MAVS hire Masai Ujiri as new team President

[dirkfansince1998]

My favorite quote: " Free agency is kind of a little bit dead...in some kind of ways"

Finally a GM that gets it. Someone that understands the CBA. Knows that quality players don't reach free agency these days. Plan powder is a thing of the past.

[cow]

Watched the introductory conference.   A lot of thoughts.

-He seems to have a very sweet, affable personality.
-His best answer was the adage about kings coming and going and relating Flagg to a prince that will be our next King.
-While his assessment of needing to improve the medical staff sounded encouraging when I first read it, hearing the answer from him was something else all together.  It would have been a great answer if it were to another question, but for the question at hand (actually asked twice in a row by two different reporters), I don't think it was specific to the Mavs woes nor was it a good answer to what he learned about the league in his time away from it.  Maybe it's reactionary to all the Achilles injuries in the playoffs last year, but you'd figure someone who employed Kawhi Leonard would have already understood the importance of a quality medical staff.
-As a life long Dallas sports fan, I feel about the Mavs a lot like I'd imagine trying to reconcile a relationship with someone who cheated on you.  I'd never look at my partner in the same light again and I'd always have a seed of doubt in my head.  Weird preamble for sure, but I really wish Ujiri would have taken the Luka trade question head on.  You'd already discussed the importance of a superstar in sport in one of your other answers.  He should have put the niceties aside, taken the layup and simply said there is no way he would have traded Luka.  I think that would have done a lot for Mavs fans like me who are currently fence sitters.
-I was encouraged by not committing to Kidd until the follow-up later on in the conference where he mentioned that if you studied his previous stops, the current coach stayed in place for years before being replaced.  I don't think we can predict much about Kidd's immediate future.
-As disappointed as I was in Ujiri not taking the layup, Dumont should have done the same.  Fall on the sword, explain how Ujiri and new processes will prevent that from ever happening again, and win back some good will.  Too much dancing around the subject from the public enemy that we can't be rid of.  
-Speaking of Dumont, it feels like he locked into Ujiri pretty quickly in the process.  I'm having flashbacks of Jerry and Mike McCarthy. Really curious who else was in serious consideration and if any other big hitters were pursued wholeheartedly.
-Dumont and Ujiri both spoke about hard conversations.  I wish they were pressed more on this about what those were.  If I had to guess, it would have been scrutiny of how the Luka trade was allowed to pass, evaluation of the AD trade, futures of the Kidd, Riccardi, Finley, and the future of Kyrie Irving and how to navigate a potential trade for the rebuilding process.

I caught a video of Bryan Broaddus of all people talking about the Mavs this morning and I was shocked to be in lockstep with his line of thinking (maybe I just need to be away from his football takes to appreciate him, ha!).  I really hope Ujiri cleans house (Finley, Riccardi, Kidd, medical staff).  His recent track record isn't great, but overall it's more competent than we've seen in decades or maybe ever.  His first big test is Kyrie.  A lot of the fanbase, me included, love him as much as we are surprised with how we'll he's worked out for us.  I think we all understand that he probably doesn't fit the timeline, but it will still be a tricky waters to navigate.  

p.s.  trade Christie

[BoredAssistant]

I thought Dumont seemed angry but not sure at who. Maybe he can channel that energy towards something meaningful. Ujiri seems like a decent person which makes me skeptical but I trust the opinions here. 

To the league powers that be: I will watch approximately 60 more hours of Mavericks basketball than last year and 15-18 hours of non-Mavericks nba basketball if what is supposed to happen, and what many anticipate happening, happens. Thanks.

[Mavs2021]

My favorite quote: " Free agency is kind of a little bit dead...in some kind of ways"

Finally a GM that gets it. Someone that understands the CBA. Knows that quality players don't reach free agency these days. Plan powder is a thing of the past.

I think everybody understands that TDL is the new free agency. You get deals done based on what you can hypothetically do rather than what you actually are willing to do. No team wants to lose a player for nothing and no teams wants to actually strip down to actual cap space money.

My favourites quotes were the 

- "King-prince-king"-line, cause it acknowledged the greatness of Luka, not unlike some here, while also projecting that the future is bright and he will help Flagg become as good as Luka.

