this with anyone of note, besides Dumbont. Because if he did, this trade would have 100% been leaked.

[KillerLeft]

You must have misread. Or you need to stop listening to whoever (you think) said $30 million a year is NBA GM pay. It's so far away from reality that it's laughable. Not close. (FYI Donnie sold out his share of the Legends in 2017.)

A better number is Donnie's sworn numbers he provided in 2020 or so, when he sued Cuban for an extension that, he said, was taken off the table when Donnie filed a complaint. He certainly had no incentive to minimize the number. Donnie said Cuban's offer (September 2020) was a 10-year, $66 million contract extension.

Yeah, I guess I just misremembered. Gotta say, I'm pretty surprised these guys aren't making more money.

Thanks for being so kind about it!

[khaled1987]

@noahweber00

Cooper Flagg on his relationship with Dirk Nowitzki:

“I’ve met up with Dirk a couple times. He’s just voiced to me if I ever need anything he’ll be around and he wants to be in my corner and be there for me…I would love to be able to meet up with him soon and grow our relationship. Obviously he’s a legend here in Dallas, so that would be amazing for me…”

What I like about this, how Dirk doesn't force himself on anyone but will be there for you
I really respect it, and makes me understand why Luka had a close relationship with him despite age difference and Dirk saying early on that Luka didn't listen to him much.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Yes I thought the Mavs could get past the early-season until Kyrie made it back. However...

1 I never said the Mavs didnt need guards. Good grief. In the early summer, both Exum and BWill were in that guard mix we were looking at. And DAR. And Kyrie to be added at some point. And maybe CF gets minutes to create offense. 

2 But when the season began, the ONLY possible guys to run the offense were DAR and CF. That's a huge downgrade layered on top of the loss of Kyrie. 

3 We didn't know those guys would be out of the mix -- but the Mavs did! Right? And they chose that course anyhow? Why? 

4 When considering all that, I am certainly less optimistic about the season. Duh. If you think I should have known they would have 2 more guards unavailable and factored that into my thinking, well, maybe you should be talking to Nostradamus. 

5 But it also makes me wonder what the Mavs were thinking -- why did they construct a talent-filled roster with no one to run the offense? 

6 As for where we are NOW ... My idea of tanking isn't at all how you choose to portray it. My oft-stated thought is that MAYBE they have decided to tank already -- and if so, there are lots of points at which they may have done so. 

Or maybe they are still in a wait and see stage. 

The best tank is one where no one knows. Lots of bad luck (unfortunate injuries, close losses) piled on top of each other. 

But imo they NEED to tank from here, regardless of how they got here.

Gump, do you really think that Exum can resolve all our playmaking problems?

He is just a secondary ballhandler, who can defend and make shoots. 
He played his best basketball along Doncic or another floor general.

Our guards packet is one of the worse of the league. If not the worst. It can't work. Simple.

No shame on you (or others) for those wrong predictions, it happens... But remember that before tell to someone "go away please".

[FireNicoHarrison]

What I like about this, how Dirk doesn't force himself on anyone but will be there for you
I really respect it, and makes me understand why Luka had a close relationship with him despite age difference and Dirk saying early on that Luka didn't listen to him much.

Dirk is a basketball man. He has an amazing BBIQ.