(07-12-2022, 02:31 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: [ -> ]A bit of an overstatement of what I said, but let’s start from there anyway.
I didn’t make the decision. In fact, I’ve been arguing for Wood to start at PF. But when FG pointed out this possibility the other night my comment was that it made sense of the most puzzling part of Kidd’s interview (that we would have a ton of offense coming off the bench).
I think it is a defensible approach to start the season off. It is more important that Wood is happy in May/June than he is in October. Nothing about this “news” destroys the ability for Wood to be happy in May/June. I guess I tend to give the team that just went to the WCF’s some benefit of the doubt that they have some idea what works and what doesn’t.
Life is going to throw a few curveballs. I don’t like curve’s any more than anyone else. What works for me is trying to work through the challenge and see the possibilities. Wallowing in the fact I just missed a pitch doesn’t do me any good. So, I try not to do it. The fact that we just lost Brunson does not dictate the outcome for Wood. In fact, it probably does the opposite as the team is much more attuned to the possibility and the PR nightmare of it happening twice in consecutive summers.
OK, I'll bite. Imagine being 20 & 10 Christian Wood in a contract year, trying to earn a max deal, as the number 2 guy on a Luka-led team. Only you're in the running for 6MOY instead of All-star because you're behind up a 34 year old career back-up who was promised a starting spot as part of negotiations to sign here. What could possibly go wrong.
It probably doesn't matter in the W/L column who "starts" but I'm sure it matters to the players and others around the league, the fraternity. Ultimately, it doesn't matter to me much either. Just pointing out how this board will inevitably shift from Wood is a great #2, All-Star worthy guy who Nico hit a grand slam with - to - he hasn't proven or earned anything and it makes sense to take this approach yada yada.
I think Christian Wood will be a really good player, if he's on the roster.
I could be wrong. I also think that he either plays too well and wants to get to FA, where the Mavs won't pay - or - for whatever reason, he clashes with Luka and others (not starting?) or plays poorly and will not be retained.
(07-12-2022, 02:56 PM)Smitty Wrote: [ -> ]OK, I'll bite. Imagine being 20 & 10 Christian Wood in a contract year, trying to earn a max deal, as the number 2 guy on a Luka-led team. Only you're in the running for 6MOY instead of All-star because you're behind up a 34 year old career back-up who was promised a starting spot as part of negotiations to sign here. What could possibly go wrong.
It probably doesn't matter in the W/L column who "starts" but I'm sure it matters to the players and others around the league, the fraternity. Ultimately, it doesn't matter to me much either. Just pointing out how this board will inevitably shift from Wood is a great #2, All-Star worthy guy who Nico hit a grand slam with - to - he hasn't proven or earned anything and it makes sense to take this approach yada yada.
I think Christian Wood will be a really good player, if he's on the roster. I could be wrong. I also think that he either plays too well and wants to get to FA, where the Mavs won't pay - or - for whatever reason, he clashes with Luka and others (not starting?) or plays poorly and will not be retained.
I'm going to take a stab at something a little sensitive.
I don't want to get labeled a CW hater. When he was free, before he signed in Houston, I was one of like 2-3 people here screaming for them to add him to this roster. I believe they could've.
Now, we all see the talent. But, why has he bounced around? 7 teams in 6 years is not typically a great sign. People in the know aren't really holding back with the hints that he has been...less than professional, so far. I think we might be glossing over that part a bit too much around here. I think maybe the reason he was available in the Mavs' (trade) price range was that basically, not many teams want to take a risk on him at this point. It's obviously not because he isn't talented.
I'm hopeful that he'll come here and take advantage of the opportunity to play with Luka, as their offensive games
should fit like a glove (we thought about Porzingis, too, so don't assume it), but in light of the information that this guy might not even be someone (off the court) who can function in a winning environment, I'm WAAAAAAAAY ok with the Mavs making him sing for his supper a little, rather than handing him the "shotgun" seat of the franchise, riding next to Luka. Honestly, if they had approached the Porzingis situation a little more like that, it might've worked out better. But, at least KP was a gym rat.