- "Kidd-I will look at everything", cause he immediately and gently put Kidd in his place. What he really was saying: If I don´t like what I see, you are getting fired. I´m the boss. Don´t even.

[Mavs2021]

I thought Dumont seemed angry but not sure at who.

Nico, cause he had to explain to his mom-in-law, why he had to pay Ujiri a fortune as a consquence of his f*ckery.

[Scott41theMavs]

Cow, I get many motives for not liking Kidd. We could start with the wife beating, the 3 J’s trade demand, the 2012 Knicks betrayal. Possibly for botching this year’s tank.

I am not on board with any belief that he isn’t generally a good coach. The ‘24 Mavs’ embarrassment by the Celtics wasn’t necessarily his fault.

but what really concerns me is any sense that Kidd must go because he may have signed off on or had something to do with the Luka trade. I understand “the principle of the thing,” but if one has chosen to remain a Mavs fan, even on a tentative or “wait and see” level, it’s just a quixotic lost cause, because Kidd’s guidance this past year won over Flagg. Nico lost Luka prior to the trade and then decided to get rid of him. I don’t want to see Ujiri lose Flagg and have to deal with a trade demand. I think that if we want a Flagg Mavs era, we’re going to have to put up with Kidd the next two or three years.

And another thing, trading Christie as the last supposedly legitimizing remnant of the Luka trade is silly. He can be traded because he isn’t good enough or because Ujiri sees him as having greater value to another team than for us, but our talent quotient around Flagg is too small to trade players just ‘cause. And I say that as someone who sees Christie as having the ceiling of a rotational backup at best. He’s also, along with Klay (who should certainly be traded) the only guy we have who shoots worth a damn - our mast glaring dearth right now.

[CooPerFan]

Fresh start for the Mavs front office. Hope they start to build a conteder team around cooper.

[F Gump]

Countdown - 4 days to ....

[Chicagojk]

It would appear Ricardi would be a nice match with Masai.   Looking at Masai history with Bobby Webster it seems like they had a good relationship.  Webster started with him in his late 20's and did do several GM type things.  He was the grinder.   You would think Ricardi would fit in well here.  Although, Ricardi has to sell himself and earn the job.  Or maybe he would like a fresh start after not getting the job.   Maybe Masai has others he like more, but some continuity and having someone who has been around would seem like a nice fit.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

It would appear Ricardi would be a nice match with Masai.   Looking at Masai history with Bobby Webster it seems like they had a good relationship.  Webster started with him in his late 20's and did do several GM type things.  He was the grinder.   You would think Ricardi would fit in well here.  Although, Ricardi has to sell himself and earn the job.  Or maybe he would like a fresh start after not getting the job.   Maybe Masai has others he like more, but some continuity and having someone who has been around would seem like a nice fit.

Didn't Masai hire Webster as his assistant GM, and was he promoted to POBO after Masai left?  Masai was there first, I thought.

[mvossman]

p.s.  trade Christie

What's with the Christie hate?

[Chicagojk]

Interesting

https://x.com/kevingraysports/status/205...17287?s=46

Kidd had a run with a lot of influence. It will be less now. You got to wonder if he decides he wants to be somewhere else soon. His voice is not the loudest anymore.

[cow]

Cow, I get many motives for not liking Kidd. We could start with the wife beating, the 3 J’s trade demand, the 2012 Knicks betrayal. Possibly for botching this year’s tank.

I am not on board with any belief that he isn’t generally a good coach. The ‘24 Mavs’ embarrassment by the Celtics wasn’t necessarily his fault.

but what really concerns me is any sense that Kidd must go because he may have signed off on or had something to do with the Luka trade. I understand “the principle of the thing,” but if one has chosen to remain a Mavs fan, even on a tentative or “wait and see” level, it’s just a quixotic lost cause, because Kidd’s guidance this past year won over Flagg. Nico lost Luka prior to the trade and then decided to get rid of him. I don’t want to see Ujiri lose Flagg and have to deal with a trade demand. I think that if we want a Flagg Mavs era, we’re going to have to put up with Kidd the next two or three years.

