(07-03-2024, 04:49 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: Finding a Maxi replacement should be a priority for all the reasons you mentioned. But as long as they don't have one you cannot give him up for another guard/wing. Mavs need to have some kind of 5-out/switch all option on the roster. Maybe PJ can do it in stretches. Maybe OMax takes the next step and the Mavs can get away with him playing some center minutes.
The playoffs showed that in certain matchups Gafford isn't playable. He actually exceeded my expectations but when Maxi was available he played less than 20 minutes per game for a reason (only 15mpg in the finals). I would assume that longterm Lively is going to play starter minutes but I don't think he is a switch all big. Just a better and more mobile version of Gafford playing drop defense.

Only issue that every single team in the league is looking for younger and more durable versions of Maxi. All the cheap options have major flaws. There is a long list of shooting bigs that cannot defend. Even more versatile defenders that cannot shoot. But the combination of both is rare.

(07-03-2024, 04:50 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: 2) I keep seeing 5 out center.  Mavs don't view him as a big piece there.   

(07-03-2024, 05:05 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: @TheDunkCentral
The Lakers are showing interest in Kyle Kuzma, per
@AnthonyIrwinLA


“Sources say the Lakers have held trade talks with the Portland Trail Blazers about Jerami Grant, the Brooklyn Nets about Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, the Toronto Raptors about Bruce Brown and the Wasington Wizards about Kyle Kuzma — as well as other teams and other trade targets. To this point, though, those are the names most closely linked to the Lakers, according to league and team sources.”

(07-03-2024, 05:00 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Hard, hard disagree. I think if you look at how he has been used, it's pretty easy to reach the opposite of this conclusion. He's significantly more effective at the 5, and that's where they used him the most, by FAR, when he was healthy. Remember that Kleber/Washington combo that was so effective down the stretch? It was one of the best things they had, and they were leaning on it a ton in important moments. It's how they closed a ton of games (most, maybe).

The place he is ineffective is the 4. They did that a little in the Finals (it didn't go well), but really not much down that stretch when they were winning games at the end of the season. 

I don't think this is a matter of opinion, I think the emboldened statement is factually untrue. No idea if that means they do/don't trade him, I only know what it does for my answer to the hypothetical you posed.

(07-03-2024, 05:23 PM)Winter Wrote: While I think this is generally true, I agree with Chicago that Maxi is not here much longer. The best bet to replace him I think is Omax, but he's a work in progress and the strengths of the two players are not identical.

I think the best bet is to keep Maxi this season. Maybe you see things differently in mid-season when you have a better read on the players, but there's no rush here.

BTW, it may just be me but every time I see Omax play on the court he looks like someone who is about 6'10". Most of the time, he looks bigger than everyone he's playing with. Maybe I'm just imagining this.

(07-03-2024, 05:28 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I can get behind all of this, especially the O-Max hope. 

It just drives me bonkers that people won't acknowledge what's right in front of them about how Kleber is viewed, both by the Mavs and by the sport. 

They were literally closing games with him at the 5, right until he got injured. The Kleber at 5, PJ at 4 lineup was a revelation during that stretch of wins to end the season, and a key factor in the team's strong play. Frankly, at that time, there is every indication that Kidd considered that lineup his best, at least in a great many matchups. That wasn't two years ago, it was this past season.

(07-03-2024, 05:38 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Let me say this: people will roll their eyes, and I doubt we'll ever know for sure because the Mavs are likely to be buyers, not sellers, for the next year at least. But, Kleber is the type of useful bench vet you can get a late first for at the deadline, as long as he's healthy. You couldn't get that for him NOW (just like BRK is struggling to get one for DFS), but at the deadline, a contender who's close and needs what Kleber can bring to the table might bite the bullet.

(07-03-2024, 05:48 PM)Jason Terry Wrote: Exactly. We went years and years with Maxi and Dorian as the only non-Luka players worth a damn. Maxi is far more rare than the Dorian types. The list of true 5 out centers is short. Maybe like 10 names and Maxi is one of them

(07-03-2024, 07:25 PM)Smitty Wrote: FWIW Markieff Morris says on Twitter that he’s coming back to the Mavs and wants his brother to join.

@Keefmorris
I’m coming back. I want bro to come with me.

(07-03-2024, 07:30 PM)Smitty Wrote: If that’s the case is everyone happy with the roster?

Luka | Exum
Irving | Grimes | Hardy
Klay | Naji | Omax
PJW | Marcus | Markieff
Lively | Gafford | Maxi | Powell

(07-03-2024, 07:30 PM)Smitty Wrote: If that’s the case is everyone happy with the roster?

Luka | Exum
Irving | Grimes | Hardy
Klay | Naji | Omax
PJW | Marcus | Markieff
Lively | Gafford | Maxi | Powell

(07-03-2024, 07:52 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Extremely, but unless we ignore everything Forrest Gump has been screaming at us, that doesn’t seem possible.

(07-03-2024, 07:52 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Extremely, but unless we ignore everything Forrest Gump has been screaming at us, that doesn’t seem possible.

(07-03-2024, 07:54 PM)BigDirk41 Wrote: I thought we could cut Lawson and sign 2 guys for the minimum. Is that not accurate?