MAVS NEWS:

[KillerLeft]

It is interesting how we take Naji for granted. The few times he's mentioned is when we're looking at trade material. Yet, his game is almost predictably solid most nights with double digit offense and above average defense. It feels like he's been more valuable than PJ on most nights.

Klay I think has value as a role player for some playoff team, and I agree that should there be a way we can translate into another young shooter (or perhaps another center if Gafford is out-going).

Marshall is taken for granted around here and has been from the start, I agree. Having said that, while he is a good player and more of a natural 3 than basically anyone else on the roster, I don't love his fit with Flagg. The more I watch Flagg, the more I'm realizing he's starting his career as a midrange-in type of attacker. You can see the perimeter skill potential, and I have no doubt he'll be a 3-level guy with time and experience, but I think he's at least a couple of years away from "can't go under on that guy" status, maybe more. 

Ironically, Thompson, the guy from your second point, feels to me like the best fit on the team playing the other forward spot. Unfortunately, he's no longer the defender he once was, but the good news is that I don't think the guy they need at the other forward spot needs to be quite as much of a shooting threat as prime Thompson was and can still be in spurts. I think the long term goal there should be to find a good defender (like Marshall or PJW), but one who's more comfortable as a catch and shoot player than either of them. Maybe one of them can adjust to that play style - both have improved as spacers since coming here, but both still shine most when they have a live dribble in the midrange areas, which is precisely where the team needs Flagg to live. 

For now, my inclination is to make one of them (either Marshall or PJW) available in an attempt to upgrade at the 1-2-3 spots, acquire picks, shed salary (whichever direction the team ultimately decides to go, basically) and hold onto Thompson until the player I'm describing above is acquired (maybe you get him right away and this is a moot point). Basically, I think Flagg levels up even faster if you put a little more shooting around him, and I think with the combo of he and AD on the back line you can afford to play Thompson more on the defensive end.

[Chicagojk]

Anyone else see this?  If I would been told five years ago the Mavs would trade for Emoni Bates in his second year in the NBA, my reactions would have been much different.

*******************
risco, TX - The Texas Legends have acquired forward Emoni Bates from the Delaware Blue Coats in exchange for center Charles Bassey, who was awarded to Texas off league waivers earlier this week.

Bates (6’9”, 205) was selected 49th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has appeared in 26 NBA games over two seasons, averaging 3.0 points and 0.8 rebounds in 8.0 minutes per game.

In the NBA G League, Bates owns career averages of 19.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 57 games with Cleveland and Delaware. This season, he’s averaging 19.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 30.6 minutes per game while shooting 43.4% from the field.

A native of Michigan, Bates began his college career at Memphis, where he averaged 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds, before transferring to Eastern Michigan, where he averaged 19.2 points (third in the MAC, 39th nationally) and 5.8 rebounds, earning All-MAC Third Team honors.

Bates was a consensus top-five, five-star recruit who reclassified to the Class of 2021 after a standout high school career. He won a state championship as a freshman at Lincoln High School and later transferred to Ypsi Prep Academy, where he averaged 32.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists as a sophomore. His accolades include MaxPreps Freshman of the Year and 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Bates will be active for Friday night’s game as the Legends return home to face the Austin Spurs at Comerica Center. Tipoff is set for 7:30 PM CT.

[Winter]

Anyone else see this?  If I would been told five years ago the Mavs would trade for Emoni Bates in his second year in the NBA, my reactions would have been much different.

*******************
risco, TX - The Texas Legends have acquired forward Emoni Bates from the Delaware Blue Coats in exchange for center Charles Bassey, who was awarded to Texas off league waivers earlier this week.

Bates (6’9”, 205) was selected 49th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has appeared in 26 NBA games over two seasons, averaging 3.0 points and 0.8 rebounds in 8.0 minutes per game.

In the NBA G League, Bates owns career averages of 19.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 57 games with Cleveland and Delaware. This season, he’s averaging 19.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 30.6 minutes per game while shooting 43.4% from the field.

A native of Michigan, Bates began his college career at Memphis, where he averaged 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds, before transferring to Eastern Michigan, where he averaged 19.2 points (third in the MAC, 39th nationally) and 5.8 rebounds, earning All-MAC Third Team honors.

