2025 draft thread: THE MAVS WIN THE 1ST PICK

[Chicagojk]

If Flagg lives up to the hype, I think it is less important what position he plays, but rather the type of players you surround him with. Sort of like Luka. Obviously different skills.

I have trouble seeing AD, Lively, PJ and Flagg being a part of a closing/core lineup. The question is though, which one is the odd man out. The answer seems obvious now, but that could change. I make no moves that does not clearly impact the team though. You can always switch focus at the trade deadline if no moves look attractive this summer.

[Smitty]

Odd thought on depth chart from hearing Kidd talk

Starters
C - Lively 
F - AD, PJW 
G - CF, Klay

Main backups
C- Gaff, [AD]
F - Naji, Martin
G - Williams, Christie [Kyrie eventually]

Trade/3rd string
C - Powell, F - Omax, G - Hardy

Have to lose a little salary somehow, to make the numbers stay under A2. But something as simple as Powell + cash (and a SRP swap) for air, then signing Jones, does the trick. But would hope for more (such as Martin/Hardy for Ball) which might then open room for Exum to be returned (should be low price market).

And I would be perfectly fine with it, if this was the offseason. Would be nice to have a bit of team chemistry for once...

[Smitty]

If Flagg lives up to the hype, I think it is less important what position he plays, but rather the type of players you surround him with.    Sort of like Luka.  Obviously different skills. 

Funny reading these comments where posters make definitive statements on what Flagg can and cannot do. What position he is and is not. What he will and won't be.

[michaeltex]

Odd thought on depth chart from hearing Kidd talk

Starters
C - Lively 
F - AD, PJW 
G - CF, Klay

Main backups
C- Gaff, [AD]
F - Naji, Martin
G - Williams, Christie [Kyrie eventually]

Trade/3rd string
C - Powell, F - Omax, G - Hardy

Have to lose a little salary somehow, to make the numbers stay under A2. But something as simple as Powell + cash (and a SRP swap) for air, then signing Jones, does the trick. But would hope for more (such as Martin/Hardy for Ball) which might then open room for Exum to be returned (should be low price market).

Can't you can fix the salary by trading Gaff for PG help and picks, then signing Jones? Wouldn't mind seeing Powell/Martin/Hardy/OMax moved either.

On a separate note.... as much as I admire AD's game and his on-court effort, I feel like he believes he's a 6'5" SG instead of a 7' PF/C. I say this because, IMO, he goes to the floor waaaay too much for a big. I appreciate what he's trying to do, but every time he tries to do something spectacular then ends up on the wood, I just cringe that he's getting injured... again. I would say that's mostly in the offensive end, but he pulled the groin post-TDL just taking a big step across the lane to challenge a drive. I make this point to say that lineups and rotations will need to be flexible enough to help manage AD's inevitable injury times. And also, despite his wanting to play PF, the more we can limit his having defend on the perimeter, the better off the team will be.

I said all that to get to this...I'm not totally against moving AD for another star level player, if the right opportunity arises and Nico has the cojones to take the shot.

[DanSchwartzgan]

In reference to the post above, I posted this Kidd podcast somewhere in this thread.

It's hard to know if he was just spitballing, but I can imagine lineups where CF at the 2 is effective. Maybe not really as a starting unit, but more situational. At the very least, Kidd is tinkering with lineups that include PJ as if that is of interest to him. 

Recall that Brian Dameris said something similar.  I listened to this and Kidd specifically said the word "Starting" FWIW.  I don't think it is ridiculous.  Short of adding a starting level PG being secured, Kidd is going to try all sorts of things with lineups.  I do like that it sends the message to PJ (ahead of extension talks) that we aren't automatically sending you to the bench.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

There is zero chance and I mean zero chance Orlando even considers that trade. Only Nico would trade those guys for AD. Sign me up, but no chance.

Exactly!   Franz and Paulo are their build-arounds.  Young athletic wings. No team in their right mind would trade a descending asset (AD) for those young studs. All Orlando needs is more 3-point shooting; they have everything else.

[cow]

No team in their right mind would trade a descending asset (AD) for those young studs. 

One team would.

[Chicagojk]

Nice words from Bilas

https://x.com/oldmanandthree/status/1924...30212?s=46

[HoosierDaddyKid]

One team would.

Well played...

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Nice words from Bilas

https://x.com/oldmanandthree/status/1924...30212?s=46

I mean, what's he supposed to say?  He's a Dukie.. I still say Zion is right there with the athleticism, but his freakish build and injury history hold him back

[khaled1987]

Yeah, Zion was insane in college.

He would have been the face of NBA if he was healthy and motivated.

[ThisIStheYear]

Exactly!   Franz and Paulo are their build-arounds.  Young athletic wings. No team in their right mind would trade a descending asset (AD) for those young studs. All Orlando needs is more 3-point shooting; they have everything else.

What would be super shocking to the remaining Nico fans and lots of the NBA commentariat in general would be for the Mavs to actually shop AD and find out just how low his value really is. At best, he’d return a poo poo platter of salary match and a pick between 4 and 10, plus maybe a protected pick in the distant future.  Nico got certifiably robbed.

