(06-30-2024, 11:58 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: https://sports.yahoo.com/how-paul-george-remains-the-key-to-the-free-agent-market-164152629.html


From Jake Fischer:


“Dallas appears to be the one of, if not the strongest suitors for Thompson, sources said.

(06-30-2024, 12:18 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I 100% think Thompson would be the starter, if he came here. But, it's not black-and-white. Starting doesn't necessarily mean finishing, as all Mavs fans know. There is certainly a point at which treating Thompson with too much reverence could be a negative, but I have to think they'll be upfront with him about their plans, and I have to think the team that put DJJ into the starting lineup and stopped playing Hardaway altogether has an understanding of what will work next to Luka/Kyrie that at least equals our own. This part doesn't worry me.

The lowering of DJJ on the priority list worries me, as does the nonchalant attitude about him popping up in this community. Yes, he's obviously a flawed player. I was one of the few saying that a year ago. But, his defense was not something the Mavs will be able to replicate with Naji Marshall (who I like, actually) or anyone else they can get this summer. We are forgetting the impact this man just made here. He fit with Luka/Kyrie the same way Tyson Chandler fit with Dirk, at least on one end of the floor, and he's only 27. I really believe his shooting can improve. I'm gong to be disappointed if the Mavs lose him - a lesser role, sure, but they need him, imho.

The wide range of what to expect in any Thompson deal worries me. The optimistic views seem to have that $16 million(ish) range to start, with only Green outgoing and maybe a 2nd or two. That is a good deal, imo, and that's before we even get into how much of years 2 and 3 of Thompson's contract are guaranteed. You can't complain about that. But, I'm also seeing people thinking it's going to be $20 million per...$23 million per...$25 million per...MORE? That starts to get scary, and that also makes it harder to envision that he'd be coming in with the mindset of platooning with other forwards, as needed (whether starting or not). Also, I really, really hope giving Josh Green to GS (if that's the way this is done) for a player they're losing anyway doesn't require paying them a first round pick for their "trouble." Now THAT would be a Cuban move.

Jason Timpf is saying that Klay is a much better fit for LAL than he would be in Dallas, due to the differences in their offensive systems. As long as this isn't the sign of some new system change, I agree with him. Klay will basically be used here the way Hardaway was, and I wonder if he might not look a little more Hardaway-like than we think, but that's not my point here. If Klay, himself, believes the LAL offense is the best fit, it seems to me he has three choices:

1) Lakers - stay in Cali, his Dad calls games for the radio, play with LeBron, everything that comes (good and bad) with being a Laker, probably the lowest number, contractually

2) Dallas - current best team available to him, probably a little more money than LAL

3) Orlandon - most money, by FAR, and biggest need for him in terms of giving him a meaty role, I'd assume.

Where Dallas can really get in trouble here, I think, is becoming desperate enough to stray from that middle lane. If they try to compete with LAL by nudging their offer towards that "Orlando-style" offer, this could get ugly. I'm comfortable with the idea of figuring out what the Lakers can (realistically) accomplish to get him and beating that by a little. Then, you let him decide and live with the results. That approach should give them a good shot at him and allow for a Jones re-signing. But, some of this Stein stuff is reading to me like this is going to turn into a bidding war. I'm not liking that.

(06-30-2024, 10:47 AM)Jym Wrote: I was one of the Klay deniers but I'm in for around 15 mil a year.
Was thinking it'd be more around 22 mil a year.

(06-30-2024, 12:31 PM)Tyler Wrote: Josh Mazur
@MazurFocus
Multiple people within the organization have told me that they believe DJJ is a done deal so they don’t feel obligated to start free agency with him anymore. There is a mutual sense of loyalty between camps after this season’s success. Jones has made it known he wants to stay.

(06-30-2024, 12:31 PM)Tyler Wrote: Josh Mazur
@MazurFocus
Multiple people within the organization have told me that they believe DJJ is a done deal so they don’t feel obligated to start free agency with him anymore. There is a mutual sense of loyalty between camps after this season’s success. Jones has made it known he wants to stay.

(06-30-2024, 12:33 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: @MazurFocus
Multiple people within the organization have told me that they believe DJJ is a done deal so they don’t feel obligated to start free agency with him anymore. There is a mutual sense of loyalty between camps after this season’s success. Jones has made it known he wants to stay.

(06-30-2024, 12:33 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: Bobby Marks says Dallas can have a $16.1 million trade exception. 

The Lakers have a $12.9 million MLE if Lebron takes a pay cut. 

If he doesn’t want to come to Dallas for more money than LA, I don’t want him. A three year deal starting at $16 million will also get him more total money than the $48 million Golden State offered him.

(06-30-2024, 12:37 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: This is the point I was trying to make above, only you cut right to the heart of it. 100% agree.

(06-30-2024, 11:23 AM)Winter Wrote: We exchange him for THj, add Grimes,  and our defense is worse ?

(06-30-2024, 12:19 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: It feels more and more likely all the time.  To me, structure of the deal is the most fascinating thing.

Is it the $16.2mm/$10.5mm split I've mentioned where we use some of the NT MLE for DJJ/Marshall with Green gone?

Is it the trade matching version where Thompson is part of a 3-way making about $14mm and we either keep Green or move him to keep the NT MLE for DJJ/Marshall.

Is it a version where we don't keep Green or the ability to use the big MLE and make the deal THJ/Green outgoing matching Grimes/Thompson incoming with Thompson starting at about $24.5mm

Is it like the one above except Powell is outgoing instead of Green and Thompson is back in the $16mm range. (but no NT MLE player unless you send out Green to create that).

Lots of ways to move the chess pieces around.  One thing though, we can't keep Priority 1A and 1B AND players 7 (Green) and 8 (Maxi) AND get Thompson.  I haven't figured a path to that one yet.  At least one of those four players will not be here.

(06-30-2024, 12:44 PM)Deebo Wrote: So who rather lose. Maxi or Green?  Green is better and more potential but we kinda need a stretch big.  We know Lively /gafford will miss some time with injuries etc.  green seems repetitive with Klay/jones jr and grimes.

(06-30-2024, 12:44 PM)Deebo Wrote: So who rather lose. Maxi or Green?  Green is better and more potential but we kinda need a stretch big.  We know Lively /gafford will miss some time with injuries etc.  green seems repetitive with Klay/jones jr and grimes.

(06-30-2024, 12:49 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: Adrian Wojnarowski] ESPN Sources: Restricted free agent F Obi Toppin intends to sign a four-year, $60 million contract to stay with the Indiana Pacers. Toppin emerged as a top bench contributor for the Eastern Conference finalists.