MAVS NEWS:

[hakeemfaan]

Because he has still been growing. The last injury was misdiagnosed. Otherwise he would be playing alreadyz

Plus 16-24 year olds have remarkable healing capacity. 

This is not a joint or ligament issue. It’s a bone. Bones heal and you move on. 

Also he isn’t some crazy explosive athlete. He is a decently agile 7’ 3” kid who gets things done above the rim.

Decently agile??

If he were just a decently agile 7 fter, with the other deficiencies that I mentioned (very limited shooting ability, not a great passer, not a bruiser, not a great defensive rebounder), I don't even know how much he would have fallen in the draft.
 
As any other diehard Mavs fan, I truly want him to succeed but let's not fool ourselves that the current version of Lively has many other great fallback options as a player if his athleticism is impacted. 

As for healing and coming back, again, I truly hope he does. I also hope that being the smart player he is, he reinvents himself for his own sake.  The 3s that he takes and makes in practice HAVE to be a part of his game going forward; there has to be a bit more emphasis on passing and defensive rebounding. He can't put his body, which has not held up well, under constant stress by just focusing on above the rim stuff. He has to understand that developing other tools is the best way for him to stay in this league for a long time.

[windjc]

Decently agile??

If he were just a decently agile 7 fter, with the other deficiencies that I mentioned (very limited shooting ability, not a great passer, not a bruiser, not a great defensive rebounder), I don't even know how much he would have fallen in the draft.
 
As any other diehard Mavs fan, I truly want him to succeed but let's not fool ourselves that the current version of Lively has many other great fallback options as a player if his athleticism is impacted. 

As for healing and coming back, again, I truly hope he does. I also hope that being the smart player he is, he reinvents himself for his own sake.  The 3s that he takes and makes in practice HAVE to be a part of his game going forward; there has to be a bit more emphasis on passing and defensive rebounding. He can't put his body, which has not held up well, under constant stress by just focusing on above the rim stuff. He has to understand that developing other tools is the best way for him to stay in this league for a long time.

Ah ha! So this is really about you wanting him to develop new skills. Well that’s an entirely different topic.

I think I’ll refer you to Dusty May for that conversation.

[Scott41theMavs]

You still didn't answer what makes him a great player if he loses some of his athleticism. I mentioned his deficiencies as a player.  There is a big difference between what Lively was before and Muresan.  No one is saying he will come back as a Muresan (at least one hopes not). 

You mentioned processing speed and basketball IQ, which I conceded that players who can shine in the NBA (which he certainly did when he was healthy) definitely have.  Someone like Kai Jones didn't make it despite insane athleticism due to that. However, no concessions from you that even superstar players suddenly lose it when they lose a step?  Many veterans have said that there is no gradual decline.  They feel it immediately. Did they all lose their processing speed and IQ? No, but the loss in a step did affect their games. At least the ability to shoot or pass the ball doesn't rely on supreme athletic ability and can allow them to slow down their eventual retirement or mask some of that athletic loss. How will Lively mask that?

Why is there so much optimism that a stress fracture and repeated surgeries are not a big deal for a 7 fter whose game is heavily reliant on his athleticism? Is his processing speed and bbiq going to make up for any drop in his athleticism or shield his body from being injury prone?

Whatever. 

M&M were willing to negotiate an extension with him of some amount. If they had your concerns and did that, they’d have to be dumber than Nico.

[Chicagojk]

Might be some home town homerism but still

https://x.com/noahweber00/status/2083633...84962?s=46

[FireNicoHarrison]

I don't know how many of our guys will be NBA players but i like very much how M&M worked in this draft...

[F Gump]

The roster is already full (and more). Next items on Ujiri to-do list?
1 Make a move to reduce roster to 15 - deadline 10/20 approx
2 Perhaps waive Cisse (no salary is guaranteed until 9/1) to free the roster spot
... He could be waived with a plan to then sign him to a 2-way slot, but every team would be able to claim him on waivers (incl NY) so that's not realistic
3 Lively extension - deadline 10/20 approx - reportedly this negotiation has already begun
4 Sasser extension - deadline 10/20 approx

[Knutsen]

The roster is already full (and more). Next items on Ujiri to-do list?
1 Make a move to reduce roster to 15 - deadline 10/20 approx
2 Perhaps waive Cisse (no salary is guaranteed until 9/1) to free the roster spot
... He could be waived with a plan to then sign him to a 2-way slot, but every team would be able to claim him on waivers (incl NY) so that's not realistic
3 Lively extension - deadline 10/20 approx - reportedly this negotiation has already begun
4 Sasser extension - deadline 10/20 approx

I‘d add the opt-in or decline of Risacher‘s team option for 2027/28.

