(06-17-2021, 08:19 AM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]Wow, great conversation last night. Just got caught up. Thanks guys!
One thought about Fin. I love Fin and hope he becaomes an NBA GM, if that's what he wants. But I don't think he's right for the Mavs job because the Mavs are not in the right place for a first time GM. The stakes are too high for the Mavs based on where they are in the team building process, with Luka in place and a highly important offseason at hand, for them to hire someone who needs to learn on the job. MF needs to land a job with a team ready to rebuild.
I am a MFer, because even if he wasn’t the actual cause of it, our drafting dept seemed to take the draft more seriously than before. However, you’re right about this IMO.
Ok, I admit, I made this post just so I could say I’m a MFer. For shame!
Cuban like any other billionaire has an ego. However I still remember him pulling in Don Carter to accept the trophy and also footing the parade bill himself. He has given plenty of credit to RC and Donnie over the years.
He will always crave for publicity but I don’t think he will have issues if a high profile GM gets the credit. At the end of the day every owner will still have certain opinions on big money signings or what type of vision he has for the team (for eg decision to tank or trade Luka if their hands are unfortunately forced will still come from the owner).
I just feel the TOT had got too comfortable with each other and Cuban realized that too. However in trying to be too nice and not wanting to fire Donnie he went about bringing a new guy in the wrong way. I don’t see anything where Cuban will actively interfere with a high profile GM. The part where I see any GM having an issue with Cuban is with him always being vocal about everything on and off the court. Even if he doesn’t actively interfere just the fact that the GM has to always wonder what will come next out of Cuban’s mouth might turn off some potential high profile candidates.
(06-17-2021, 08:34 AM)hakeemfaan Wrote: [ -> ]Cuban like any other billionaire has an ego. However I still remember him pulling in Don Carter to accept the trophy and also footing the parade bill himself. He has given plenty of credit to RC and Donnie over the years.
He will always crave for publicity but I don’t think he will have issues if a high profile GM gets the credit. At the end of the day every owner will still have certain opinions on big money signings or what type of vision he has for the team (for eg decision to tank or trade Luka if their hands are unfortunately forced will still come from the owner).
I just feel the TOT had got too comfortable with each other and Cuban realized that too. However in trying to be too nice and not wanting to fire Donnie he went about bringing a new guy in the wrong way. I don’t see anything where Cuban will actively interfere with a high profile GM. The part where I see any GM having an issue with Cuban is with him always being vocal about everything on and off the court. Even if he doesn’t actively interfere just the fact that the GM has to always wonder what will come next out of Cuban’s mouth might turn off some potential high profile candidates.
Cubes will be Cubes to some extent, but hiring a search firm to conduct some bottom up organization re-evaluation and find a suitable fit seems like a sharp change for a guy who didn't even have his previous GM under contract because they were comfortable just winging it. He's really run the Mavs like some sort of small internet start up that he runs with his former frat buddies. I really wonder if he's just lost his taste for being down in the trenches of running a basketball operations like he did in 2003. He's won his Championship, he's got a family now and it seems like just an endless series of headaches ...this debacle, the sexual harassment scandals, etc. Seems like it's out of control and has gotten away from him at a time when he seems to be more involved in ever in other things like crypto or possibly politics. I think he'll always be the ultimate decider, but maybe he wants to put in a structured process with a well qualified GM that he trusts that let's him step away out of the "socks and jocks" level of running the Mavs.
(06-17-2021, 08:36 AM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]Great stuff.
I think the Heat model works because everyone knows where the buck stops at. Riley. Maybe he doesn’t step into someone else’s lanes. Maybe he does. But as long as there is a clear understanding that there is one guy who is accountable then things fall in place.
One thing that bothered me in recent times is that the GM would bring in certain players and RC would have them in his doghouse. Whether it was because those players were not that good or just because RC didn’t agree with the personnel moves, the playing time was not there.
For those who say that none of the young players that RC supposedly didn’t play ever made it anywhere else either, then I can use the same logic to counter that none of the retread veterans who he gave heavy minutes to have set the world on fire elsewhere either.
