(07-03-2023, 10:29 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: Stein said a few other interesting things.

Mavs probably don’t have enough to trade for Allen IF Cleveland decided to move him.

Mavs having trouble finding Hardaway takers.

Also mentioned Mavs would be open to helping facilitate the Dame trade but it kind of felt like a “mavs would be doing their jobs” sort of answer, nothing really concrete

(07-04-2023, 07:20 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Thanks.  My biggest fear is they don't have any trade lined up for Hardaway or others.  Or at least legit things in motion.  Hardaway is a good/solid player.   I wouldn't call it a win just to get off of him without that leading to a similar level player.

I am also worried that we are just waiting and hoping on restricted free agents.  

I want to hope they got things in the works, but that brings me back to previous summers where it ended in disappointment.

Regarding Bamba, I may be in favor of giving him a smaller contract than Thybulle at the full MLE.  But I really haven't thought much about it.   If the Mavs are fans of his (or at least what he could be), I am sure they can wink wink him that we would have minutes for him.  I guess what I am saying is he would be an interesting low cost gamble.

---

So, I was brave enough to bring up "hard cap" in a fourth of July gathering last night despite not knowing what it means.  I have not been brave enough to bring up DroppingDimes20 yet

(07-04-2023, 07:09 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I’m a big fan of Washington as a small ball center. I have seen him used that way to devastating effect. As a 4, he’s ok. Grant Williams would be better in THAT role, I think, due to his superior shooting. Defense is roughly the same, based on what I’ve seen.

If the plan is to play Washington WITH a center (here we go again) he’ll have to play a certain way. Not here to say he can’t, but not vouching for him in that role, either.

(07-04-2023, 07:09 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I’m a big fan of Washington as a small ball center. I have seen him used that way to devastating effect. As a 4, he’s ok. Grant Williams would be better in THAT role, I think, due to his superior shooting. Defense is roughly the same, based on what I’ve seen.

If the plan is to play Washington WITH a center (here we go again) he’ll have to play a certain way. Not here to say he can’t, but not vouching for him in that role, either.

(07-04-2023, 07:09 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I’m a big fan of Washington as a small ball center. I have seen him used that way to devastating effect. As a 4, he’s ok. Grant Williams would be better in THAT role, I think, due to his superior shooting. Defense is roughly the same, based on what I’ve seen.

If the plan is to play Washington WITH a center (here we go again) he’ll have to play a certain way. Not here to say he can’t, but not vouching for him in that role, either.

(07-04-2023, 07:09 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I’m a big fan of Washington as a small ball center. I have seen him used that way to devastating effect. As a 4, he’s ok. Grant Williams would be better in THAT role, I think, due to his superior shooting. Defense is roughly the same, based on what I’ve seen.

If the plan is to play Washington WITH a center (here we go again) he’ll have to play a certain way. Not here to say he can’t, but not vouching for him in that role, either.

(07-04-2023, 09:28 AM)mvossman Wrote: I think there is some value to him playing some small ball 5.  I also think he is fine playing the 4.  He can definitely handle it defensively.  I also like the idea of a frontcourt of Maxi/Washington.  I think for a team with holes at both 4 and the 5, he makes a lot of sense.

(07-04-2023, 09:41 AM)DallasMaverick Wrote: If they decide to play a switch-everything defense, how versatile is PJ?

Seems like Powell is marginally better equipped for that than Holmes, but I haven’t seen Holmes’ game enough to have an opinion.

(07-04-2023, 10:12 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: Only concern I have with PJ is that while he's a small ball 4 (maybe even 5), he's only 6'7. Much smaller than Maxi. Why would he be anything but a 3 here?

If anything he's basically like THJ but a bit more efficient.

As another total aside, how gettable could Mark Williams be...?

(07-04-2023, 10:18 AM)mvossman Wrote: He is 240 with over 7 ft wingspan. He is a switchable 4

(07-04-2023, 10:12 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: Only concern I have with PJ is that while he's a small ball 4 (maybe even 5), he's only 6'7. Much smaller than Maxi. Why would he be anything but a 3 here?

If anything he's basically like THJ but a bit more efficient.

