MavsBoard

The Mavs have cut a guaranteed contract each of the last 2 pre-seasons: Terry (2021) and Barea (2022). They’ll do it again, I promise. And I am confident they’ll cut more than one.

(06-10-2022, 07:08 PM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]Totally agree. I have Dalen Terry just a notch above Kendall Brown in my prospect rankings. If I had the choice between the two I would choose Dalen.

I like Terry quite a bit too. He’s like a taller, longer Will Barton. Plus, Terrys from Arizona have done nice things for the Mavericks historically.

(06-11-2022, 11:36 PM)Jommybone Wrote: [ -> ]The “best player available right now” at 26 will be worse at basketball than Tim Hardaway, Jr., Dwight Powell, Frank Ntilikina, Josh Green, and Marquis Chriss. Might find someone better than Sterling Brown or Theo Pinson if lucky.

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So we have more guys to cut come October?

Mavs could easily cut Brown or Chriss if they needed to. And I hope they would do that if they felt they could draft a better replacement.

https://twitter.com/crainnba/status/1535...96960?s=21&t=XFMi-Y529ZRJ8gbRT3wWLw

I am talking myself into LaRavia. Maybe it´s just the recent combine hype. Not even because he nailed the shooting drill. More about the combination of size/length and lateral quickness. Finishing top 3 in both agility drills. Just for comparisation with better times than a small guard like Brunson. That´s impressive.
I know that @"Kammrath" will complain about his wingspan but as far as negatives goes that´s the only problem I see. Don´t really care about flashy athleticism. Give me a player that can move his feet over a high flyer.

Looking at his overall game and the reports most scouts view him as one of the more NBA ready prospects. High floor / low ceiling. I don´t think the Mavs need another Green like raw athlet. Would prefer a more well rounded pick this year.
In my opinion he checks more boxes than any other wing that will be available in the late first round. 3&D wing with a good feel for the game. Even though I don´t really trust his jumpshot. I like the form. Percentages are good as well. But low volume is always a red flag.

(06-11-2022, 10:08 AM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]My issues with Kessler: 

1) Kessler has SMALL hands (8.5"), the 2nd smallest hands in the whole combine (!).

2) Kessler has a lot of body fat (14.7%), the 2nd most in the whole combine. I think this bodes poorly for his future outlook on avoiding lower body injuries (knees, ankles, and feet).

3) Kessler refused to do athletic testing...and would have tested poorly if he did IMO.

4) Kessler shot 59.6% on free throws which means the likelihood of him adding a three ball is very low (Koloko shot 73.5% by comparison).



I 100% agree with you there is a market inefficiency. I am 100% open to the Mavs getting a more traditional center in the draft, especially if all the good wing options are gone.

We routinely see players with terrible physical attributes exceed on the scale of success. We see talking heads say Luka wouldn't be able to get by any one in the league or stay in front of any one. And sure they were right that his first step isn't necessarily the quickest, yet he still drops 30 points every night with ease. Desmond Bane in 2020 had the shortest arms of any guard in the draft and was probably a big reason why he fell to 30... and we both know how that turned out. We see short guys like Barea, Mugsy, and Boykins somehow find a way to survive.

All of this to say to me that physical stats shouldn't be the opening discussion on why a player should be knocked down a peg. Kessler performed and put up big game after big game for Auburn. That should count for something. Kessler also has something that I think is becoming rarer and rarer and that is elite positional awareness. He stops people by knowing what they're doing and being in the right spot vs. overwhelming them with athleticism. 

Further in that DraftExpress breakdown video you posted we see Kessler scoring on 73% of his rim attempts in the halfcourt, and finishing 94%(!!!!) of his attempts as the roller in the PnR. 

If you made it this far in my ramblings, I am concerned about his lateral foot speed. He got beat a lot when the defender made east-west moves to get by him. A good amount of the time in college Kessler managed to recover and make a play. The question is can he do that in the NBA when the athletes are literally in another league? 

Should he fall to 26, I would look REAL hard at him. He's not my first choice (going to post my own list of fav prospects soon), but he's not the worst one either.

(06-12-2022, 05:54 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: [ -> ]I am talking myself into LaRavia. Maybe it´s just the recent combine hype. Not even because he nailed the shooting drill. More about the combination of size/length and lateral quickness. Finishing top 3 in both agility drills. Just for comparisation with better times than a small guard like Brunson. That´s impressive.
I know that @Kammrath will complain about his wingspan but as far as negatives goes that´s the only problem I see. Don´t really care about flashy athleticism. Give me a player that can move his feet over a high flyer.

Looking at his overall game and the reports most scouts view him as one of the more NBA ready prospects. High floor / low ceiling. I don´t think the Mavs need another Green like raw athlet. Would prefer a more well rounded pick this year.
In my opinion he checks more boxes than any other wing that will be available in the late first round. 3&D wing with a good feel for the game. Even though I don´t really trust his jumpshot. I like the form. Percentages are good as well. But low volume is always a red flag.

Welcome aboard! 

You know a prospect must be good when I love him and want him all while having a poor wingspan!

