MavsBoard

When Nico was asked about Brunson and the possibility of an extension or being an unrestricted free agent in the summer, he responded:

Quote:We’ll know who we are in 20, 25 games into the season, sometime mid-December.

This is a REALLY intriguing answer to me. To me it shows that he is looking big picture and so that means an individual player like JB has to fit or not fit in that big picture. It's not about JB and his contract situation, it is about the team and what the team needs.


So my read and interpretation is this:

If Nico likes "who we are" as a team 25 games in, then I think he will lock up Brunson somehow, someway. But if he doesn't like "who we are" then JB will likely be part of a trade that works to change the reality of "who we are."

(11-10-2021, 03:46 PM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]When Nico was asked about Brunson and the possibility of an extension or being an unrestricted free agent in the summer, he responded:




This is a REALLY intriguing answer to me. To me it shows that he is looking big picture and so that means an individual player like JB has to fit or not fit in that big picture. It's not about JB and his contract situation, it is about the team and what the team needs.


So my read and interpretation is this:

If Nico likes "who we are" as a team 25 games in, then I think he will lock up Brunson somehow, someway. But if he doesn't like "who we are" then JB will likely be part of a trade that works to change the reality of "who we are."

astute by Nico

astute post by Kam

(11-10-2021, 03:46 PM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]If Nico likes "who we are" as a team 25 games in, then I think he will lock up Brunson somehow, someway. But if he doesn't like "who we are" then JB will likely be part of a trade that works to change the reality of "who we are."

Does it really matter if Nico likes Brunson 25 games in?  If I understand it correctly, he can't offer Brunson more than 12 mil on an extension, right?  I don't know if that was offered during offseason or not, but if Brunson continues to play like he is now I don't think he takes that without at least a look at free agency.  In fact, if that quote means they did not offer Brunson the max extension and wanted to see what he was after 25 games, it may have been a big mistake.

(11-10-2021, 04:32 PM)mvossman Wrote: [ -> ]Does it really matter if Nico likes Brunson 25 games in?

It seems like the point is that after 25 games they'll have a better idea of what they think of the team and how that impacts their team building moving forward. I imigine they will like Brunson either way. But what they think about the team might determine whether they attempt to leverage Brunson (who they like) in a trade or sign Brunson (who they like) to another contract.

(11-10-2021, 03:46 PM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]When Nico was asked about Brunson and the possibility of an extension or being an unrestricted free agent in the summer, he responded:




This is a REALLY intriguing answer to me. To me it shows that he is looking big picture and so that means an individual player like JB has to fit or not fit in that big picture. It's not about JB and his contract situation, it is about the team and what the team needs.


So my read and interpretation is this:

If Nico likes "who we are" as a team 25 games in, then I think he will lock up Brunson somehow, someway. But if he doesn't like "who we are" then JB will likely be part of a trade that works to change the reality of "who we are."

Maybe. It struck me as an answer a PR flack could have written out for him before the question was ever asked. "Well, we'll see what happens, and then make the right decision for the team." (Besides Kidd having already told us this several times.) 

Testing my understanding of this matter, since it comes up with some frequency --

If I understand the situation, Nico is not in a position to lock Brunson up after 25 games just because Nico "likes who we are." Brunson has indicated that he thinks he can get more by waiting on free agency, and he may well be right. 

Nico is also not in a position to force Brunson to stay here beyond this season, if Brunson wants to go elsewhere, or Cuban is not willing or able to meet Brunson's goals. 

Additionally, Nico is not in a position to trade Brunson for a game-changing player who transforms the identity of the team. Brunson's low salary limits the amount that can be extracted for him in an in-season trade. His low salary also complicates the ability to use him in a S&T in the summer.

If I have not understood Brunson's situation vis-a-vis the CBA, someone with more expertise can correct me, and I would welcome that. But if I understand it correctly, whether Nico likes where we are or doesn't like where we are, he just can't do some of these things some fans are talking about, and it would be a tall task to do others. 

It seems to me that if Cuban wants to keep Brunson, within certain budget and roster-construction limits, Mark's best bet is to make the situation as attractive as possible for Brunson (consistent with those limits) for next season, and hope Brunson bites. 

