'25 Playoff Rotation Predictions: A Collaborative Deep Dive

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Same concept for Naz.  Trade Kleber, Grimes and an FRP.

Dose that work?

It does.

[chaparral]

It's been 15 games.  Maybe a little early to start pressing the panic button.

Please explain why you think a Kleber/Grimes trade for DFS is a panic button trade?

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

Whoa! That’s a lot to give up for DFS and I love the guy. Naz Reid same. This is a loaded draft. And we are 8-7. Should not be trading that pick yet. Also, Grimes is starting to look comfortable and Maxi is still a valuable guy to have around.

[KillerLeft]

Please explain why you think a Kleber/Grimes trade for DFS is a panic button trade?

Setting the "panic button" topic aside, I think your trade is pretty good, value-wise, and in fact, I bet DFS would require more than that. Long defenders who are good enough on offense to be on the court are tough to come by, and I've always been DFS's biggest fan. 

But, the Mavs are actually pretty flush with that type of player at the moment. I mean, you can never have enough defensive forwards, really, but they have Washington AND Marshall, both of whom are comparable on defense (DFS might be a bit better, but if so, not by much). Kleber can guard down some when he's healthy (I've always liked him as low man best) and even Thompson is still moving well enough to present a deterrent at his size. 

What they don't have enough of are the QUICK defenders who can guard PG's. Get around screens. Cut off drives before they reach the paint. That type of thing. Grimes really is the only such player on the roster right now, unless you count Exum. 

So...value wise, I like it. For the Mavs, though, I don't think it works.

[mvossman]

Please explain why you think a Kleber/Grimes trade for DFS is a panic button trade?

It’s not about the specific trade, but we added several new players to the mix and 15 games is not enough to say it’s not working, especially when that sample was marred by injuries and an underperforming Luka.

[mvossman]

Setting the "panic button" topic aside, I think your trade is pretty good, value-wise, and in fact, I bet DFS would require more than that. Long defenders who are good enough on offense to be on the court are tough to come by, and I've always been DFS's biggest fan. 

But, the Mavs are actually pretty flush with that type of player at the moment. I mean, you can never have enough defensive forwards, really, but they have Washington AND Marshall, both of whom are comparable on defense (DFS might be a bit better, but if so, not by much). Kleber can guard down some when he's healthy (I've always liked him as low man best) and even Thompson is still moving well enough to present a deterrent at his size. 

What they don't have enough of are the QUICK defenders who can guard PG's. Get around screens. Cut off drives before they reach the paint. That type of thing. Grimes really is the only such player on the roster right now, unless you count Exum. 

So...value wise, I like it. For the Mavs, though, I don't think it works.

Grimes being 7 years younger is another factor. I would like to have as many rotational players on Luka timeline as possible, especially ones who are perfect fits.

[KillerLeft]

Grimes getting the start tonight against Denver, with Luka out, is a great sign. Kidd knew he would help with Murray.

[myconsumerclub]

Cannot start to say anything about Klebers possible rotation contributions in the play offs when he has yet to be healthy enough to play a large role in recent seasons.

Chemistry means keeping a team together and not making trades unless they are super no brainers where someone wants to ditch an all star because he wants out.

Grimes and Naji are looking good and starting to break out but when Luka comes back those minutes may drop some and so we see less of that great play. Hopefully Klay gets back to being his old self and shooting 3's at a nicer clipbut Naji is looking like he is the one to use in place of Klay in key stretches of the game.

Only thing I want to talk about is what we see now on the team, Injured guys I wait to see how they look when and if they can come back to show they have it still.

Hardy is a score first PG that can get others involved and he is starting to look better on defenese which I anticipated would happen sooner or later because if better defense does not evolve then he gets benched for lack of effort or traded while he is still looks like a piece that has upside enough for someone else to want him. He is young enough to develop that skill set and with role models I expect him to develop in that area. His 3 ball and Grimes are going to be needed if Klay fails to get his game back to the level we expect from him and Kyrie is still the man but he is older as well so we clearly need the 2 youngsters to be here for when Kyrie's game starts to diminish.

Naz would be a nice addition but Naji can also play PF some just like PJ can. If we can snag a new PF in the draft to groom into a Kleber replacement then we need to get a 3 point shooting big that can move well enough to guard the perimeter and still bang in the middle next to Lively since he needs a fellow enforcer type when he is getting pushed around. They probably want more for NAZ that we are willing to pay and I say develop a rook to play that role. Omax is not big enough but his athleticism is making me sad that he is not playing more minutes either. This team has a lot of talent that needs to play and cannot.

I hope this team can stay together and develop chemistry more. Right now with Luka out the chemistry that is developing is good for our future bench. Starters look locked in unless Klay continues to struggle and if he is out and Naji gets to start that circus may put him on the trade block and with Din the other asset Id consider as being movable what could we acquire putting those 2 in the mix for another player?

[sefant]

Same concept for Naz.  Trade Kleber, Grimes and an FRP.

Dose that work?

Grimes is 6th league wide in real adjusted plus minus.  If they trade him, i am flying to DAL from germany and burning down the Mavs headquarters (joking ofc). 

Might easily been the silent MVP so far. Mavs have only a +0.1 net rating without him on the floor. Worst behind Lively (tho as important as Lively if not more right now). He is kinda dominating out there. +72 net with him and Lively on the floor in 12 min vs. Denver. Both were +17 raw pts vs. OKC too in a 2 pt win.

If anything he deserves more minutes. Or around 30 min going forward.

Grimes/Lively are the 2nd best duo in the league by net rating (100 min+).







