(07-03-2025, 04:37 PM)F Gump Wrote: While AD-at-C makes sense, is it a bad recipe for him playing 82 games? Much more banging as a C. I wonder if he prefers to avoid that role for that reason.

(07-03-2025, 04:36 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: Flagg highlights but this may be the best summer league team I can remember without additional picks.  Some good colllege players.

https://x.com/townbrad/status/1940886884512944308?s=61

(07-03-2025, 04:59 PM)Kidnova Wrote: AD made it pretty clear that he wanted to play more time at the 4, and I'm guessing Nico told him that would happen which probably played into his decision to waive his trade kicker.  Sure, they could backpedal on that now because of changes to the roster, but that's not likely to make your (presumably) best player this season very happy.

(07-03-2025, 04:37 PM)F Gump Wrote: While AD-at-C makes sense, is it a bad recipe for him playing 82 games? Much more banging as a C. I wonder if he prefers to avoid that role for that reason.

(07-03-2025, 06:45 PM)Smitty Wrote: I’m sure that has something to do with it.

We talked about 3PT shooting a lot today. He has to be one of the worst shooters in the league for a Forward… 5 straight years under 30%. Career 29.6%. His midrange shooting numbers are actually subpar also. It wouldn’t be as big of an issue if he was the lone Big, because he’d be the worst shooter on the floor. But now he’s paired with other non-shooting Bigs.

I’ve said before that he’s a Top-2 Center in the league, behind Joker. He just doesn’t want to do the dirty work.

(07-03-2025, 06:45 PM)Smitty Wrote: I’m sure that has something to do with it.

We talked about 3PT shooting a lot today. He has to be one of the worst shooters in the league for a Forward… 5 straight years under 30%. Career 29.6%. His midrange shooting numbers are actually subpar also. It wouldn’t be as big of an issue if he was the lone Big, because he’d be the worst shooter on the floor. But now he’s paired with other non-shooting Bigs.

I’ve said before that he’s a Top-2 Center in the league, behind Joker. He just doesn’t want to do the dirty work.

(07-03-2025, 06:45 PM)Smitty Wrote: I’m sure that has something to do with it.

We talked about 3PT shooting a lot today. He has to be one of the worst shooters in the league for a Forward… 5 straight years under 30%. Career 29.6%. His midrange shooting numbers are actually subpar also. It wouldn’t be as big of an issue if he was the lone Big, because he’d be the worst shooter on the floor. But now he’s paired with other non-shooting Bigs.

I’ve said before that he’s a Top-2 Center in the league, behind Joker. He just doesn’t want to do the dirty work.

(07-03-2025, 05:30 PM)Jym Wrote: I just really hope Lively is slinging the 3's this year 
Even if it's not at a great percentage he needs to get used to moving around on the perimeter and getting good, open looks 
Consider me at least a little worried if he's unwilling to shoot them again this year

(07-03-2025, 08:03 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Interesting...so you think he hasn't been shooting them because he's unwilling? I assumed he hasn't because they didn't want him to shoot them. When Luka was here, everything was about rolling hard.

Having said that...if the plan really is to play AD at the 4, maybe it is time for Lively to let them fly from deep? Not sure what Kidd has in mind, honestly.

(07-03-2025, 08:56 PM)Jym Wrote: At that point I think you have to play Davis at the 5 to end games. 

(07-03-2025, 09:08 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I think we're there, whether Lively is shooting 3's or not. 

Gonna be interesting to see how this team looks, but that's what I'm predicting. The good news is that if Davis gets hurt, I like their chances with Lively finishing games instead.

(07-03-2025, 09:18 PM)Jym Wrote: If Gafford stays, I think the plan is the play Davis exclusively at power forward 
(not a very good plan)

(07-03-2025, 10:10 PM)DallasMaverick Wrote: What's PJ's new contract look like?

4 years, starting at $18mil? More?

(07-03-2025, 10:10 PM)DallasMaverick Wrote: What's PJ's new contract look like?

4 years, starting at $18mil? More?

(07-03-2025, 10:02 PM)F Gump Wrote: I can tell I'm in the minority here (by a lot), but DL shooting 3s is not on my wish list at all. I don't want him to try to be Dirk and a 4. Instead, I want him to stay in his lane, be a player who dominates the lane on both ends, making the other team game plan for him, ie a 5 like Chandler.

"I think the plan is they play Davis exclusively at power forward (not a very good plan)" --- I think you're close to 100% right. I do think Mavs will use AD situationally here and there as a 5 (so not 100% as a 4), but I agree the vast majority of his play will be as a 4 and they will see him as a 4. I think Nico accepted that premise with AD when he got him. AD expects to be the 4, and stars get their way.

I am not sure it will be a disaster. While he may be way more flawed as a 4, that just means the Mavs (Kidd) have to figure out how to work around the flaws as is, or coach him up. (For example, if you want to be a 4, you gotta make 3's at 40% not 30%, because these days top 4's have that in their game as another weapon - so we want you to be the best, and how do we get you there?). IMO it will help tremendously that Mavs coaches will be ones who coached AD to a great year in 2020 when LA won a title (and fwiw he shot 57% overall and 38% on 3's in that playoff run) - that should make his buy-in much easier on whatever improvement is needed.