[Smitty]

I‘d add the opt-in or decline of Risacher‘s team option for 2027/28.

I’d add the Max Christie extension above all things Gump mentioned…

[Smitty]

The roster is already full (and more). Next items on Ujiri to-do list?
1 Make a move to reduce roster to 15 - deadline 10/20 approx
2 Perhaps waive Cisse (no salary is guaranteed until 9/1) to free the roster spot
... He could be waived with a plan to then sign him to a 2-way slot, but every team would be able to claim him on waivers (incl NY) so that's not realistic
3 Lively extension - deadline 10/20 approx - reportedly this negotiation has already begun
4 Sasser extension - deadline 10/20 approx

I would be shocked if Cisse is the one waived. Not because I think he’s 8-10 type rotation guy, I just think Masai and Co. really like the upside. From everything I’ve read, it seems like Cisse has been in touch, around, and part of the plan for this upcoming season.

I think a Klay buyout is far more likely. Not because he doesn’t fit here this season, but because Klay himself wants out. I don’t see a realistic trade scenario so therefore I think this ends with a negotiated buyout. Of course M&M should exhaust all other options until then.

I would put the Max extension far above the two you mentioned. Max can be a UFA next summer. The other two RFA’s. Actually, both Lively and Sasser have far more to prove to (me) the FO before getting some long, big, guaranteed extension.

[ballsrchr]

I think that we probably need to extend Lively...at a very reasonable price with team option...but it makes me uncomfortable when people keep penciling him in as the starting center AND want to trade off our other center assets. I like Lively, but until he demonstrates that he can stay on the floor, I'd mark him down as the second, or even third center.

[Scott41theMavs]

I think that we probably need to extend Lively...at a very reasonable price with team option...but it makes me uncomfortable when people keep penciling him in as the starting center AND want to trade off our other center assets.  I like Lively, but until he demonstrates that he can stay on the floor, I'd mark him down as the second, or even third center.

I’m good with Morez, Cisse, and Lively. Aldama and PJ can provide spot small ball minutes. They need to dump Gafford.

[F Gump]

I‘d add the opt-in or decline of Risacher‘s team option for 2027/28.

That's almost certainly not on the agenda until late October rather than now. The deadline is 10/31, which gives them a chance to see the fit and ability (or lack of same) in camp, in preseason games, and even in a few regular season games before making a decision.

[F Gump]

I’d add the Max Christie extension above all things Gump mentioned…

It depends on whether they see him as a PRIORITY, and I figure they will want a chance to see where he falls in the pecking order this season before doing a new deal. The deadline isn't until the end of June, assuming he will decline his PO.

[ballsrchr]

I’m good with Morez, Cisse, and Lively. Aldama and PJ can provide spot small ball minutes. They need to dump Gafford.

No argument.  We do need to trade somebody...as long as we get some value back.

[Knutsen]

That's almost certainly not on the agenda until late October rather than now. The deadline is 10/31, which gives them a chance to see the fit and ability (or lack of same) in camp, in preseason games, and even in a few regular season games before making a decision.

Don’t be so harsh - all your approximated deadlines are end of October, so mine is in the same ballpark considering it’s the beginning of August… I think you try to gather as much intel and personal insights as possible in the next weeks to get an idea if he’s worth extending before his first game for us or if it’s better to wait and see.

[Moviemavguy]

It depends on whether they see him as a PRIORITY, and I figure they will want a chance to see where he falls in the pecking order this season before doing a new deal. The deadline isn't until the end of June, assuming he will decline his PO.

Problem is unless other players start making threes, then they have to keep Max.  He is the only consistent 3 point shooter on the team.

[DallasMaverick]

Problem is unless other players start making threes, then they have to keep Max.  He is the only consistent 3 point shooter on the team.

Is Klay chopped liver?

[Scott41theMavs]

Is Klay chopped liver?

You talkin about Klay “Good As Gone” Thompson?

[Chicagojk]

I would be surprised with a Lively extension.  Them at least bringing it to the table is a good thing.   Although it appears there would be a wide gap at the moment.  If Lively gets and stays on the court, I think conversations could get more serious.    

I think Max is more interesting.    He is probably looking at the same range as Marshall....maybe a tad more?   This year, no teams had cap room.  More teams have it next year.   While Dallas is low on shooting guards, they do have a lot of bodies needing minutes.    It will be interesting to see whose minutes are cut and the repercussions of that.

[Chicagojk]

Apparently Seva is staying in Russia next year.  I was hoping he would be in a better league in Europe.

https://x.com/All_Things_Mavs/status/208...9074089360