If Cuban doesn't want to keep him, or thinks the price will be too high, the best decision really could be to keep JB for the rest of the season and then wish him well in the summer. Considering that it may not be possible to get much of anything back for him in trade, maybe the best use of this asset would be to use him to give the team their best chance in this year's playoffs. (Not saying that's for sure, but I can see that being a reasonable decision.)

(11-10-2021, 04:39 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ]Maybe. It struck me as an answer a PR flack could have written out for him before the question was ever asked.

(11-10-2021, 04:39 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ]It seems to me that if Cuban wants to keep Brunson, within certain budget and roster-construction limits, Mark's best bet is to make the situation as attractive as possible for Brunson (consistent with those limits) for next season, and hope Brunson bites. 

If Cuban doesn't want to keep him, or thinks the price will be too high, the best decision really could be to keep JB for the rest of the season and then wish him well in the summer. Considering that it may not be possible to get much of anything back for him in trade, maybe the best use of this asset would be to use him to give the team their best chance in this year's playoffs. (Not saying that's for sure, but I can see that being a reasonable decision.)

So Nico doesn't have to do a thing!! Man, easy job!

(11-10-2021, 04:44 PM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]So Nico doesn't have to do a thing!! Man, easy job!

Sharp eyes, lol! Yes, I changed to Cuban because I think that the decision as to what efforts they make or don't make to keep Brunson will be made by Cuban, not Nico. Hopefully, with input from whoever has a useful opinion to offer, including Nico. 

Of course, that is just speculation on my part, based on Cuban's history, and his requiring Nico to say during his press conference that Cuban will be the one making the decisions. From what we hear, Nico's main focus at this point is revamping the team's organizational structure (which is probably more than a full-time job by itself), and other people may be taking the day-to-day laboring oar on roster matters (to be submitted to Nico for approval, one would assume). But who knows, things could have changed in the last couple weeks.

(11-10-2021, 04:51 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ]Yes, I changed to Cuban because I think that the decision as to what efforts they make or don't make to keep Brunson will be made by Cuban, not Nico

I hope this isn't true. I hope that Cuban's decision making regarding the roster has morphed into giving a final stamp to Nico and staff's decisions and/or offering a bit of feedback if he's not convinced but ultimately trusting Nico and staff. 

I may just be a silly optimist

I've seen and heard the statements that you reference when you talk about this, but am holding out for conclusions different from the ones you are making.

(11-10-2021, 04:56 PM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]I hope this isn't true. I hope that Cuban's decision making regarding the roster has morphed into giving a final stamp to Nico and staff's decisions and/or offering a bit of feedback if he's not convinced but ultimately trusting Nico and staff. 

I may just be a silly optimist

I've seen and heard the statements that you reference when you talk about this, but am holding out for conclusions different from the ones you are making.

That scenario is within reason, and I'm not saying it couldn't happen. 

The thing that keeps bothering me a little --

There is a certain fan contingent that appears to be expecting Nico to come in and revolutionize the franchise in the short term in regard to constructing a dynasty of championship rosters. Considering Nico's background, along with how difficult a task that is even for the best GMs, I really think those expectations are unrealistic, and that it will be very unfair when we see the inevitable "Fire Nico" brigade when they are almost certainly not met.  

This is different from your hoped-for outcome, which is that all members of the staff who are in a position to offer an informed opinion will provide input, and that that input will be respected. And I would guess that will happen, now or later. What I really DON'T think is going to happen, though, is that all the input will be taken by Nico, who will then coordinate it and present a recommendation to Cuban to take or leave. 

I think Cuban will continue to insist on taking input directly from Kidd, Dirk, the analytics department, the budget people, etc., rather than have Nico listen to it all and then be the sole decision-maker as to what gets recommended to Mark. In the short term, while Nico learns the job, that might even make sense. But I think Cuban will always insist on having direct input from whomever, within or without the organization, he wants to consult, rather than normally relying on the President as a board of directors might in a normal board-president relationship. That is why I say I think Cuban will make the decisions in a granular fashion -- he wants to be involved in the nitty-gritty. 

But who knows?  The world changes fast, and I don't see anything wrong with hoping that Cuban will at least come to gather input and make decisions in a more organized and less disruptive fashion.

