(05-24-2025, 01:45 PM)Winter Wrote: "Sources tell The Stein Line that Dallas will be looking to add a capable starter this summer who can later transition into a complementary role once Irving has returned to active duty."

The word "starter"  in this case is interesting. With Kyrie missing much of the season, any backup rotation player from another team will get a chance to be a "starter." I suppose that could be inviting for someone like Tyus Jones who couldn't find any minutes late in the season with Phoenix.

I'm not sure it rules out current starters from other teams, but I would suspect players like Holiday and Derrick White would not be the players one would imagine transitioning into backup roles with the return of Kyrie. Certainly the salaries wouldn't suggest a backup role.

The words, "capable starter" makes me think Dallas is looking for a solid rotation PG playing maybe 20-25 mpg at the very least.

(05-24-2025, 01:45 PM)Winter Wrote: "Sources tell The Stein Line that Dallas will be looking to add a capable starter this summer who can later transition into a complementary role once Irving has returned to active duty."

The words "capable starter"  in this case is interesting. I assume that would be a PG that is currently not a starter, but is "capable" of managing team with heavy minutes. With Kyrie missing much of the season, any backup rotation player from another team will get a chance to be a "starter" in Dallas. I suppose that could be inviting for someone like Tyus Jones who couldn't find many minutes late in the season with Phoenix, but still averaged about 25 mpg.

I'm not sure it rules out current starters from other teams, but I would suspect players like Holiday and Derrick White would not be the players one would imagine transitioning into backup roles with the return of Kyrie. Certainly the salaries wouldn't suggest a backup role.

The words, "capable starter" makes me think Dallas is looking for a solid rotation PG with a history of playing maybe 20-25 mpg at the very least.

(05-24-2025, 01:45 PM)Winter Wrote:  

I suppose that could be inviting for someone like Tyus Jones who couldn't find many minutes late in the season with Phoenix, but still averaged about 25 mpg.

(05-24-2025, 02:38 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: I think Tyus is a very logical name, but I wonder if he'll be willing to take a minimum again or if it will take some/all of the T-MLE.  If it is the latter, Dallas either has to negotiate well with Kyrie or send someone out for air (or a second round pick)...or both to stay under the second apron.

It is the least disruptive to the roster (most of which Nico selected).  Assuming you can get extensions done for Gafford/PJ, that's not the worst idea I've heard.  Here is the resulting roster, though I'd presume at least one person here would be gone with a Tyus signing in order to keep us below Apron 2.

Lively         Gafford    Powell
AD             PJW        OMax
Flagg         Naji         Martin
Thompson  Christie    Hardy
Kyrie          T. Jones   Williams

(05-24-2025, 04:02 PM)RasheedsBigWhiteSpot Wrote: A simple, straightforward question that I will extrapolate further from based on the responses.

Which situation would you deem more probable?

A. The Nico-led front office makes a few trades and a core of AD, Kyrie and Flagg win a championship in the next two seasons

Or

B. You log onto this site and learn that AD has suffered a season-ending lower body injury in training camp, which, not only snuffs out the team's chances the next two seasons, but crushes his value

Thanks. I'll hang up and listen.

(05-24-2025, 04:02 PM)RasheedsBigWhiteSpot Wrote: A simple, straightforward question that I will extrapolate further from based on the responses.

Which situation would you deem more probable?

A. The Nico-led front office makes a few trades and a core of AD, Kyrie and Flagg win a championship in the next two seasons

Or

B. You log onto this site and learn that AD has suffered a season-ending lower body injury in training camp, which, not only snuffs out the team's chances the next two seasons, but crushes his value

Thanks. I'll hang up and listen.

(05-24-2025, 04:29 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: If forced to choose one over the other, based on probability, you have to choose B. But, try to win is what they're GOING TO DO, no matter what we here believe to be the right path. 

And, I personally think it's the right thing to do. Not because I think the team is necessarily well-positioned to make a championship run, but because they're better positioned for that than they are to stockpile meaningful draft picks. If we weren't about to enter the period where their own draft capital is completely mortgaged, I'd be all about using AD/Kyrie/Thompson and possibly some of the other late-20's guys to pile a little more on top, but the reality is that being bad AT THIS SPECIFIC TIME gets you nothing, outside of maybe next year's pick being another lottery dice roll. That one chance doesn't do much for me, and the type of picks they'd get for those guys (other than AD, MAYBE) won't be unprotected, and won't be from bad teams. In other words, they'd be of little value in trades when bundled together and far more likely to result in drafting Jaden Hardy types than Jalen Brunson types if kept. 

Meanwhile, championship or not, a TON can be gained for Flagg by ensuring he at least gets to be around high-functioning, respected pros on a day-to-day over the course of his first contract, and he's very likely to experience a few playoff series during his early years here, at least. That's not an opportunity every #1 pick has, and it could accelerate his growth quite a bit, I think. There's major value in putting him next to a guy like Davis that's being overlooked around here. Value for FLAGG and his longterm career, not just for the next 2-3 seasons. 

It's an absolute no-brainer, from my POV. Now, if the Mavs had access to their own picks over the next several years, I'd at least consider blowing it up. But, they don't, and that bell can't be un-rung by moving anything they have here, I don't think. I mean, you could probably get a few unprotected picks from a team that might be bad FOR FLAGG, but that would obviously defeat the whole purpose.

(05-24-2025, 07:17 PM)RasheedsBigWhiteSpot Wrote: No, KL, I disagree that AD has limited trade appeal. I think, at a minimum, he would get the Mavs back to neutral from the lack of 1sts dealt to build around Luka. In fact, I can think of a number of teams who would pay handsomely to return AD to his valuable Tier One "Robin" role. 

(05-25-2025, 02:19 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: In terms of the quoted portion above, I agree that AD has value, but I don’t think you realize the depth of the hole you’re trying to fill. Yes, you could get some first round draft capital in exchange for him, but it would be from a good team, so those picks would not be worth very much. Meanwhile, your own picks, worth quite a bit since you are bottoming out and starting over, will be going to other teams. It’s the dumbest possible thing they could do. To do what you are suggesting, your team’s own draft picks need to be part of the war chest.