Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) 
Free agent F Kessler Edwards has agreed on a two-way NBA contract with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Edwards has averaged 3.5 points and 11.9 minutes across three seasons for Nets and Kings.

https://x.com/tim_cato/status/1816222842389753916

@tim_cato
MAVS FANS

it's time for the annual offseason fan survey

30 questions, it'll take just a few minutes to fill it out, i'll publish the results next week

here's the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQ...g/viewform

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) 
Free agent guard Spencer Dinwiddie has agreed on a one-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Dinwiddie reunites with Mavs as an ideal backcourt fit. He averaged 17.4 points in parts of two Dallas seasons and was key on 2022 West Finals team.

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 
The Memphis Grizzlies are trading forward Ziaire Williams and a 2030 second-round pick via Dallas to the Brooklyn Nets for Mamadi Diakite, sources tell ESPN. Williams was the 10th pick in the 2021 draft.

@TheDunkCentral
The State of New Jersey is looking to acquire the Philadelphia 76ers, per @NROINJNews

“The state of New Jersey is making a serious push to convince the Philadelphia 76ers to move to New Jersey and into a new arena that would be built in Camden, four people familiar with the discussions confirmed to ROI-NJ. The sources indicated that talks have picked up recently, in part because HBSE’s efforts to build a new arena in Center City Philadelphia have hit repeated roadblocks, despite the fact that the owners have indicated they would self-finance the $1.3 billion proposed project.”

We know the guy can shoot and that we are getting one of the best shooters to ever hit the court. He can still shoot lights out and will be able to do that when he's 50.

However, the big thing I keep hearing is that he can't defend anymore. So, let's discuss that. I watch a lot of GS basketball living in the bay area. Been watching them since the 2014 season. Honestly, the injuries didn't hurt him much since he was never athletic to begin with. They slowed him down a step laterally but really that's about it.

The way he plays defense isn't typical and the numbers don't show that he's ever been a great defender. Because for some basketball players numbers just don't tell the story. And the story they do tell isn't true.

Klay only made one All Defense team. Yet he always guarded the best perimeter player. And not only that but he consistently locked them up. He is 6'7" with a 6'9" wingspan. He has hips similar to a cornerback that swivel and move with the opponent. He has incredibly active hands and is way stronger than he looks. Luka has trouble backing him down. He also plays incredible well in a switching defense. Kerr ALWAYS had Curry switch out with Klay to hide. Klay can also guard Centers long enough for the help to come.

Even though he's never been quick he has an incredible high BBIQ to be able to recover and use his hips and length to guard small guards. Here is a video that does a very good job covering his strengths and weaknesses.



This video was made in Klay's prime right before the injuries. But, if you look at him after the injuries they eased him in the following year and he played 32 games. The following season he played and started 69 games averaging 33 mpg. (His numbers that year were pretty much identical if not better than the year before his injuries)

Last season he played in 77 games averaging 30 mpg. People talk about his year last year as if he's done. There was a lot going on internally with the team and he didn't want to be there. Even with that he didn't miss a free throw in all of April and finished shooting the lights out of the ball.

At 28 before injuries here are his numbers.
He was an all star, played 78 games averaging 34 mpg, 40.2% from 3 on 7.7 attempts a game, 81.6% FT, 3.8 Rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 Steals, .6 blocks, 21.5 points per game.

The year before last (I consider last season a wash since the team was in turmoil)
At 32 here are his numbers.
He played 69 games averaging 33 mpg, 41.2% from 3 on 10.6 attempts a game, 87.9% FT, 4.1 Rebounds, 2.4 assists, .7 Steals, .5 blocks, 21.9 points per game.

Combine that with what I would say is about 85% of his defense he played in his prime and you have just massively upgraded the Mavs starting 5.

The one who will need to watch out is PJ Washington. Naji will push him for minutes.

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 
Free agent G Gary Trent Jr. has agreed on a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, Rich Paul and Lucas Newton of @klutchsports tell ESPN. Trent reunites with Damian Lillard and joins a Bucks organization that recruited him hard to chase a title with them.