(06-30-2024, 10:58 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Free agent forward Derrick Jones Jr. plans to sign a three-year, $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Major pickup for the Clippers.

(06-30-2024, 11:21 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I just don't think there are minutes for Green AND Marshall AND Grimes AND Thompson. I know they aren't all the exact same player, but it seems far-fetched to me.

(06-30-2024, 11:20 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: So, some reality checks here...

Naji Marshall is just fine.  He can guard POA just fine (especially on a team with good rim protection).  Between Marshall, Grimes, PJ and our centers, we haven't dropped off on D much if at all (depends on minutes and rotation more than personnel).  Nobody gave a rats ass when DJ was signed.  Total non-event.  Marshall comes in with his latest season being better than anything Jones Jr. ever achieved.  We all liked the devil we knew.  He worked out incredibly well.  But any perceived drop-off from DJJ to Marshall will not likely be our biggest problem (and no, DJJ isn't coming back and we aren't trading for Thybulle...stop it).

Right now Josh Green is our starting 3.  
Starters are Center, PJ, Green, Kyrie, Luka 
Backups are Center, Maxi, Marshall, Grimes, Exum.  
Hardy and OMax will continue to scrap for developmental minutes.

Personally, I'm fine if this is it.  I'm fine if we make a deal to upgrade a starting spot (Green being the obvious choice).  Thompson gets you premium shooting, but not a ton else (self-creation days are largely over).  

I'd also be fine if we dealt Maxi for Tobias.  He can do more with the ball and that is a need for the second unit.  I'd be all about the 6-9 spots being Grimes, Naji, Tobias and Lively with one of our stars.  Really, any of those guys could start instead of Green, but the rotation might make more sense with Tobias as a secondary creator off the bench.  

I'd still be fine with Green for better creators like Bogdan or even Sexton (he'd definitely need to come off the bench).  We have the means for one more move.  Net improvement is still within our reach.  Heck, I'm not sure we haven't achieved it already.  Grimes/Marshall for Jones is all that really matters from a playoff perspective and Jones was losing minutes that last series.  One more move, whether Klay or Tobias or really anyone more valuable than Green or Maxi and we are good to go IMHO.

(06-30-2024, 11:25 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: SMH

Not only did he not have to wait 15 days but he only got $1 million more per year. 

what in the world

(06-30-2024, 11:30 PM)BolsDamols Wrote: one of the more confusing free agency periods in recent memory

(06-30-2024, 11:31 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: I know this is mega frustrating, but taking a step back there is zero chance any of us could've predicted the 1st night of FA starting like this. And that's kind of what makes FA a load of fun.

(06-30-2024, 11:04 PM)speedkilz88 Wrote: click on their name and on the new page scroll down to the right.

(06-30-2024, 11:26 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Agree with everything except the idea that the Mavs are willing to go into the season with Green as the starting 3. I will continue to doubt that until it happens, and I'm not sure them stopping right where things are would even make that seem likely. 

If it's to be Harris, I will definitely hope for him to come off the bench, as you suggest. That's an area where he might do some good. But, I'd prefer Marshall or Grimes in the starting lineup (because those are now the two best ball-handler defenders).

(06-30-2024, 11:35 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: I mean it's obvious.  It wasn't the money.  It wasn't the new agent.  It's not because DJJ knows Klay is signing here.

(06-30-2024, 11:21 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I just don't think there are minutes for Green AND Marshall AND Grimes AND Thompson. I know they aren't all the exact same player, but it seems far-fetched to me.

(06-30-2024, 11:40 PM)BigDirk41 Wrote: Yeah I don't think Green will start if here, but I also don't think he'll be here. Marshall will start at the 3 if we don't get Klay. Klay will obviously start if we get him.

(06-30-2024, 11:42 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I hope that's what happens. Maybe it's the fallback, sure. Or, maybe they're specifically out there with the goal of procuring a starting SF in mind. They certainly didn't pay Marshall like a starter, though that doesn't mean everything.

(06-30-2024, 11:44 PM)BigDirk41 Wrote: DJJ wasn't paid like a starter last year either. I can't speak for the Mavs, but if they think Marshall can do what DJJ did, the cost is irrelevant, right? They seem like similar players. I still think the plan is to get Klay, but Marshall could start if we strike out.

(06-30-2024, 11:49 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: ...and he WASN'T a starter until very late in the season. They've basically said "congrats on being our best option and helping us get to the Finals. Now, we think we can do better." That's well within their rights, I just hope they didn't overthink this! 

If you're suggesting Marshall will be given a chance to earn the job, maybe. But I suspect they're out there promising Thompson a starting job, and I bet that's what they'll do with the next guy (probably Harris) too. 

Dan's right about one thing: Green, at the moment, is the most PAID like a starter.