https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/3853...de-blazers



They gave up a lot for him to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uQCuLI2PqU

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/3850...-team-deal

Besides the whole record thing and missing the playoffs, here is my list

1) Luka not getting back on defense and constant complaining
2) Christian Wood when someone scored on him seeing him look at the bench shrugging and raising his hands saying don’t blame me.  Boy did I hate that.
3) Jason Kidd press conferences
4) Dinwiddie pounding the ball with the rest of the team standing and watching him
5) Knicks fans thanking Mavs front office constantly
6) offensive slog…no fast breaks points
7) early season Reggie Bullock shooting….man was that tough to watch
8) late game execution
9) free throw shooting

Just for fun before pre-season starts, lets discuss your favorite target for the last piece (hopefully).  Let say the mavs start the season well, who would your ideal realistic target be now?

Let’s assume the package include Green or Hardy, Hardaway salary filler and a first round pick (maybe a pick swap too).   So who would be your ideal target be?

Derrick J.
Omax
Seth C.
Dante E.
Grant W.
Dereck L.
Richaun H.

What is everyone’s expectation for this next season?  Personally, I hope we make the playoffs (preferably missing the playin), but for me this season is much more than results.   Last year was such a bore watching the Mavs play.  It was a literal chore to watch a team with one of the best players in the league on it.  That should not happen.   So, much more than results I want two things:

1) setting the stage for Kyrie and Luka playing fluidly off each other.   This is going to take time and we should all expect bumps in the road.   But I want to get the bumps out the way now.  In a year we look back and see not just two elite offensive players but two guys who can blend their game together to make them almost impossible to guard as a duo who can also make the rest of the players better.

2) enjoy a younger team with an exciting future.  This will also include a lot of bumps in the road, but I want to see the young guys.  I want them to earn minutes. I am sure the Mavs want to win now, but I want the future to be considered in all moves.  I am not saying play Lively 30 minutes a game (unless he earns it), but I want to put him in situations where he can play well and give him consistent minutes.   There will be rough times and you may need to ease minutes at times, but I want to see them grow on the court.

Next year, I want to head into the season and see a team most are seeing as a top 3-4 team in the west.  Will that happen?  don’t know.  Is it a lot to ask? You bet.  I think the only way it happens is for both 1 and 2 above to happen….plus that final trade piece.   

The Mavs are clearly behind my personal Luka timeline of building a team.  They turned out a little ahead two years ago, but that could have been a mirage.   They are clearly behind now.   But it is what it is.    

I just want to watch fun basketball again.   Winning is what matters at the end but I would take a fun team with an exciting future this season.

https://archive.is/K2UAc

https://twitter.com/MavsFilmRoom/status/...5599803392


Luka Dončić plays basketball tomorrow

Lets start with another 7'3 european playmaker. Feels like we get one of them each year. Not as mobile as some of the unicorns. But already an awesome passer. Real Jokic/Sengun vibes.
Even more interesting. We finally will see one of them in college basketball. He is going to play for UCLA next season.

https://twitter.com/DraftLabNBA/status/1...4474984448

https://twitter.com/DraftLabNBA/status/1...0574574592