I am not saying RC ‘s judgement was correct or not. All I am saying is that the GM and the coach have to be on the same page. I don’t even mind RC being the real GM and having someone else having the title just to do the daily grunt work. All I want is accountability than all this dysfunction that has been going on.
(06-17-2021, 08:53 AM)hakeemfaan Wrote: [ -> ]I think the Heat model works because everyone knows where the buck stops at. Riley. Maybe he doesn’t step into someone else’s lanes. Maybe he does. But as long as there is a clear understanding that there is one guy who is accountable then things fall in place.
Yes. And, the accountable guy is NOT the owner. He's someone who can be fired if the plan proves to be a bad one.
(06-17-2021, 08:44 AM)HanspardsShowerVoice Wrote: [ -> ]Cubes will be Cubes to some extent, but hiring a search firm to conduct some bottom up organization re-evaluation and find a suitable fit seems like a sharp change for a guy who didn't even have his previous GM under contract because they were comfortable just winging it. He's really run the Mavs like some sort of small internet start up that he runs with his former frat buddies. I really wonder if he's just lost his taste for being down in the trenches of running a basketball operations like he did in 2003. He's won his Championship, he's got a family now and it seems like just an endless series of headaches ...this debacle, the sexual harassment scandals, etc. Seems like it's out of control and has gotten away from him at a time when he seems to be more involved in ever in other things like crypto or possibly politics. I think he'll always be the ultimate decider, but maybe he wants to put in a structured process with a well qualified GM that he trusts that let's him step away out of the "socks and jocks" level of running the Mavs.
I think that sometimes but then I see him still at all the road games sitting behind the bench. I don’t think this toy has worn out its fascination for him.
(06-17-2021, 04:54 AM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ]Forgot another bit from Duncan and Hollinger - they think Voulgaris-Luka alleged rift is overblown, unless Voulgaris was a constant presence at practice, games, locker room... They think a single event like "shut the f*** up" one is nothing.
Can we please take a minute to appreciate Luka. He’s in his early 20s where most young adults probably just want to get along in their professional life but the moment he thinks a staffer walks out/quits on the team he cusses him the eff out and confronts him in the locker room. He just doesn’t have time for BS. Gotta love this guy. Also not one bad word about KP publicly despite the passive aggressiveness.
He’s just so far beyond his age. Impressive on and off the court.
(06-17-2021, 09:27 AM)hakeemfaan Wrote: [ -> ][Re Cubes:] I think that sometimes but then I see him still at all the road games sitting behind the bench. I don’t think this toy has worn out its fascination for him.
Yes. Dude is a fan. And I love that about him. He can’t help but stick his nose in because he cares so much. Not gonna hold that against him.
I get the criticism. Of him, Donnie, the past decade. Not blind to it. Still, these guys TRADED for Dirk AND Luka! All the props Atlanta is getting on this board, smh, those guys will go down in infamy for giving up Luka for f’n Trae Young.
Guys who made all nba first team 2 years running: Giannis, Luka.
I’ve got to defend Cuban here. 1 out of 2 ain’t bad.
(06-17-2021, 09:27 AM)hakeemfaan Wrote: [ -> ]I think that sometimes but then I see him still at all the road games sitting behind the bench. I don’t think this toy has worn out its fascination for him.
Oh, I think he likes doing the fun stuff like attending the games and shooting baskets on the floor before the game, just like Steve Ballmer does, but being involved it the day to day nuts and bolts of running the organization isn't fun stuff for him anymore. It's not 2005 anymore.
(06-17-2021, 07:38 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: [ -> ]One more thing, the whole he wanted Giannis storyline always bothered me. There are several layers of him saying Giannis could be the best player in the draft. Was it an off the hand comment with little force behind it? Was it a pound the table moment of him saying this guy may be the best player in the class and I will stake my reputation on it? Could you have found a way to draft Giannis while also finding another way to save money for Cuban? Like it or not, a GM answers to people higher than him. But he needs to sell his vision to his higher ups. There has been a few times where it looks like Donnie was not great selling his vision. That is an important part of the job.
Considering we gave Saric promise (before he took his name out of the draft) and we were highly linked to Michael Carter-Williams prior to draft night, I always wondered the same.