(11-10-2021, 05:21 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ]That scenario is within reason, and I'm not saying it couldn't happen. 

The thing that keeps bothering me a little --

There is a certain fan contingent that appears to be expecting Nico to come in and revolutionize the franchise in the short term in regard to constructing a dynasty of championship rosters. Considering Nico's background, along with how difficult a task that is even for the best GMs, I really think those expectations are unrealistic, and that it will be very unfair when we see the inevitable "Fire Nico" brigade when they are almost certainly not met.  

This is different from your hoped-for outcome, which is that all members of the staff who are in a position to offer an informed opinion will provide input, and that that input will be respected. And I would guess that will happen, now or later. What I really DON'T think is going to happen, though, is that all the input will be taken by Nico, who will then coordinate it and present a recommendation to Cuban to take or leave. 

I think Cuban will continue to insist on taking input directly from Kidd, Dirk, the analytics department, the budget people, etc., rather than have Nico listen to it all and then be the sole decision-maker as to what gets recommended to Mark. In the short term, while Nico learns the job, that might even make sense. But I think Cuban will always insist on having direct input from whomever, within or without the organization, he wants to consult, rather than normally relying on the President as a board of directors might in a normal board-president relationship. That is why I say I think Cuban will make the decisions in a granular fashion -- he wants to be involved in the nitty-gritty. 

But who knows?  The world changes fast, and I don't see anything wrong with hoping that Cuban will at least come to gather input and make decisions in a more organized and less disruptive fashion.

There's also a sentiment I see among some on this board that:

Any decision Cuban makes is bad.
Any decision that Nico makes is good (or, at least, not as bad as a Cuban decision).

I'd venture to say that many, many decisions that Mark has made have been good.  And bad.  As will Nico's.  

Mark waited 20+ years before deciding that the sum total of Donnie's decisions wasn't good enough, and canned him.  Perhaps you, gentle reader, have decided that Mark's decisions also aren't good enough, and you're ready to replace him with a new owner.  Who do you have in mind? Rob Sarver?  Jeanie Buss?

https://twitter.com/townbrad/status/1458640699591692290


Hmmm....Mavs didn't give Luka enough help???

Hardaway to Chi-Town confirmed

Luka, KP, and DFS are collectively shooting 17.7 threes per game.....and shooting 28.6%, 29.0%, and 25.9% respectively. And SB is shooting another 2.6 per game at 17.4%.

The team is shooting 26.7% on 16.5 OPEN threes per game.

When the second unit is in and they are bailing us out of deficits...are they hitting 3's, scoring at the rim or scoring from mid-range?

Im not looking for a "all of the above" answer...you stat guys should have detailed recorded stats of how we are scoring with the second unit.

And...please...lets not get in an argument over what the second unit is...minutes for starters with non-starters blah blah blah.

(11-11-2021, 01:03 AM)dynamicalVoid Wrote: [ -> ]When the second unit is in and they are bailing us out of deficits...are they hitting 3's, scoring at the rim or scoring from mid-range?

The simplest way to summarize this season of 11 games so far:

The Mavs are kicking butt when JB plays (+7.9)....they are getting killed when JB sits (-17.4).

The Mavs are getting killed when Luka plays (-12.4)...they are kicking butt when Luka sits (+19.0).

Luka shot 33% tonight.  He was pretty damn far from average, that’s for sure. So far this season, he leads the league in usage, but his true shooting percentage is barely above 52%, a horrid combination. The Mavs can’t even stay in the same zip code as a good team, much less a great one. Whatever this is that’s happening this year, it’s not working and it’s not going to work.  We don’t need 25 games to know that a system that’s not Luka friendly is going to fail.

(11-11-2021, 01:09 AM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]The simplest way to summarize this season of 11 games so far:

The Mavs are kicking butt when JB plays (+7.9)....they are getting killed when JB sits (-17.4).

The Mavs are getting killed when Luka plays (-12.4)...they are kicking butt when Luka sits (+19.0).

Def seems like Brunson is being showcased and Luka is helping make JB's stats look good(the teams numbers are better when JB plays is a selling tactic)

Everyone knows this isnt true Luka we are witnessing.

So yeah...JB is being traded