As another total aside, how gettable could Mark Williams be...?

(07-04-2023, 10:12 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: Only concern I have with PJ is that while he's a small ball 4 (maybe even 5), he's only 6'7. Much smaller than Maxi. Why would he be anything but a 3 here?

If anything he's basically like THJ but a bit more efficient.

As another total aside, how gettable could Mark Williams be...?

(07-04-2023, 10:37 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: 21/22 season he played about 40% of his minutes as the center.  82games shows the lineups, so you can actually see he was the center.

22/23 they tried to put the ball in his hands and let him do more on-ball stuff.  He wasn’t ever the center really.  You could argue some of his time was at the 3 based on who he played with.

Interesting, one year the Charlotte D was much better when he was on the floor and the O was the same.  The other year it was just the opposite.  O was much better and D was the same.  Part of the role of pro-scouting is understanding how someone might fit onto your roster.  If you think of him as a longer (wingspan) DFS who has the strength to ‘guard up’ more than Finney could, but someone who can do MUCH more with the ball in his hands than DFS (heck, maybe more than THJ), then you probably have PJ.

His efficiency dropped as his shot quality was worse last season as he created more or his own stuff.  Heck, it wouldn’t surprise me if his TS% got back up to his career high .588 with Luka and Kyrie AND you’d probably still get a little of that self created stuff in there which didn’t happen when he achieved that .588.  I think he’s basically a mix and match piece who can play all sorts of roles offensively and is switchable defensively (and won’t be hunted by any means).  Eventually, the ability to play with Lively is what will matter (by the time a 4 year deal is over).  I have no issue with him in such a role.

(07-04-2023, 10:46 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Washington is ABSOLUTELY not a 3. Not even close. He’s a 4/5, and that has become a rare animal these days. That’s a good thing, because it’s what the Mavs desperately need.

(07-04-2023, 10:47 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: PJ is a 3 if you think Thybulle is like Franky Smokes

(07-04-2023, 10:58 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Both good defenders, but only against guards, not forwards. Both game changers on defense, but so limited, offensively, that they are basically unplayable. Thubulle’s defense is probably a little better, Ntilikina’s handles and general offensive competency is a bit better (still nowhere good enough). How is that not basically the same situation?

If the Mavs get Grant Williams (my preference) or Washington, this off-season will get an A from me. While I’m not against having Thybulle on the roster, giving him a multi-year deal at MLE money seems insane to me.

(07-04-2023, 07:58 AM)omahen Wrote: I really don't understand Bamba fascination on part of this board (not related to you specifically). Orlando didn't think he has it to be kept long term. He couldn't crack Lakers rotation and they obviously didn't want to keep him at 10 mil, clearly signalling how high opinion they have about him. On a personal note, I was never impressed watching him play. Similar to Wood he can shoot a three and block a shot, but terribly out of position on defense all the time. Not capable of switching on faster players. So, without a doubt from my perspective, he is not the starter material we need and likely not better than any of the crap centers we already have. He is not the solution we need. I don't care if we give him vet min to be the third or fourth center (behind the starting centre, Lively and then competing with Powell for remaining minutes). But with all the centers on the team, it would seem to be just a wasted roster spot. 

Mavs need to find a starting centre, clear roster of wasted contracts and roster spots (McGee, likely Holmes), than I guess we discuss the likes of Bamba.

(07-04-2023, 10:58 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Both good defenders, but only against guards, not forwards. Both game changers on defense, but so limited, offensively, that they are basically unplayable. Thubulle’s defense is probably a little better, Ntilikina’s handles and general offensive competency is a bit better (still nowhere near good enough). How is that not basically the same situation?

If the Mavs get Grant Williams (my preference) or Washington, this off-season will get an A from me. While I’m not against having Thybulle on the roster, giving him a multi-year deal at MLE money seems insane to me.

(07-04-2023, 11:08 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: No I get that.  I am not a huge Bamba fan either.   The vision of him doesn't meet the reality.  so maybe it was just an early in the morning take.   On the other hand I could see in 2-3 years saying "man, you remember a few years ago where you could of have had him for 3 million".   I could also see him almost out of the league in 2-3 years.