MAVS NEWS:

[Smitty]

I’ve already said it - his BBIQ, defensive awareness, and court vision are already NBA ready enough to be 10-15 in the pecking order on an NBA main roster. I realize that’s the extreme position here, but I also know what the &@#% I saw in summer league play. 

Signing him to the main roster would be the right move, and allow him to continue to develop in the *correct* context. But it is hard to see how there’d be room for him.

I see your position, I do. I don’t want to be dismissive. I just see it way differently. Against folks in summer league he was just a guy (JAG). He’s our guy, so we’re hyper focused on what he did or didn’t do in each game. But if you asked any non-Mavs fan what they though of Ishchenko they’d say: “who”?

He’d be so far down the pecking order on this team, that it doesn’t seem fair to him in all honesty. They’ve already added 4 rookies - he would make 5. They’ve also added 4 other non-rookies that are 25 or younger that will need PT and development.

[Scott41theMavs]

I see your position, I do. I don’t want to be dismissive. I just see it way differently. Against folks in summer league he was just a guy (JAG). He’s our guy, so we’re hyper focused on what he did or didn’t do in each game. But if you asked any non-Mavs fan what they though of Ishchenko they’d say: “who”?

He’d be so far down the pecking order on this team, that it doesn’t seem fair to him in all honesty. They’ve already added 4 rookies - he would make 5. They’ve also added 4 other non-rookies that are 25 or younger that will need PT and development.

There’s a great discussion of this in the Discord with a lot more info. There are difficulties due to the buyout with stashing him on a Euro team, particularly because of the diplomacy issues now. There’s also the possibility of his taking care of his buyout on installments. It’s either just that, making the main roster, or stay warm and well fed languishing back in Russia.

[CooPerFan]

I dont like the risache trade at all

[BigDirk41]

I dont like the risache trade at all

What's there not to like about it?

[hakeemfaan]

I see your position, I do. I don’t want to be dismissive. I just see it way differently. Against folks in summer league he was just a guy (JAG). He’s our guy, so we’re hyper focused on what he did or didn’t do in each game. But if you asked any non-Mavs fan what they though of Ishchenko they’d say: “who”?

https://x.com/pointmadebball/status/2078292216670458280

I don't think it was just Mavs fans.  Yes fans tend to go overboard just as much they tend to be hypercritical of their own players very soon.

I like Seva a lot because of his height and versatility.  The SL games to me were worth watching because of Seva and Serg , their heights and their ability to do so many different things on the court.  I never got a feel of watching their games and thinking of them as JAGs.  The only thing I could think of was that if they were able to hit their jumpers more consistently, the Mavs just hit a couple of home runs, because of everything else they were bringing to the table.

[Smitty]

https://x.com/pointmadebball/status/2078292216670458280

I don't think it was just Mavs fans.  Yes fans tend to go overboard just as much they tend to be hypercritical of their own players very soon.

I like Seva a lot because of his height and versatility.  The SL games to me were worth watching because of Seva and Serg , their heights and their ability to do so many different things on the court.  I never got a feel of watching their games and thinking of them as JAGs.  The only thing I could think of was that if they were able to hit their jumpers more consistently, the Mavs just hit a couple of home runs, because of everything else they were bringing to the table.

I like him also. More so than Lawal even?? Both are good developmental pieces. Rarely are late second round picks hits, but both feel like they could pay off down the line. Each for different reasons, with different skill sets.

I just find it hard to believe the Mavs will go through all the hoops to clear two roster spots, to then negotiate a buyout, to then add Ish to the 15-man. Maybe they think he’s more NBA ready than I do, like most of this board, but I find it highly unlikely. These are the players the Mavs added, that are ahead of him in the development pecking order IMO:

(Age)

Rookies::
Morez (20)
Sergio (20)
Tarik (25)
Lawal (23)

25 & Under:
Sasser (25)
Risacher (21)
Aldama (25)
Howard (22)


And those are just the ‘young guys’ they’ve added. All the Vets are clearly ahead of him… Which is ‘the rest’… Adding Ish to the 15-man means you have 5 rookies that need playing time and development. You also have 4 other young guys that need the same. The Mavs shouldn’t be in any hurry to start his clock by adding him to the main roster, only to have him playing with the Legends.