Giannis link to Donnie happened as hindsight, after Giannis looked good and Larkin looked awful.
You have to wonder if he was "next in line " in our draft board, or Donnie thought he was really future super star.
For me I think it is the former.
(06-17-2021, 09:53 AM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ]So much about how Luka is pissed...
https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/...wcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fdallas-mavericks
That's pretty much what I expected. He has said similar things when folks ask him about players leaving. His Hariison Barnes statement might be the same statement, just take out "drafted me" with "taught me a lot". Well, and of course he didn't know HB when he was a kid.
(06-17-2021, 09:48 AM)HanspardsShowerVoice Wrote: [ -> ]Oh, I think he likes doing the fun stuff like attending the games and shooting baskets on the floor before the game, just like Steve Ballmer does, but being involved it the day to day nuts and bolts of running the organization isn't fun stuff for him anymore. It's not 2005 anymore.
Yeah, the guy is almost 63, doubt he has the same energy for the daily bs.
Still, he will have his own takes on the team
(06-17-2021, 09:56 AM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]That's pretty much what I expected. He has said similar things when folks ask him about players leaving. His Hariison Barnes statement might be the same statement, just take out "drafted me" with "taught me a lot". Well, and of course he didn't know HB when he was a kid.
My personal take is that unless the Mavs are doing some obviously dumb things knowing it would antagonize Luka then it should not matter.
We were lucky that Dirk was so loyal but we have seen time and again that teams that always worry about placating a transcendent star make bad decisions anyway and even if they make good decisions, there is no guarantee that player will stay. The MBT have to make good sound decisions. If that is not enough for Luka, then no matter how much it would hurt to see him in another jersey, I am fine with it. I know it is easy for me to say and how the net worth of a franchise are tied to a transcendent player. But what else can anyone do?
(06-17-2021, 10:27 AM)hakeemfaan Wrote: [ -> ]My personal take is that unless the Mavs are doing some obviously dumb things knowing it would antagonize Luka then it should not matter.
We were lucky that Dirk was so loyal but we have seen time and again that teams that always worry about placating a transcendent star make bad decisions anyway and even if they make good decisions, there is no guarantee that player will stay. The MBT have to make good sound decisions. If that is not enough for Luka, then no matter how much it would hurt to see him in another jersey, I am fine with it. I know it is easy for me to say and how the net worth of a franchise are tied to a transcendent player. But what else can anyone do?
Agreed. I don't believe it's likely that Luka will put in a ~15 year career in Dallas like Dirk, but I also don't believe he's going to walk away from a Supermax contract unless the Mavs are overtly doing things that antagonize him. All this talk about Luka demanding a trade or not signing his 2nd contract are driven by the major market news media, who get more clicks out of player movement than they do about the actual games. They believe it's an abomination that any elite player isn't playing in a New York or California market. They tried their hardest to get Giannis out of Milwaukee, and now Luka is next in their crosshairs.
(06-17-2021, 09:53 AM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ]So much about how Luka is pissed...
https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/...wcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fdallas-mavericks
ESPN, probably:
"Luka Donsick revealed he doesn't make the decisions in Dallas. Sources say the Knicks are prepared to offer him the reins of the franchise to lure him to the Big Apple. Join us on the next episode of The Jump where we discuss what Donsick will mean for New York and whether he will choose Zion Williamson or Kevin Durant as his first trade target."
(06-17-2021, 10:47 AM)Tyler Wrote: [ -> ]ESPN, probably:
"Luka Donsick revealed he doesn't make the decisions in Dallas. Sources say the Knicks are prepared to offer him the reins of the franchise to lure him to the Big Apple. Join us on the next episode of The Jump where we discuss what Donsick will mean for New York and whether he will choose Zion Williamson or Kevin Durant as his first trade target."
"Bleacher Report: 3 Possible Ways The Knicks Could Trade for Luka
Luka reportedly wants out of Dallas after their disappointing loss the 1st Round of the Playoffs, and would likely love a chance to join a Knicks team that showed a tremendous amount of promise that narrowly missed a chance to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Possiblity 1: Obi Tobben + Mitchell Robison
+ 21st Pick in the Draft for Luka Doncic
---> Click here for Possibility 2