Bates was a consensus top-five, five-star recruit who reclassified to the Class of 2021 after a standout high school career. He won a state championship as a freshman at Lincoln High School and later transferred to Ypsi Prep Academy, where he averaged 32.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists as a sophomore. His accolades include MaxPreps Freshman of the Year and 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Bates will be active for Friday night’s game as the Legends return home to face the Austin Spurs at Comerica Center. Tipoff is set for 7:30 PM CT.

Damn... He hits 9 3-pointers here. But I don't see him playing a lot of minutes last year. He must not be ready.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO8tawzXw3c

[F Gump]

I can never tell from your writing style if you are telling this to me or for the benefit of the board.  If me, recall who is was who pointed out the 'waive Exum' part to you not that long ago.

Your prior note about how they can waive Exum was about how to get the roster room itself. But that didn't have anything to do with the cap finances. 

What you wrote here is "Dallas moves enough under the 2nd apron to cut Exum and sign Nembhard." However, I don't see how such a cap change would change their Nembhard trajectory (which logically should be aimed at late Feb) at all.

So let me respond a different way. What difference or benefit are you saying it offers the Mavs, regarding Nembhard and what they intend to do with him, if they make a move that puts them farther under the 2nd apron?

[Chicagojk]

We have some basketball sickos. In an off night cooper, Nembhard, Christie, Powell and Brandon Williams all went to the g league game to support to two ways guys playing. Pretty cool.

[Winter]

We have some basketball sickos.  In an off night cooper, Nembhard, Christie, Powell and Brandon Williams all went to the g league game to support to two ways guys playing.  Pretty cool.

Powell? That tells you why Powell is still around. He's got some lockerroom qualities the fans don't see.

[Winter]

Comments from Brandon Williams about Nembhard:

“Ryan is nice — I’m not going to lie,” said guard Brandon Williams, who lost his spotting start to Nembhard. “He gets to the rim. People kind of look at his size, but he uses his size to his advantage. He gets by people, he makes plays for others, and everybody on our team loves playing with him. Even if he’s not getting the assist, the ball is moving with him on the floor and everybody likes that. We all see it and I think that’s what’s contributed to us winning.”

[Chicagojk]

We have some basketball sickos.  In an off night cooper, Nembhard, Christie, Powell and Brandon Williams all went to the g league game to support to two ways guys playing.  Pretty cool.

He is just a great teammate.  Anytime they do community service he is involved.  No ego on the court.  Easy guy to keep around

[cow]

Powell? That tells you why Powell is still around. He's got some lockerroom qualities the fans don't see.

He was/is the torchbearer for Dirk's work ethic, lockerroom presence, and community efforts.  He might be a little goofy on the court, but he's our goof.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Your prior note about how they can waive Exum was about how to get the roster room itself. But that didn't have anything to do with the cap finances. 

What you wrote here is "Dallas moves enough under the 2nd apron to cut Exum and sign Nembhard." However, I don't see how such a cap change would change their Nembhard trajectory (which logically should be aimed at late Feb) at all.

So let me respond a different way. What difference or benefit are you saying it offers the Mavs, regarding Nembhard and what they intend to do with him, if they make a move that puts them farther under the 2nd apron?

I don't think what you quoted denoted immediacy, only capability.  I guess it was sloppy to not fully add some caveat about the timing being "at the appropriate time in late February when Nembhard has used up his 50 games".  Can we stipulate that since you taught it and I assume everyone now knows it.  Or, do I have to add the qualifier every time I write about this.

BTW, I see people putting Exum in trades occasionally.  It feels more likely he stays unless he's absolutely needed in the deal (or we get an expiring player back who can be cut or we send out more players than we get back).  If the plan is to sign Nembhard to a standard contract (at the appropriate time in late February when Nembhard has used up his 50 games), we need a path to create the roster space.  Exum as our 15th man provides that.  To answer your question, the only advantage I see to jumping the gun on the 50 game timing would be to sign someone else to the two-way slot.  Blanton?  Someone who looks good in the upcoming G-League showcase?

One interesting thing about today.  Players traded today can be aggregated in a deadline trade even though the usual 60 day timeframe for aggregation won't have occurred by then.  It is a one-time use it or lose it opportunity.  It got me to looking for D'Lo trades.  I wonder if Orlando might do something straight up for D'Lo or Hardy for expiring Jett Howard.  They could use some bench creation and Dallas could stand to shed the future salary of either player.