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

Omax wasn't my guy on the Lively draft. But seeing how the trade went thru at that time, I was quite happy with the pick. The guys on LockedOn Mavs were hyping him and so were some people in this board. So maybe it really was a good pick.

And then the first few games happened. The board stayed positive, the media was too. But it felt like every small thing he does was magnified. By year 2 it was much of the same. But Omax, at least to me, looked like a baby out there who needed a lot of hand holding and encouragement. This is how I feel too about Lawal (He may get the same treatment). But the point is -- the lights were too bright for Omax. His play and confidence weren't there, but Mav fans were all too busy looking for small wins.

Seva on the other hand, felt like something else. The dude has some swagger to his game. I know it's just Summer league, but there's just people who do not care as much for the lights -- he is going to do this thing no matter what. He clearly had to adjust his game and tendencies but it felt like his demeanour was taking a steep climb from being "I would play team ball and mesh with the guys" into "Well, turns out I can hang with these guys, so I'd assert myself." You can see it in him when he is bringing the ball-up, so calm and composed and even toys with the defender. That's a lot of audacity for a young kid who previously never played out of Russia. Never for one moment felt like that with Omax.

So if Omax had a standard contract with the Mavs before, why not Seva? The kid already has a skill needed by the Mavs. He can give spot up minutes at PG. And I'd even say -- rather than have Nemby as the 4th string PG, the Mavs looked at Seva and said "welp, he would do". And while Larry is the more advanced PG over-all, I strangely feel better with Seva handling the ball. He has strength to absorb bumps, also has the dribbling acumen to change directions at different speeds, and the belief in himself that he can pull-out behind the back dribble moves at high speeds. He may look like a baby, but to me he has that nastiness that's going to come out more when his game improves.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I will gamble with Seva than find playtime to a midget medioman like Sasser honestly...

[mvossman]

I will gamble with Seva than find playtime to a midget medioman like Sasser honestly...

Don't get the Sasser hate.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Don't get the Sasser hate.

No hate... It's my opinion.

[mvossman]

No hate... It's my opinion.

Using the phrase "midget medioman" seems like hate.  He is not really that small.

[hakeemfaan]

I like him also. More so than Lawal even?? Both are good developmental pieces. Rarely are late second round picks hits, but both feel like they could pay off down the line. Each for different reasons, with different skill sets.

I just find it hard to believe the Mavs will go through all the hoops to clear two roster spots, to then negotiate a buyout, to then add Ish to the 15-man. Maybe they think he’s more NBA ready than I do, like most of this board, but I find it highly unlikely. These are the players the Mavs added, that are ahead of him in the development pecking order IMO:

(Age)

Rookies::
Morez (20)
Sergio (20)
Tarik (25)
Lawal (23)

25 & Under:
Sasser (25)
Risacher (21)
Aldama (25)
Howard (22)


And those are just the ‘young guys’ they’ve added. All the Vets are clearly ahead of him… Which is ‘the rest’… Adding Ish to the 15-man means you have 5 rookies that need playing time and development. You also have 4 other young guys that need the same. The Mavs shouldn’t be in any hurry to start his clock by adding him to the main roster, only to have him playing with the Legends.

I am not disagreeing with you that the Mavs have a glut of players who they have ranked higher than him. 

I am just saying if this were a true meritocracy without any bias of who were picked higher than him in previous drafts influencing the rankings, he should be ranked much higher. 

A 6’8” Swiss Army knife who seems to have game awareness and vision is never a JAG. For the sake of the Mavs I truly hope they hit on both Jett and Risacher but just watching all their highlights, their games seem incredibly one dimensional as opposed to a Seva who seems to have a natural feel for the game. If we are trying to invest a lot of time in molding someone I would invest that time in a Seva. Feel for the game cannot be taught.

[windjc]

My issue with Seva is that he doesn’t look very athletic. For a guy who is 6’ 8”, he kept driving to the basket and getting the ball blocked back down his throat.

