(01-08-2025, 09:56 AM)mvossman Wrote: I agree with board concern regarding Grimes being mentioned at all in trade discussions.  One of the many negatives of the current injury situation is that Grimes is going to get a lot more minutes and potentially jack up his price.

One interesting scenario that I have not seen suggested.  If the Mavs are concerned with Grimes costing too much, and Herb Jones actually is available for the  right price, some kind of package centered around Grimes + first for Jones might make some sense.  I don't know if Maxi + Grimes + first works (it does in NBA trade machine) but that would make sense from an overall minutes standpoint.

(01-08-2025, 09:56 AM)mvossman Wrote: I agree with board concern regarding Grimes being mentioned at all in trade discussions.  One of the many negatives of the current injury situation is that Grimes is going to get a lot more minutes and potentially jack up his price.

One interesting scenario that I have not seen suggested.  If the Mavs are concerned with Grimes costing too much, and Herb Jones actually is available for the  right price, some kind of package centered around Grimes + first for Jones might make some sense.  I don't know if Maxi + Grimes + first works (it does in NBA trade machine) but that would make sense from an overall minutes standpoint.

(01-07-2025, 09:48 PM)ThisIStheYear Wrote: Maxi looked decent as a backup center. Much better than as a power forward. Maybe that’s his future if the Mavs trade Gaff.

(01-08-2025, 11:04 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: My favorite pick from the 23 draft may be available. Although, seeing this, not sure if I want him now….

@casualtakeking
The Houston Rockets may have a Cam Whitmore problem. ?

HE WANTS TO PLAY. Tonight he had 17 pts in 18 min on 8 shots.

-Not celebrating with team on the bench
- Jalen Green telling Tari Eason how Cam pushed him and he pushed him back
-Storms off the court and bumps Tari

(01-08-2025, 11:38 AM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: Yes, C hides Maxi's degraded game more than PF.  He's not the backup C we need, tho.  Gafford is.  I don't understand why everyone is so quick to trade away Gafford when we have a 1-2 punch at C that no one can match.  Not to mention...  Maxi is always hurt.  Trending towards 800 minutes this year.  IMO, Obi is our answer to replace Maxi.

(01-08-2025, 11:36 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Someone above (can't remember who) proposed this literal trade, only with TWO outgoing 1sts. He said it was a perfect match, money-wise (I haven't checked). 

I personally don't think that's enough to get it done, but then again, maybe Jones is trying to force his way out behind the scenes? For the record, I'd be ALL OVER THAT.

(01-08-2025, 11:50 AM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: You'd think falling in the draft would have humbled him.

HOU is a shark tank of stud young big SFs stuck behind Brooks; of course there's going to be some biting.  If I'm them, you keep Tari and Amen.  Whitmore and Tate should be moved for better fitting parts.  Whitmore looks like the lottery pick he was supposed to be.  Pushing your starting SG and bumping the dude you can't play in front of is a bad look though.

(01-08-2025, 11:36 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Someone above (can't remember who) proposed this literal trade, only with TWO outgoing 1sts. He said it was a perfect match, money-wise (I haven't checked). 

I personally don't think that's enough to get it done, but then again, maybe Jones is trying to force his way out behind the scenes? For the record, I'd be ALL OVER THAT.

(01-08-2025, 11:51 AM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: The Maxi injury concern is real but the 1-2 punch that no one can match is starting to get exposed this season.  Gafford is fun to watch but is starting to show he's really an average backup center at best and I think there's fair concerns that his next contract won't be worth it.

He has the worst defensive rating in the rotation and his defensive rebounding rate is really rough as well.  He's a -1 in net rating and Hardy is the only other rotation player (if you can call him that) with a negative net rating.  Lively's net rating by comparison is 7.7.  He's a fan favorite for a reason, I get that, but he's become pretty over valued pretty quickly because we're a jaded fanbase when it comes to the center position.

(01-08-2025, 12:02 PM)DallasMaverick Wrote: You’d think that, after Kevin Porter, the Rockets would want to jettison malcontents quickly.

Buy low?

(01-08-2025, 11:51 AM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: The Maxi injury concern is real but the 1-2 punch that no one can match is starting to get exposed this season.  Gafford is fun to watch but is starting to show he's really an average backup center at best and I think there's fair concerns that his next contract won't be worth it.

He has the worst defensive rating in the rotation and his defensive rebounding rate is really rough as well.  He's a -1 in net rating and Hardy is the only other rotation player (if you can call him that) with a negative net rating.  Lively's net rating by comparison is 7.7.  He's a fan favorite for a reason, I get that, but he's become pretty over valued pretty quickly because we're a jaded fanbase when it comes to the center position.

(01-08-2025, 12:31 PM)mvossman Wrote: This seems harsh.  Gafford is definitely an above average backup center, its just that most of his value is on the offensive end.  The real issue is that he makes a lot more than most of his competition.  Teams don't spend money on backup centers unless they can also play the 4.  This has been touted as a competitive advantage, but I'm not sure if that's true, especially in the playoffs where the best teams like to play centers off the court.

(01-08-2025, 12:11 PM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: What team can match 48 minutes of Lively/Gafford?

(01-08-2025, 11:59 AM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: I don't necessarily think Herb Jones is a guy that would require 3-4 first round picks.

He scores 10ppg and last season was the only time he was good from three.  He is the archetype of player everyone wants so maybe I'm wrong.