I feel pretty strongly that it's in CW's best interest to accept whatever role here he can get. It's his first (and potentially only) chance to show the league what he can do on a stage that people will
notice. If he's the all-star we hope, that will become evident and he'll make it into the role/minutes he wants, and eventually, the contract he wants, most likely.
(07-12-2022, 03:07 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]I'm going to take a stab at something a little sensitive.
I don't want to get labeled a CW hater. When he was free, before he signed in Houston, I was one of like 2-3 people here screaming for them to add him to this roster. I believe they could've.
Now, we all see the talent. But, why has he bounced around? 7 teams in 6 years is not typically a great sign. People in the know aren't really holding back with the hints that he has been...less than professional, so far. I think we might be glossing over that part a bit too much around here. I think maybe the reason he was available in the Mavs' (trade) price range was that basically, not many teams want to take a risk on him at this point. It's obviously not because he isn't talented.
I'm hopeful that he'll come here and take advantage of the opportunity to play with Luka, as their offensive games should fit like a glove (we thought about Porzingis, too, so don't assume it), but in light of the information that this guy might not even be someone (off the court) who can function in a winning environment, I'm WAAAAAAAAY ok with the Mavs making him sing for his supper a little, rather than handing him the "shotgun" seat of the franchise, riding next to Luka. Honestly, if they had approached the Porzingis situation a little more like that, it might've worked out better. But, at least KP was a gym rat.
I feel pretty strongly that it's in CW's best interest to accept whatever role here he can get. It's his first (and potentially only) chance to show the league what he can do on a stage that people will notice. If he's the all-star we hope, that will become evident and he'll make it into the role/minutes he wants, and eventually, the contract he wants, most likely.
All perfectly reasonable points, as are Dan's. I feel like I'm in a position where I'm now playing devils advocate and don't want to be. It's perfectly fine to change opinions. It's the shift, not of any particular individual, but more the consensus of the board, that starts to align with the Mavs brass - slowly but surely. Like Dinwiddie is now better than he actually is and that McGee is the better defender, so of course he should start over Wood etc.
(07-12-2022, 03:07 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]I'm going to take a stab at something a little sensitive.
I don't want to get labeled a CW hater. When he was free, before he signed in Houston, I was one of like 2-3 people here screaming for them to add him to this roster. I believe they could've.
Now, we all see the talent. But, why has he bounced around? 7 teams in 6 years is not typically a great sign. People in the know aren't really holding back with the hints that he has been...less than professional, so far. I think we might be glossing over that part a bit too much around here. I think maybe the reason he was available in the Mavs' (trade) price range was that basically, not many teams want to take a risk on him at this point. It's obviously not because he isn't talented.
I'm hopeful that he'll come here and take advantage of the opportunity to play with Luka, as their offensive games should fit like a glove (we thought about Porzingis, too, so don't assume it), but in light of the information that this guy might not even be someone (off the court) who can function in a winning environment, I'm WAAAAAAAAY ok with the Mavs making him sing for his supper a little, rather than handing him the "shotgun" seat of the franchise, riding next to Luka. Honestly, if they had approached the Porzingis situation a little more like that, it might've worked out better. But, at least KP was a gym rat.
I feel pretty strongly that it's in CW's best interest to accept whatever role here he can get. It's his first (and potentially only) chance to show the league what he can do on a stage that people will notice. If he's the all-star we hope, that will become evident and he'll make it into the role/minutes he wants, and eventually, the contract he wants, most likely.
I think the 7 teams in 6 years isn't really a good gauge of who he is as a player. He didn't take off until Detroit 3 seasons ago and then took more money to go to Houston the following year. Let's look at it since he's been a quality player and that really makes us his 3rd team in 4 years. Prior to Detroit he was bouncing around trying to find his way. I don't think he can be labeled a losing player or a team cancer (you didn't say either of those). Detroit wasn't good and he thought he was coming to Houston to contend and he only got 7 games with James Harden before the tank started. In those 7 games with Harden, he averaged 23 and 8.7 a game. Those 7 games interest me more than how a player does during a tank. Losing mentality can take it's toll on players. I don't know if he'll replicate those numbers but they are encouraging since Luka plays a similar ball dominant style, but obviously much better than Harden.
(07-12-2022, 03:24 PM)Smitty Wrote: [ -> ]that McGee is the better defender, so of course he should start over Wood etc.