Instead of just taking the open 3 he’d prefer to drive right into the trees and pray for a foul against dudes that aren’t as athletic or defensively aware as those in the NBA.

Seva looked like he had OK handles and moved up the the court with the ball with speed, but he doesn’t seem to be athletically suited to do the thing he seems to want to do most - drive and finish.

[windjc]

As far as Matherin is concerned, I think anyone who is paying attention and actually listening to May can predict there is very little chance we are interested.

May said - and I quote - “I want us to be the BEST passing team in the league.”

Best passing team. Best passing team. Not second best passing team. Best passing team.

Matherin is a 2 assist per game ball hog.

He doesn’t fit the vision.

[hakeemfaan]

My issue with Seva is that he doesn’t look very athletic. For a guy who is 6’ 8”, he kept driving to the basket and getting the ball blocked back down his throat.

Instead of just taking the open 3 he’d prefer to drive right into the trees and pray for a foul against dudes that aren’t as athletic or defensively aware as those in the NBA.

Seva looked like he had OK handles and moved up the the court with the ball with speed, but he doesn’t seem to be athletically suited to do the thing he seems to want to do most - drive and finish.

I thought he looked slow and then suddenly he was near the rim. The finishing could have been better but IMO he moves faster than it looks because he was getting to his spots. 

I am in no way saying he is NBA ready. He needs time to be molded but there is a certain floor awareness to certain players that I love watching and Seva has that awareness .  Where he goes from here is upto him and the team that develops him.

[Smitty]

I’ve already spent wayyy too much time talking about the 56th pick, so, here’s something one the 48th pick

https://x.com/ronknowssports/status/2080740548097233265?s=46&t=4w35gotNXtBJnqxbaL7e9w

[Chicagojk]

I’ve already spent wayyy too much time talking about the 56th pick, so, here’s something one the 48th pick

https://x.com/ronknowssports/status/2080740548097233265?s=46&t=4w35gotNXtBJnqxbaL7e9w

Well just for giggles.....I did not know that OG was born in the United Kingdom.   So was Tobi.    Looks like OG family has ties to Nigeria and Tobi has ties to South Sudan.

The both are similar size.   OG has the longer reach.   Tobi is older.   OG only played two years of college ball and was hurt half of the second year with a knee injury.    I think a lot of people though OG was a sleeper who fell because of his injury.    Lawal played four years in college.  His first two years he played very little.  His last two years he had numbers similar to OG.    Lawal also supposedly got a late start with basketball.

I don't think that are relatively close as prospects, but I could see Masai thinking some of the traits are similar and worth a two way to see how he develops.    I think in summer league we saw 1-3 wow plays than not much after that.    He will be interesting to see how he develops.

[windjc]

Well just for giggles.....I did not know that OG was born in the United Kingdom.   So was Tobi.    Looks like OG family has ties to Nigeria and Tobi has ties to South Sudan.

The both are similar size.   OG has the longer reach.   Tobi is older.   OG only played two years of college ball and was hurt half of the second year with a knee injury.    I think a lot of people though OG was a sleeper who fell because of his injury.    Lawal played four years in college.  His first two years he played very little.  His last two years he had numbers similar to OG.    Lawal also supposedly got a late start with basketball.

I don't think that are relatively close as prospects, but I could see Masai thinking some of the traits are similar and worth a two way to see how he develops.    I think in summer league we saw 1-3 wow plays than not much after that.    He will be interesting to see how he develops.

The Mavs organization trying to instill confidence in all players. Encourage them to aim high and work hard. I like it.

[ThisIStheYear]

Seva is a far better prospect than the unskilled and old for a rookie Lawal. I’d find a way to get him out of Russia, not so much the league, but the country itself. He should be pretty desperate to get out, so it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’s willing to play for almost free in the US and pay the buyout himself.

[Smitty]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
Sources say Nate Mitchell, formerly an assistant with Charlotte, Toronto and Milwaukee and a member of Canada's NT staff, has emerged as a prime candidate to join the Mavericks as head coach of their @TexasLegends G League team.