(06-30-2024, 11:59 PM)ThisIStheYear Wrote: Right now, if Josh is the starting 3, they’re too small at that position. He doesn’t play well as a forward (I think the 3 and 4 should pretty much be interchangeable, long, agile defenders). Josh needs to be exclusively a guard. On the other hand, if they trade him for Klay, between that and the DJJ for Marshall swap, they’re a far less athletic team. Grimes is a wildcard replacing THJ, who wasn’t really in the rotation anyhow at the end, so I’m not sure whose minutes Grimes is taking or if he’ll ever be over the persistent injuries thst have limited his effectiveness. Doesn’t look like the Mavs will get much out of this off-season. They’ll be a little better on offense if they get an offensive coordinator, but worse on defense. They’ll miss DJJ’s spectaculsr rim protection and solid POA defense. Klay will be played off the court by good teams and in the playoffs because he no longer guards. I’ve been happy with all the Mav’s moves beginning with Kyrie. Not a fan of tonight.

(07-01-2024, 12:27 AM)BigDirk41 Wrote: I think Klay will be a Mav very soon. Hopefully he decides tomorrow so we can pivot if needed.

(07-01-2024, 12:46 AM)mvossman Wrote: Would have rather had DJJ than either Marshall or Klay. This feels like classic Mavs who go all in on past prime “star” (getting saved by missing) and screwing up rest of free agency.

If we miss out on Klay, Marshall doesn’t solve much in starting unit. He is not POA defender that DJJ is and he shoots less threes than Josh Green. He will not provide any more floor spacing. Grimes prolly makes the most sense to start if he can get back to what he was a year ago. He is the best POA defender left on the team, and the best floor spacer of the options.

To be honest, even if we land Klay there is a decent chance we are starting Grimes by the end of the season when we realize that putting defense next to Luka/Kyrie is more effective than offense against every NBA team except possibly Boston.

(06-30-2024, 11:33 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: So true. Although you can tell from the gleeful tone of some that this is what they wanted to see happen. 

I'm going to laugh so hard when the next shoe drops.

(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.

(07-01-2024, 12:52 AM)mvossman Wrote: It doesn’t really matter now, but DJJ was a starter most of the season. He only came off the bench in 10 games

(07-01-2024, 12:51 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I agree with every word of this, except I hold out more hope than you that Thompson might be a positive (for a year or so).

(07-01-2024, 12:55 AM)mvossman Wrote: I’m not saying Klay will not be a positive, I just think he makes more sense coming off the bench when one of Luka/kyrie are not on the floor.

(07-01-2024, 12:58 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Right, I understand what you are saying. Do you really expect him to come off the bench, even towards the end of the season? I took that as kind of a tongue-in-cheek comment, but maybe you were being serious.

I think if the Mavericks reach a conclusion like what you are suggesting, it is more likely they will move him off of the team at the deadline than bring him off the bench for the rest of the three-year deal it looks like he’s going to get.

So, when I say I’m holding out more hope that he’ll be a positive I mean specifically as a starter.

(07-01-2024, 01:13 AM)JamesConway912 Wrote: FA started at 12 AM in Europe.  The lack breaking news was so anticlimactic I actually fell asleep almost immediately lol. Just got up to the DJJ and Naji news.

This makes me circle back to what I wrote yesterday. As long as we have means to replace DJJ loosing him isn’t the end of this team’s playoff aspirations. Marshall is a good defender and shooter I am perfectly fine with going from DJJ to him if the latter wasn’t on board with a diminished role. I understand that he did good things here but we’ve seen in the finals that a PJ + DJJ starting frontcourt isn’t talented enough on offense at that level. It’s a good thing to me that they’re willing to address this spot with their biggest offseason move.

And even if Klay / T. Harris suck Marshall is a very good safety net.

(07-01-2024, 01:16 AM)mvossman Wrote: I mean the warriors came to the same conclusion last season, and he is only getting older.  I’m struggling to see how it’s going to work without a POA defender. Maybe Lively turns in to Gobert and can make up for 3 questionable defenders. I just think the Mavs found something that really worked up until the finals and throwing it away feels like unnecessary panic move.