I'm not meaning to throw my hat in the ring for suport of this POV, really. I'm just happy they might not start TOGETHER. I'll worry about the rest once I've seen what they're trying to do.
(07-12-2022, 03:25 PM)BigDirk41 Wrote: [ -> ]I think the 7 teams in 6 years isn't really a good gauge of who he is as a player. He didn't take off until Detroit 3 seasons ago and then took more money to go to Houston the following year. Let's look at it since he's been a quality player and that really makes us his 3rd team in 4 years.
And Houston is already eager to move on. And, 3 teams in 4 years ain't exactly much better.
I'm not trying to dog the kid -
I'm excited about adding him. Very excited.
All I'm suggesting is that
maybe part of the next step for him is to learn how a good organization does things, and what they expect from him. And
maybe, this strategy of bringing him off the bench (even if it's just talk to light a fire under him and never happens) is part of how he learns some of that stuff.
(07-12-2022, 03:33 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]And Houston is already eager to move on. And, 3 teams in 4 years ain't exactly much better.
I'm not trying to dog the kid - I'm excited about adding him. Very excited.
All I'm suggesting is that maybe part of the next step for him is to learn how a good organization does things, and what they expect from him. And maybe, this strategy of bringing him off the bench (even if it's just talk to light a fire under him and never happens) is part of how he learns some of that stuff.
I'd add that Detroit had every reason to keep him and didn't. A lot of people and folks around these boards were very excited about what they saw from Wood on the court going into his free agency. Houston didn't exactly give him an outlandish contract either. There is something not quite right with him.
(07-12-2022, 03:37 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]Houston didn't exactly give him an outlandish contract either.
Yeah, I remember expecting him to get a max contract in Detroit and have the team built around him. Not only did he not get that,
they made no attempt to keep him and chose Jerami Grant instead, for more money than Wood got.
Again, I think that for those who have to live day to day in these organizations, things like showing up to practice are more important than the one-sentence throw aways they become around here. It's understandable. We don't want to know how the sausage gets made, even if we think we do.
(07-12-2022, 03:42 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah, I remember expecting him to get a max contract in Detroit and have the team built around him. Not only did he not get that, they made no attempt to keep him and chose Jerami Grant instead, for more money than Wood got.
Again, I think that for those who have to live day to day in these organizations, things like showing up to practice are more important than the one-sentence throw aways they become around here. It's understandable. We don't want to know how the sausage gets made, even if we think we do.
And a big reason they wanted Grant is because he was a culture guy.
I still have high hopes for Wood. This is the best environment he'll be a part of. Further, he'll respect Kidd. And while it is purely coincidental, a side benefit of McGee is that he can be a big brother to Wood and went through a lot of turmoil in his 20s, a lot self inflected and some unfair. Wood's going to have his best shot at thriving on and off the court.
Guys I’ve been busy. Could someone kindly point me to the Wood off the bench news? Went back a couple pages and didn’t see it and I’ve got some more shot to do.
(07-12-2022, 03:48 PM)Mavs2021 Wrote: [ -> ]![[Image: show-me-the-money.gif]](https://c.tenor.com/cxb0b6_CsvwAAAAC/show-me-the-money.gif)
![[Image: 9503c15e-4a34-4e02-8e86-1f69450f41fb_text.gif]](https://y.yarn.co/9503c15e-4a34-4e02-8e86-1f69450f41fb_text.gif)
Haha, Wood’s gonna be Randle’s replacement when he shows he can focus and play D here. Classic Mavs!
Also, I'm pretty sure I saw McGee and Wood hanging out at last night's game.
(07-12-2022, 03:52 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]Also, I'm pretty sure I saw McGee and Wood hanging out at last night's game.
They are starting together confirmed!
![[Image: go-to-hell-office.gif]](https://c.tenor.com/uDfLt-kvvgoAAAAC/go-to-hell-office.gif)
![[Image: giphy.gif]](https://media0.giphy.com/media/3oz8xGNKlw8sawlrHi/giphy.gif)
![[Image: giphy.gif]](https://media1.giphy.com/media/OAzrxzJAEmnaE/giphy.gif)