(06-12-2022, 05:56 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: [ -> ]We routinely see players with terrible physical attributes exceed on the scale of success. We see talking heads say Luka wouldn't be able to get by any one in the league or stay in front of any one. And sure they were right that his first step isn't necessarily the quickest, yet he still drops 30 points every night with ease. Desmond Bane in 2020 had the shortest arms of any guard in the draft and was probably a big reason why he fell to 30... and we both know how that turned out. We see short guys like Barea, Mugsy, and Boykins somehow find a way to survive.

All of this to say to me that physical stats shouldn't be the opening discussion on why a player should be knocked down a peg. Kessler performed and put up big game after big game for Auburn. That should count for something. Kessler also has something that I think is becoming rarer and rarer and that is elite positional awareness. He stops people by knowing what they're doing and being in the right spot vs. overwhelming them with athleticism. 

Further in that DraftExpress breakdown video you posted we see Kessler scoring on 73% of his rim attempts in the halfcourt, and finishing 94%(!!!!) of his attempts as the roller in the PnR. 

If you made it this far in my ramblings, I am concerned about his lateral foot speed. He got beat a lot when the defender made east-west moves to get by him. A good amount of the time in college Kessler managed to recover and make a play. The question is can he do that in the NBA when the athletes are literally in another league? 

Should he fall to 26, I would look REAL hard at him. He's not my first choice (going to post my own list of fav prospects soon), but he's not the worst one either.

Absolutely guys succeed without physical attributes (like Bane who I was dead wrong on). BUT the physical attributes are a guide and statistically they help you weed through the decision making process. Bane is an exception. Kessler could be an exception.

Have you watched film on Koloko? My question to all the Kessler apologists: Why do you like Kessler more than Koloko?

(06-12-2022, 05:54 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: [ -> ]I am talking myself into LaRavia. Maybe it´s just the recent combine hype. Not even because he nailed the shooting drill. More about the combination of size/length and lateral quickness. Finishing top 3 in both agility drills. Just for comparisation with better times than a small guard like Brunson. That´s impressive.
I know that @"Kammrath" will complain about his wingspan but as far as negatives goes that´s the only problem I see. Don´t really care about flashy athleticism. Give me a player that can move his feet over a high flyer.

Looking at his overall game and the reports most scouts view him as one of the more NBA ready prospects. High floor / low ceiling. I don´t think the Mavs need another Green like raw athlet. Would prefer a more well rounded pick this year.
In my opinion he checks more boxes than any other wing that will be available in the late first round. 3&D wing with a good feel for the game. Even though I don´t really trust his jumpshot. I like the form. Percentages are good as well. But low volume is always a red flag.

Positions are blurred nowadays, but do you see LaRavia more of a 3 or a 4 type with our current roster?

(06-12-2022, 07:56 AM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]https://twitter.com/Andrew__Slater/statu...5965140993

I was watching McGowans last night.   Has some Dinwiddie and Jordan Poole in his game.   Nice build and a creative finisher and also gets to the line.   The Ringer's comparison is a less athletic Zach Levine.  That is pretty funny.

Look more comfortable with the ball in his hands, so he probably won't be high on my wish list.  But there is something there with him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DsNjj1MjV4&t=316s

So is Yannick Nzosa still in the draft?   I am surprised he didn't pull out.  Most sites had him at a fringe lottery pick but this year was a tough one for him where he fell out of favor with his team.  He is still only 18.

Don't know what is take on coming over now, but he would be an interesting long range draft and stash prospect.   He is rail thin and not very skilled, but plays hard.   Was he just always overhyped or will you just need to be patient with him.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaErYb11a-o

(06-12-2022, 08:00 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: [ -> ]do you see LaRavia more of a 3 or a 4 type with our current roster?

I see him as a 3/4, like DFS. Exactly where the Mavs need another body.

(06-12-2022, 08:00 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: [ -> ]Positions are blurred nowadays, but do you see LaRavia more of a 3 or a 4 type with our current roster?

As @"Kammrath" said. Basically DFS´s role. Guarding one of the opponents better wing scorers. Meaning that on defense he would probably be the SF. With Luka guarding bigger/slower wings. On offense mostly in a spot up / cutter role. With the potential for more. Handles aren´t great but already better than DFS´s and he is a really good passer.

(06-11-2022, 08:19 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]Ordinarily, I’d agree. But, in this case, they don’t have a roster spot without taking evasive maneuvers. It’s possible one will be created through other business, but they really need to add more ROTATION pieces now, and I have a hard time envisioning ways to do that without losing the ones they have unless the pick is used for that purpose. 

I’m not anti-draft, but I AM anti “always draft a player, even when it doesn’t make sense.” 

Bending over backwards and possibly spending an asset for less than its full value just to create a roster spot for a #26 project who won’t play and probably won’t develop seems like doubling your losses, to me. 

I think the approach to team-building needs to be nuanced and flexible, personally.

I would agree if we were a 2 stud team and what happened this year is guaranteed to be a stepping stone. I can’t say if it is. The West is loaded and if the Mavs lose in the first round next year, it wouldn’t be  a shocker.  This team needs an infusion of talent.  FA and trades are no guarantees either to get what you want. There are different pros and cons with each of the 3 avenues to get talent. 


