(06-25-2025, 01:22 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Welcome back!

I think they gave him low-end starting center money. To your point, if that contract is to be the THIRD CENTER here, then yes, it's dumb. Very dumb. But, I'm pretty convinced the contract is for him to be the starting center on a different team, and probably by opening night. There's even Kai Jones interest now. One of the centers on this team (and not just Powell) is on the move, imo.

(06-25-2025, 01:40 PM)mvossman Wrote: Thanks, but I don't think I can be fully back until they get rid of Nico.  Feel the same way about Dumont, but if/when he fires Nico, brings in someone competent and gets out of the way maybe I can forget him.  This whole thing would be hopeless if they didn't fall ass backwards into Flagg.

(06-25-2025, 01:32 PM)mvossman Wrote: I would argue not negotiating is the definition of bad negotiation.

If Nico did not make the Luka trade, that Grimes trade would easily be the worst of the TDL.

His track record when Dennis Linsey was not here is ugly.  Kyrie was a huge risk that paid off, but does not come close to making up for Brunson, McGee, Wood, Luka, Grimes, etc.

(06-25-2025, 01:48 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Kinda glad Luka's gone, honestly, and excited about the future! I hope we see you around here more!

(06-25-2025, 01:48 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: That sucks for you, sorry to hear that. 

I'm totally over it. Kinda glad Luka's gone, honestly, and excited about the future! I hope we see you around here more!

(06-25-2025, 02:41 PM)mvossman Wrote: Not only am I not over it, my bigger issue is the likelihood that we will see similarly wildly incompetent moves in the future.

(06-25-2025, 06:58 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: To answer your question, I hope it is the latter.  I'm not infatuated with any of the FA guards out there.  The roster is unbalanced and signing a single fill-in guard doesn't do it for me.  I hope our financial position lets us negotiate out of strength.  

(06-25-2025, 03:27 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: I realize dislike Dangelo Russell but looking at this roster, I don't think we can do much better, if CP3 isn't open to coming here. 

Honestly, I probably wouldn't pay to watch this team if it wasn't for Flagg.

(06-25-2025, 01:56 PM)cow Wrote:

(06-25-2025, 02:44 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Maybe, but everything done this summer (so far) has been reasonable and competent. I don't credit Harrison with winning the lottery, obviously, but he seems to have done a good job of positioning the team to have several decent to very good options tonight as things play out. I'm cautiously optimistic. Excited, even. 

That could change very quickly of course, but I actually like where this team is. Very much.

(06-25-2025, 03:37 PM)mvossman Wrote: The moves have been ok so far, but I am waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Its his lack of negotiation skills in trades that has been his biggest issue.  The safest thing is he does nothing and we simply pick up a tax MLE PG, but that will leave this roster very overbalanced towards the front court.

(06-25-2025, 04:03 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Yeah, sure. It's fine to feel that way. 

For me, if I felt like it was all pointless, I'd do something else with my time. I haven't felt like this is all pointless for weeks now, and it has gotten fun again.

(06-25-2025, 02:44 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Maybe, but everything done this summer (so far) has been reasonable and competent. I don't credit Harrison with winning the lottery, obviously, but he seems to have done a good job of positioning the team to have several decent to very good options tonight as things play out. I'm cautiously optimistic. Excited, even. 

That could change very quickly of course, but I actually like where this team is. Very much.

(06-25-2025, 05:07 PM)michaeltex Wrote: I don't want to come off as a Nico defender, but a GM usually only gets visibility a couple times a year. Now, with the draft followed closely by the start of FA, all the changes kind of gets all blurred together so it's like one big event. The other time is as the season approaches TDL. In between, there aren't a lot of opportunities to make a splash, whether it's a perfect 1 1/2 in pike position or a huge belly flop. 

The Luka trade was a bit of both. Maybe it was indeed time for some space between Luka and the team given all the stories about injury, recovery and conditioning. But it was a total disregard to perception by the fanbase and the league overall that added the belly flop.

Since then, there hasn't been much more Nico could do than just take the heat. Although he did make the Grimes trade a few days later and hard headedly failed to take it back even when given the opportunity. (TBH, this was maybe as egregious than the Luka trade)

But before February, he did have some positives going: acquiring Kyrie, trading deadwood contracts and turning it into Lively, going out and getting Gaff and PJW to fill needs. So, despite all the emotional response to the Luka trade has improved the team.

I'm now, grudgingly, interested to see what he does during tonight's draft and into next week's FA period.

(06-25-2025, 07:08 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: Bobby Karalla
@bobbykaralla
I am opposed to the Mavs' vision fundamentally and do not believe it is the best way to compete in today's NBA. Furthermore, using the cheapest resources at your disposal at the most important decision-making position in the sport is very bad.

(06-25-2025, 05:07 PM)michaeltex Wrote: I don't want to come off as a Nico defender, but a GM usually only gets visibility a couple times a year. Now, with the draft followed closely by the start of FA, all the changes kind of gets all blurred together so it's like one big event. The other time is as the season approaches TDL. In between, there aren't a lot of opportunities to make a splash, whether it's a perfect 1 1/2 in pike position or a huge belly flop. 

The Luka trade was a bit of both. Maybe it was indeed time for some space between Luka and the team given all the stories about injury, recovery and conditioning. But it was a total disregard to perception by the fanbase and the league overall that added the belly flop.

Since then, there hasn't been much more Nico could do than just take the heat. Although he did make the Grimes trade a few days later and hard headedly failed to take it back even when given the opportunity. (TBH, this was maybe as egregious than the Luka trade)

But before February, he did have some positives going: acquiring Kyrie, trading deadwood contracts and turning it into Lively, going out and getting Gaff and PJW to fill needs. So, despite all the emotional response to the Luka trade has improved the team.

I'm now, grudgingly, interested to see what he does during tonight's draft and into next week's FA period.

(06-25-2025, 06:16 PM)mvossman Wrote: I can't get over that most of his good moves were when Linsdey was here.