OK. He's got all the souvenir merch. They can consummate the buy-out deal any time now.
I like how young the back third of the 15 man roster looks to be. I wonder if Luka's signing gives the front office the breathing room to build the right way rather than thinking "stop gap vets", "win now vets" with every move and to still pay attention to keeping youth in the pipeline. Or maybe Nico and Co. would think that way anway. Either way, I like it.
Mavs going for defense with every move:
Bullock
Sterling Brown
Ntilikina
Moses Brown
Interesting, the 2011 title team was all defensive players with Dirk and Jet. Marion, Kidd, Tyson Chandler, D Stevenson and Haywood all were defense oriented players.
(09-15-2021, 10:23 AM)haveitall Wrote: [ -> ]Mavs going for defense with every move:
Bullock
Sterling Brown
Ntilikina
Moses Brown
Interesting, the 2011 title team was all defensive players with Dirk and Jet. Marion, Kidd, Tyson Chandler, D Stevenson and Haywood all were defense oriented players.
I watched some Moses highlights for the first time the other day. Are we sure he's ready to be considered a good defender? He seemed hesitant and reactionary. Seems like he has physical tools though!
(09-15-2021, 10:23 AM)haveitall Wrote: [ -> ]Mavs going for defense with every move:
Bullock
Sterling Brown
Ntilikina
Moses Brown
M. Brown is the opposite of good defender
Tillman will do what affects his bank account the least IMO...
Takeaways from Stein's piece on Ntlikina--
-- Says Frank would be on a minimum contract.
-- Mavs still hopeful Dragic will reach the open market in the next weeks or months. Frank is not envisioned to fill the needed spot for another secondary playmaker.
-- Mavs intrigued by signing a former lottery pick who can still be developed.
-- One of the other roster spots would have to be excised by 10/18.
-- Mavs want to beat other suitors to the punch by signing Frank this week. Not clear who the other suitors are, or if there indeed are any.
My guess is that Frank N will be in competition with SBrown for 4th guard minutes, which is great. Competition is good.
And, I'll say this (again) about Ntilikina: He has been unsuccessful to this point mostly because he was drafted by a team in desperate search for a point guard, and sadly, he's just not a very good point guard. But, on THIS team, he can potentially win a role that fits into his skillset - defensive point guard, off-ball on offense. There is actually a need for that here. Doesn't mean he'll succeed, even in that role, but it's at least a reason to give the guy a try, so I'm glad they did.
(09-15-2021, 11:31 AM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ]Takeaways from Stein's piece on Ntlikina--
-- Says Frank would be on a minimum contract.
-- Mavs still hopeful Dragic will reach the open market in the next weeks or months. Frank is not envisioned to fill the needed spot for another secondary playmaker.
-- Mavs intrigued by signing a former lottery pick who can still be developed.
-- One of the other roster spots would have to be excised by 10/18.
-- Mavs want to beat other suitors to the punch by signing Frank this week. Not clear who the other suitors are, or if there indeed are any.
Notice the goal post moving? I wouldn't count on Dragic happening at least not until the deadline.
(09-15-2021, 11:36 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]And, I'll say this (again) about Ntilikina: He has been unsuccessful to this point mostly because he was drafted by a team in desperate search for a point guard, and sadly, he's just not a very good point guard. But, on THIS team, he can potentially win a role that fits into his skillset - defensive point guard, off-ball on offense.
Yep. And FN is just barely 23, making only Luka, TT, JG, and Moses younger than him on this roster. He is basically an "old rookie" who has proven NBA defense and shows enough signs of a workable shot to be really intriguing.
Here's a Burke-related idea that would align with an impending move:
In the looming Memphis-Boston swap, sending Hernangomez to BOS and Dunn/Edwards to MEM, maybe Dunn is being being re-routed to DAL, with Burke the outgoing salary match.
Burke to Memphis (or somewhere)
Dunn to Dallas
One caveat about Dunn, however - it looks like he may be VERY damaged goods, bordering on done. His knees/ankles are apparently all messed up, and he only played a tiny bit of minutes in all of last year. This was written at the beginning of 20-21 season:
"While showing steady improvement from the cartilage disruption in his right knee, Dunn began experiencing discomfort in his right ankle and low back as his on-court loads increased. A recent MRI revealed loose cartilage inhibiting his range of motion in the ankle and creating compensations in his knees and low back… Dunn is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove the loose cartilage in his right ankle on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at the Hospital of Special Surgery.”
Then what would be in it for the Mavs, in trading a playable player for one who is done? If the Mavs do want to move on from Burke, as some in this forum suggest, a Burke-for-Dunn deal clears Burke's 22-23 salary off the books (all of Dunn's salary is in this season). The total dollars owed are similar enough to be evened out by a bit of cash, if necessary.
The MEM-BOS deal can be completed as early as today. If Burke-Dunn is being rolled into it, or is a subsequent move being planned, there's the explanation for Burke's social media actions.
(09-15-2021, 12:22 PM)F Gump Wrote: [ -> ]Here's a Burke-related idea that would align with an impending move:
I am myself looking at possible Burke deals but I fail to see why this one would make much sense. Memphis has 17 players under contract as it is with another two incoming, so trading for Burke doesn't make a lot of sense for them unless someone at Memphis is totally in love with his game. I doubt that. They need to cut 4 guys as it is. Merill, Oturu and Edwards are sort of realistic candidates looking at their roster, but then I run out of options, I think Dunn is that fourth guy. If they keep Burke, who do they cut instead? I doubt Culver, Konchar or Tilman are in danger, the rest are rotation pieces. Besides, Burke is not expiring while Dunn is, so Mavs would probably have to pay something to make it happen. To sum it up, I just don't see Memphis as an option.
How about Detroit? Burke and Terry for Josh Jackson? Clears a roster spot, I doubt Terry is in long term plans
(09-15-2021, 10:23 AM)haveitall Wrote: [ -> ]Mavs going for defense with every move:
Bullock
Sterling Brown
Ntilikina
Moses Brown
Interesting, the 2011 title team was all defensive players with Dirk and Jet. Marion, Kidd, Tyson Chandler, D Stevenson and Haywood all were defense oriented players.
I agree with the defensive comments, but each of those players were good enough to keep the defense honest and even carry the offense for stretches. Watch the finals and you'll see one stretch where Marion scored 10-12 points in a short time to keep the team in it. Kidd was a decent 3pt shooter and big enough to post up a lot of his defenders. We all remember Stevenson hitting big 3s. And the combo of Ty and Hay meant consistency on both ends regardless of who was in the game.
Added up to the opponent not being able to swarm Dirk or Jet, letting them perform their magic.
Pipedream would be Boucher. Burke, Terry and a couple of second rounders?
WCS, Burke and Terry for Favors and Jerome (or Williams)? Or remove WCS and just Burke/Terry for Jerome or Williams?
(09-15-2021, 11:23 AM)Tyler Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not a huge fan of Wall, but this could be something to keep an eye on.
https://twitter.com/massey_evan/status/1...6708049926
I am sure Mavs would be interested, I would be too. I am kind of more sure he would sign with Lakers/Clippers/Brooklyn or any other top contender
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