(03-24-2025, 01:43 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: @TheSteinLine
Anthony Davis has missed the past 18 games with a left adductor strain and was initially targeting Tuesday at Madison Square Garden for his return, but the comeback game could be moved up to tonight at Brooklyn with Dallas now moving Davis' status from doubtful to questionable.

(03-24-2025, 01:54 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: Ugh!  Can we wait until after this road trip?  Seems sort of rushed.  Seems like he just started practicing 5 on 5.   I don't think the team has practiced much and he was sent down twice, I believe, to the G-league team.   Seems like quite the jump from the old man shooting before games that he did a few weeks ago to playing in a game.    I would much rather see how he did after like 10 practices.    I don't think our training staff deserves any trust.

(03-18-2025, 09:18 AM)mvossman Wrote: We never needed Klay.  We should have kept DJJ and let Grimes replace Timmy's role.  How good would Grimes have been as the 6th man bringing scoring punch off the bench?

(03-24-2025, 02:25 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: And finally, it also feels like AD has a bone to pick with everyone doubting his own ability. I mean he also sees just how everyone is making fun of the Luka trade and calling him a throw in. I think he wants to prove everyone he is better than Luka.

(03-24-2025, 04:34 PM)cow Wrote: I don't think anyone has ever doubted The Brow's ability, it's always been his availability.  I also don't think anyone has classified AD as a throw in, just that Nico should have gotten much, much, much more in return for trading away Luka.  The shade is towards Nico, not AD.

(03-24-2025, 04:34 PM)cow Wrote: I don't think anyone has ever doubted The Brow's ability, it's always been his availability.  I also don't think anyone has classified AD as a throw in, just that Nico should have gotten much, much, much more in return for trading away Luka.  The shade is towards Nico, not AD.

(03-24-2025, 09:55 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: I disagree. How many pundits have called this the most laughable lopsided trade of all time? That speaks to the talent disparity of the trade. The rancorous discourse over this trade has been constant for the last 2 months. If this wasn't such a lopsided trade, the talk of it would have been treated like any other big trade of the last decade. But the Luka trade was different. We all know it was different. And it spoke to the abilities of AD vs. Luka. I think that weighs on him. 

And it's why AD has made it a point repeatedly to say "Mavs fans I'm here now" and "Yeah they traded Luka, but they got me." Hell his first game he stormed to mid court to scream at fans "I'm here now!" in the midst of destroying the Rockets.

(03-24-2025, 09:55 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: I disagree. How many pundits have called this the most laughable lopsided trade of all time? That speaks to the talent disparity of the trade. The rancorous discourse over this trade has been constant for the last 2 months. If this wasn't such a lopsided trade, the talk of it would have been treated like any other big trade of the last decade. But the Luka trade was different. We all know it was different. And it spoke to the abilities of AD vs. Luka. I think that weighs on him. 

And it's why AD has made it a point repeatedly to say "Mavs fans I'm here now" and "Yeah they traded Luka, but they got me." Hell his first game he stormed to mid court to scream at fans "I'm here now!" in the midst of destroying the Rockets.

(03-24-2025, 09:55 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: And it's why AD has made it a point repeatedly to say "Mavs fans I'm here now" and "Yeah they traded Luka, but they got me." Hell his first game he stormed to mid court to scream at fans "I'm here now!" in the midst of destroying the Rockets.

(03-25-2025, 07:39 PM)F Gump Wrote: An informative note (h/t: M Stein) that could possibly be relevant to Mavs fans, in just the right scenario:

The Miami Heat were the East's No. 8 seed in 2022-23, after needing two Play-In games just to reach the playoffs. They ultimately advanced to the NBA Finals. FWIW.

(03-26-2025, 09:13 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Kessler Edwards time has come to an end with the Mavs...for now.    I just want to say how impressive the Mavs two way players have been.  In each case they have played better than some of the guys with NBA contracts on the team.    Looking forward all made a good case for themselves to be NBA players.  Although they will continue to have uphill battles to earn NBA contracts.  Some comments on all of them:

Kessler Edwards- Prototype size.  Good/smart defender.  Still only 24.  With more playing time, he also hit some open threes.  Not a high volume shooter but proved he was not a zero shooting.  One negative is that he basically played emergency center when we did not have any bigs.  It is too bad we didn't really see him play with a center much or on the wing.  I think he will need to show he can be productive on the wing.

Kai Jones- Elite athleticism and good size.  You don't see that combo much.  Plays hard.  Sort of a weird shot, but so far it has gone in more than it hasn't.  I think the key for him is doing the small and boring things well.    We will get more opportunity to see how he plays moving forward.  One negative, is if we bring the roster back next year he will be the fourth center.  Also, Powell has another year left on his contract.  If we can't move Powell, do you keep a 5th center?  I believe he has two way eligibility left, but he is clearly going to be looking for an nba contract.

Brandon Williams- Really impressive and is really crafty in the lane.  He looks the part.  I will be intersting how he looks with a more complete team.  Instead of a guy looking to get his own points.  Can he run an offense?  Also, I have not been paying attention but is he a mess on defense?  At his size, it is really hard.  With the Mavs lack of ability to put pressure on the rim, he may have a decent chance to get a contract next year.  Although, there are a lot of options out there, so he will need to continue to play hard. 

Jazian Gortman-  The forgotten guy.  He stuck around with the G-league team and I think he has a decent shot to get a two way spot next year.  Around 4 years younger than Brandon Williams and hasn't really played important games.  His game is still really loose and will need to find a way to get reps.  He looks the part though.    He just needs a lot of work in serious basketball games.

(03-26-2025, 05:00 PM)FireNicoHarrison Wrote:  trade one of Gafford and Lively for a good PG.

(03-26-2025, 09:13 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Kessler Edwards time has come to an end with the Mavs...for now.    I just want to say how impressive the Mavs two way players have been.  In each case they have played better than some of the guys with NBA contracts on the team.    Looking forward all made a good case for themselves to be NBA players.  Although they will continue to have uphill battles to earn NBA contracts.  Some comments on all of them:

Kessler Edwards- Prototype size.  Good/smart defender.  Still only 24.  With more playing time, he also hit some open threes.  Not a high volume shooter but proved he was not a zero shooting.  One negative is that he basically played emergency center when we did not have any bigs.  It is too bad we didn't really see him play with a center much or on the wing.  I think he will need to show he can be productive on the wing.

Kai Jones- Elite athleticism and good size.  You don't see that combo much.  Plays hard.  Sort of a weird shot, but so far it has gone in more than it hasn't.  I think the key for him is doing the small and boring things well.    We will get more opportunity to see how he plays moving forward.  One negative, is if we bring the roster back next year he will be the fourth center.  Also, Powell has another year left on his contract.  If we can't move Powell, do you keep a 5th center?  I believe he has two way eligibility left, but he is clearly going to be looking for an nba contract.

Brandon Williams- Really impressive and is really crafty in the lane.  He looks the part.  I will be intersting how he looks with a more complete team.  Instead of a guy looking to get his own points.  Can he run an offense?  Also, I have not been paying attention but is he a mess on defense?  At his size, it is really hard.  With the Mavs lack of ability to put pressure on the rim, he may have a decent chance to get a contract next year.  Although, there are a lot of options out there, so he will need to continue to play hard. 

Jazian Gortman-  The forgotten guy.  He stuck around with the G-league team and I think he has a decent shot to get a two way spot next year.  Around 4 years younger than Brandon Williams and hasn't really played important games.  His game is still really loose and will need to find a way to get reps.  He looks the part though.    He just needs a lot of work in serious basketball games.