[david75090]

What would be super shocking to the remaining Nico fans and lots of the NBA commentariat in general would be for the Mavs to actually shop AD and find out just how low his value really is. At best, he’d return a poo poo platter of salary match and a pick between 4 and 10, plus maybe a protected pick in the distant future.  Nico got certifiably robbed.

AD is the Mavs most tradeable asset that's not the #1 pick in this years draft. Doesn't mean what you're saying isn't true.

[F Gump]

Can't you can fix the salary by trading Gaff for PG help and picks, then signing Jones? Wouldn't mind seeing Powell/Martin/Hardy/OMax moved either.

That's an impossible question to answer as a whole, because various PG names have differing salaries, and you also have to account for money to pay 14 or 15 players at the end. 

But in theory, with the right PG target and the right set of players outgoing, and then perhaps a cheap signing to fill out the roster, then yes they can address both a need and also a payroll issue at the same time.

[F Gump]

Yeah, Zion was insane in college.

He would have been the face of NBA if he was healthy and motivated.

This.

But, to be fair, he is the very same player now as he was in college -- physically dominant, but very real ongoing issues of work ethic and injury waiting to happen. 

The superior work ethic seems to set CF apart from most.

[FireNicoHarrison]

This.

But, to be fair, he is the very same player now as he was in college -- physically dominant, but very real ongoing issues of work ethic and injury waiting to happen. 

The superior work ethic seems to set CF apart from most.

Superior work ethic separates all star to good players...

Luka&Jokic are different animals of course.

[SleepingHero]

The idea of Cooper at 2 is horrible, I can get behind him as a 3, I don't agree but I can see the logic behind it.

Him as a 2 is insanity, and we will be forcing him to be something he isn't, while putting insane load on 33 years old Kyrie coming from ACL.

It could be horrible. But at the same time, Flagg is the epitome of versatility. Why couldn't he be a 6'9 2 guard? He's already shown he can score from all over the court. He's shown he's a connective passer and can create shots for others. He's fast enough to stay in front of any guard.

It's not THAT outlandish.

Regardless, even if we move Flagg over, we can still play Klay. Continuing the idea of Lonzo, we could theoretically trot out a 6'6/6'7/6'9/7'0/7'1 lineup. With most of these guys being stalwart defensive minded dudes.

It's super interesting to be honest.

[Winter]

Posted by Knutsen in the "Cooper Flagg Highlights" thread

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4227...oper-flagg

Background on his upbringing, and how his development was watched from a very early age by coaches and players. Great read.

CF knew where he was going even in grade school.

[F Gump]

My preferred summer doesn't really align with or satisfy most of the opinions here, but it's very much in the vein of these recent posts.

The moves are mostly simply ones, not splashy, and basically would IN TOTAL see the Mavs get Ball and send away Martin, Hardy, and DP. Re-sign Jones (multi-year minimum with TO or NG at end) and Exum (2 yrs 9M). Kyrie re-signs at 3/120.

That's 14. The 15th spot is probably left open, for development and flexibility, and there's still room to spend TxMLE, more or less, and stay below A2.

In the summer they sign PJW to a 3-4 year extension (maybe 20M/yr?) and Gafford to a 2-3 yr extension (maybe 15M/yr?), with a plan to have a big rugged team that wears you down and has the opportunity to grow together. Their PG plan uses lots of combo type guards to create offense, with some big enough to play and defend at SG, but no one to be heliocentric. Kyrie returns in time, but in the meantime some mix-and-match of Klay, Flagg (a point-forward, actually, but starting like Luka's NBA time did with the ball in his hands a lot and a vagueness as to his position), Williams, Ball, Exum. Don't quibble about the details but recognize they definitely would have no problem filling the overall G rotation with good players.

They end up comfortably under A2 with flexibility and a very manageable payroll future.

The end result looks like this:
Starters ---- main backups ---- deep backups to start season
C - Lively ---- Gafford ---- Jones
F - AD, PJW ---Naji --- Prosper
G - CF, Klay ---Williams, Christie, Ball, Exum --Kyrie eventually

Starting CF at SG essentially is partly because I think he can play that position and present HUGE problems to the opponent on both ends at that position, and also to ensure he gets enough minutes. But if he never plays a minute at G, there's still more than enough good guards to handle their needs.

There's options to go big, small, depth to deal with injuries, and lots of very good talent at every position. And most importantly to me, it doesn't take an impossible get by trade from another team, nor impossible salary-shedding gymnastics.

[khaled1987]

It could be horrible. But at the same time, Flagg is the epitome of versatility. Why couldn't he be a 6'9 2 guard? He's already shown he can score from all over the court. He's shown he's a connective passer and can create shots for others. He's fast enough to stay in front of any guard.

It's not THAT outlandish.

Look at the video analysis of his game in the highlight thread. His weakness is his ball handling.

A 6'9 who isn't an elite ball handler in an offense of JKidd system is going to be an issue in the Mavs, and a waste of his game and what he is goid at. 

Also remember this means PJW at 3, AD at 4 and Gafford at 5

It is outlandish.