I am always going to be pro draft unless you tell me that packaging one of our picks will get us a bonafide  stud.  Unlike FA and trades draft can give you a talented player for cheap for a few years.

Two years from now some player a team considered raw and not ready immediately is a steal and meanwhile the retread they went after in FA or trade has not moved the needle much and you have either paid too much or lost assets to get that player. I see this much more than teams that gave up picks repeatedly and succeeded strictly via trades or FA. So yes unless there is an overwhelming reason to give away the pick, I will always be a pro draft guy.

(06-12-2022, 08:12 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: [ -> ]So is Yannick Nzosa still in the draft?   I am surprised he didn't pull out.  Most sites had him at a fringe lottery pick but this year was a tough one for him where he fell out of favor with his team.  He is still only 18.

Don't know what is take on coming over now, but he would be an interesting long range draft and stash prospect.   He is rail thin and not very skilled, but plays hard.   Was he just always overhyped or will you just need to be patient with him.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaErYb11a-o

I had posted a few weeks ago about him. Looks like most have pegged him in the 2nd round. The thing I like about him is that he is not just a lob dunk guy. He takes passes on the dead run at almost the 3 point line and can comfortably get to the rim on his own. Also he has a very quick first step and can get from the perimeter to the rim in a flash. Very different from most big men who are rated to go in the 2nd round who need the PG to put it close to the basket for them to score.

(06-12-2022, 09:20 AM)hakeemfaan Wrote: [ -> ]I would agree if we were a 2 stud team and what happened this year is guaranteed to be a stepping stone. I can’t say if it is. The West is loaded and if the Mavs lose in the first round next year, it wouldn’t be  a shocker.  This team needs an infusion of talent.  FA and trades are no guarantees either to get what you want. There are different pros and cons with each of the 3 avenues to get talent. 


I am always going to be pro draft unless you tell me that packaging one of our picks will get us a bonafide  stud.  Unlike FA and trades draft can give you a talented player for cheap for a few years.

Two years from now some player a team considered raw and not ready immediately is a steal and meanwhile the retread they went after in FA or trade has not moved the needle much and you have either paid too much or lost assets to get that player. I see this much more than teams that gave up picks repeatedly and succeeded strictly via trades or FA. So yes unless there is an overwhelming reason to give away the pick, I will always be a pro draft guy.

This. But even more important the Mavs aren´t a young team. Looking at the playoff rotation we have Luka, Brunson and a number of guys that are 29/30+. Not to mention the payroll. Best way to add cheap production is the draft.

(06-12-2022, 09:20 AM)hakeemfaan Wrote: [ -> ]This team needs an infusion of talent.

Every team always needs an infusion of talent. This is like saying "we're going to need food tomorrow." 

Doesn't change the circumstances, imho. Whether the team is guaranteed to repeat the success of this season next year isn't really the issue, to me. Their roster situation is. 

If, through normal business (not wasting assets for a tunnel vision purpose), a roster spot is created, and if there isn't a package available that makes enough sense merit inclusion of the right to pick at 26 on draft night, sure - they should draft a player. And sure, they should of course have that contingency in their plans, complete with an idea of who they want to choose there. 

If you say "make a pick, no matter what"...have you thought about how they're likely to do that? That would 100% mean Ntilikina is gone, I'd think, at a minimum. They're not going to "cut" Boban or Burke. Not going to happen. 

Is the player at #26 really going to have more promise than Ntilikina? I'm skeptical. 

Just doesn't feel like a year when taking a stab at a low first rounder makes the most sense, but I guess we'll see.

Again, it's not adding young talent that I'm against - it's wasting talent to create the room to add talent. This is not a problem that comes up very often. Like, I'm not certain the team has ever been in this situation during my fandom.

KL. I like our players but I am not going to overrate them. You could be absolutely correct that the guy who comes in is worse that Frankie or Chriss both of whom themselves were much higher picks not long ago.  

However you have to weigh the risk and reward.  I don’t feel that the players you are not willing to give up get us the reward oftaking the next step, so as to not be worth the risk that the player we are getting via the draft might be worse than either of those.

(06-12-2022, 09:38 AM)hakeemfaan Wrote: [ -> ]KL. I like our players but I am not going to overrate them. You could be absolutely correct that the guy who comes in is worse that Frankie or Chriss both of whom themselves were much higher picks not long ago.  

However you have to weigh the risk and reward.  I don’t feel that the players I am willing to give up get me the reward of us taking the next step of we keep them here so as to not be worth the risk that the player we are getting via the draft might be worse than either of those.

We'll see what happens. 

Personally, I hope they're thinking a little bigger this summer than just using the tax MLE and drafting someone at #26. If they ARE, I hope they can find a way not to include something good in the outgoing, like Kleber, Dinwiddie, etc. I just can't imagine anything worthwhile can happen this off-season without using #26 to draft for another team. But, maybe that's my lack of creativity. 

I have to say though: If they just add a $6 million player and draft someone at #26 (which will likely mean losing some deep roster guys who might actually be significantly better than the one added) I, personally, will be pretty disappointed.