And another thing, trading Christie as the last supposedly legitimizing remnant of the Luka trade is silly. He can be traded because he isn’t good enough or because Ujiri sees him as having greater value to another team than for us, but our talent quotient around Flagg is too small to trade players just ‘cause. And I say that as someone who sees Christie as having the ceiling of a rotational backup at best. He’s also, along with Klay (who should certainly be traded) the only guy we have who shoots worth a damn - our mast glaring dearth right now.

Kidd's latest media blowup rebroke the camel's back.  The dude lacks any sort of tact and he's impossible to cheer for.

Christie is bad at basketball.  Me wanting him off the team has nothing to do with him being part of the Luka trade.

[Smitty]

Christie is bad at basketball. 

He improved in nearly every statistical category this season at age 22. He's younger than one of the better prospects in this draft, Yaxel Lendeborg.

I'm not saying he's an all-star level player, but "bad at basketball" feels like an extreme take.

This team needs more shooting, not less. Christie is one of few that can stretch the floor. 40% on 6 3PA/g is something that can keep him in the league for a long time...

[mvossman]

Kidd's latest media blowup rebroke the camel's back.  The dude lacks any sort of tact and he's impossible to cheer for.

Christie is bad at basketball.  Me wanting him off the team has nothing to do with him being part of the Luka trade.

I have mixed feeling regarding Kidd as a coach, but they are unmixed regarding him having organizational influence.  One of the many positives of bringing in a big name to run the operations is that I no longer have to worry about that.

[Winter]

I think the Christie problem is largely a team problem. His individual stats are all right, but I believe lineups that include Flagg and Christie were simply not that good. It's possible that alternate lineups next season will effect some change. Adding Kyrie might produce a different style of play with different results, but this season I believe I read that the Flagg\Christie lineups were some of the least efficient.

[Smitty]

I think the Christie problem is largely a team problem. His individual stats are all right, but I believe lineups that include Flagg and Christie were simply not that good. It's possible that alternate lineups next season will effect some change. Adding Kyrie might produce a different style of play with different results, but this season I believe I read that the Flagg\Christie lineups were some of the least efficient.

Using two-man lineup data in a lost season, with a rookie Wing playing Point Guard for the first time, feels like the wrong way to go about it IMO. Again, I'm not saying that Max is a future all-star or anything, but I feel the need to push back on the "bad at basketball" take.

If I were to make a short list of players I absolutely want to see on this team next season, he's on it.

[Chicagojk]

Max got a lot of valuable reps this year. Some he struggled with and some he did well. I wish he was a better defender. He typically doesn’t make mistakes but his impact on defense was not great imo.

With that being said, I can see the vision for him on a good team. Imo he role is more defined than a guy like Marshall on a good team. I think he can be a real nice strong rotation piece. Maybe 26-30 minute a game player.

Contract will determine a lot of it to. Would I pay him 20 million a season? No. MLE is a better number imo.

[Scott41theMavs]

Max got a lot of valuable reps this year.  Some he struggled with and some he did well.  I wish he was a better defender.  He typically doesn’t make mistakes but his impact on defense was not great imo.

With that being said, I can see the vision for him on a good team.  Imo he role is more defined than a guy like Marshall on a good team.  I think he can be a real nice strong rotation piece.  Maybe 26-30 minute a game player. 

Contract will determine a lot of it to.  Would I pay him 20 million a season?  No.  MLE is a better number imo.

I like Christie okay, but would definitely see today’s MLE $ as a pretty steep overpay. $9 mil a year if Masai likes him.

[cow]

He improved in nearly every statistical category this season at age 22. He's younger than one of the better prospects in this draft, Yaxel Lendeborg.

I'm not saying he's an all-star level player, but "bad at basketball" feels like an extreme take.

This team needs more shooting, not less. Christie is one of few that can stretch the floor. 40% on 6 3PA/g is something that can keep him in the league for a long time...

One of the later games in the season, Naji and Flagg were on a heater in a close game and instead of looking for them in one of the final possessions, Christie took it upon himself to play hero ball which stopped the team from any hope at a W.  As is popular to say in Frisco because of the Christian Parker hiring, we need players who's "brain works".  It's not like he's John Poulakidas who is scratching and clawing at the one of the few shots he'll have in the NBA, you have a contract and made selfish play which is a microcosm of what he is on the court.  I'll stick with my extreme take, thank you very much.