Grimes/PJ/Lively is easily the trio going forward that should see plenty of minutes together. They also were +17 vs. OKC, and the Mavs ended up only winning by 2.

Kinda 3 x times elite defense. Grimes is elite at POA (easily the best on the roster), can shoot. Tailor made for Luka. Naji is better at self creating = tailor made for the bench as 6th man. PJ is elite on defense, Lively is elite on defense.

Not even insulting Klay. Klay has been good in his role. He certainly helps in games where Luka/Kyrie missing. And allows to bring Luka's minutes down, if you wanna do that.

[Mavs2021]

We can´t really trade for the missing piece, cause we have no bad contracts. It´s really frustrating.  

I wish we still had THJ+Green, just so we could trade them for Anfernee Simons.   I guarantee you he´s the next "bad team, very good, buy low"-player. All you needed to do is listening to his depressed exit interview and you could sense the current shitty season, that will now bring his price down. Let´s just hope he goes East, to the land of smart decision-makers.

Hell no to trading Grimes for guys like Reid or DFS. We´d have to get a 1st, not give it.

[ThisIStheYear]

The great thing about Grimes is that Kidd and the organization were actively undermining him early in the season to strong arm him into signing a bad contract, yet he’s raised his level anyway and is plying team ball. Woods, in a similar situation a couple of years back, let the tactic get to him and ruined his career. I love Grimes, but doubt he’s back next year. Normally, I’d trade an asset like that, but the Mavs’ window is now, so the future doesn’t matter so much.

[Mavs2021]

The great thing about Grimes is that Kidd and the organization were actively undermining him early in the season to strong arm him into signing a bad contract, yet he’s raised his level anyway and is plying team ball. Woods, in a similar situation a couple of years back, let the tactic get to him and ruined his career.  I love Grimes, but doubt he’s back next year. Normally, I’d trade an asset like that, but the Mavs’ window is now, so the future doesn’t matter so much.

He´s a RFA. Don´t lose an asset for nothing. I doubt any team will money-whip him. In the $15-17M range you simply match it. If it becomes a cap issue I´d move Kleber or Klay (based on current evidence).

[mvossman]

The great thing about Grimes is that Kidd and the organization were actively undermining him early in the season to strong arm him into signing a bad contract, yet he’s raised his level anyway and is plying team ball. Woods, in a similar situation a couple of years back, let the tactic get to him and ruined his career.  I love Grimes, but doubt he’s back next year. Normally, I’d trade an asset like that, but the Mavs’ window is now, so the future doesn’t matter so much.

I believe he had to sign before the season started, so it would not have been strong arming. Maybe it was retribution, but Hardy got the same treatment and he signed his extension. I just chalk it up to Kidd messing around with rotations. He took a lot longer to give Bullock and Exum minutes. I’m glad it only took 10 games for Grimes.

[mvossman]

He´s a RFA. Don´t lose an asset for nothing. I doubt any team will money-whip him. In the $15-17M range you simply match it. If it becomes a cap issue I´d move Kleber or Klay (based on current evidence).

That extension offer made perfect sense. They probably expect him to be roughly MLE money and went for a discount (Naji money).  I agree he like won’t be money whipped as an RFA, but it’s looking like Grimes is going to make some money betting on himself

[mvossman]

We can´t really trade for the missing piece, cause we have no bad contracts. It´s really frustrating.  

I wish we still had THJ+Green, just so we could trade them for Anfernee Simons.   I guarantee you he´s the next "bad team, very good, buy low"-player. All you needed to do is listening to his depressed exit interview and you could sense the current shitty season, that will now bring his price down. Let´s just hope he goes East, to the land of smart decision-makers.

Hell no to trading Grimes for guys like Reid or DFS. We´d have to get a 1st, not give it.

I’m not sure there is a missing piece. Assuming Luka gets to his usual level of play I still think this team has a very good chance to go to finals again.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

That extension offer made perfect sense. They probably expect him to be roughly MLE money and went for a discount (Naji money).  I agree he like won’t be money whipped as an RFA, but it’s looking like Grimes is going to make some money betting on himself

Which I like to see.  I wouldn't want him signed and disgruntled

[DallasMaverick]

Which I like to see.  I wouldn't want him signed and disgruntled

Right.

Much better than unsigned and gruntled.

[Scott41theMavs]

He´s a RFA. Don´t lose an asset for nothing. I doubt any team will money-whip him. In the $15-17M range you simply match it. If it becomes a cap issue I´d move Kleber or Klay (based on current evidence).

Yeah, it was weird of TITY to say that Grimes wouldn't be back. It looks to me that he's fairly irreplaceable in his role, and the Mavs can certainly match any offer sheet. I just hope the owners don't go broke with Luka's contract, Kyrie's evident Monty Haul extension, and matching on Grimes.

[DL2RimRocker]

It wouldn't surprise me if the Mavs trade for DFS by the deadline.

Our wings are solid, but the depth is somewhat questionable. We see how much we suffered when Washington went down and OMax will obviously not get the opportunity to develop during the season to become any kind of factor in the POs.

This team is pretty well built for the POs as is, but losing PJ or Naji for any length of time could be devasting considering we have just about every other position fairly well covered.
DFS makes some sense to me because he can guard several positions, is a veteran who is familiar with the system, is someone Kidd would play, and someone who should be achievable with the trade assets we have.

[F Gump]

It wouldn't surprise me if the Mavs trade for DFS by the deadline.

It should. No chance they would consider taking on a salary that size as an insurance policy, especially in light of the trade match (requiring about $15M in outgoing salary) and what depth might be lost in that package.