AROUND the NBA:

[Smitty]

Can you remember the last time they actually got it right and signed the guy they targeted?

We don't know who they're targeting. For all we know the Mavs don't really want Kyrie back. I've only seen them tied to Bruce Brown so far, but the Mavs rarely get linked to anyone because they don't actually start free agency until 5:01 while the other 29 teams are already done.

[ItsGoTime]

Latest report is Houston expects to meet with Kyrie.

Our worst case scenario is an outright walk, which still leaves us something like $16-$17 mil in cap space IIRC. Still the worst talent outcome. But whoever says his dragging this stuff out hurts the Mavs is dead-on. If he comes back in the end and we lost out on our plan A, B, and C guys, we might end up better off if he had just walked this evening.

Losing Kyrie and adding Brown for $16-17M. Trade THJ for SnT PJ Wash. Figure out a trade for Stewart. Find a good backup PG.

Luka/Green/Brown/PJ/Stewart
PG/Hardy/OMax/Maxi/Lively

[dirkfansince1998]

We don't know who they're targeting. For all we know the Mavs don't really want Kyrie back. I've only seen them tied to Bruce Brown so far, but the Mavs rarely get linked to anyone because they don't actually start free agency until 5:01 while the other 29 teams are already done.

DAJ, Whiteside, Conley, Howard, DWill, Walker just to name a few. Mavs offered all of them big money as soon as free agency started and failed to sign them. Track record isn´t great. And I haven´t even mentioned last years drama.

[Smitty]

DAJ, Whiteside, Conley, Howard, DWill, Walker just to name a few. Mavs offered all of them big money as soon as free agency started and failed to sign them. Track record isn´t great. And I haven´t even mentioned last years drama.

We don't know who they're targeting

[ItsGoTime]

We don't know who they're targeting

Brown is apparently a target if we have a meeting set up with him.

[Smitty]

Brown is apparently a target if we have a meeting set up with him.

Very well could be

[dirkfansince1998]

We don't know who they're targeting

We know that they offered all mentioned guys max or near max money. They didn´t sign a single one of them. That´s the track record.

[Smitty]

We know that they offered all mentioned guys max or near max money. They didn´t sign a single one of them. That´s the track record.

Oh, I was talking about this upcoming free agency.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Latest report is Houston expects to meet with Kyrie.

Our worst case scenario is an outright walk, which still leaves us something like $16-$17 mil in cap space IIRC. Still the worst talent outcome. But whoever says his dragging this stuff out hurts the Mavs is dead-on. If he comes back in the end and we lost out on our plan A, B, and C guys, we might end up better off if he had just walked this evening.

Do you have a link to the Houston rumor? That one is new to me.

[mvossman]

Latest report is Houston expects to meet with Kyrie.

Our worst case scenario is an outright walk, which still leaves us something like $16-$17 mil in cap space IIRC. Still the worst talent outcome. But whoever says his dragging this stuff out hurts the Mavs is dead-on. If he comes back in the end and we lost out on our plan A, B, and C guys, we might end up better off if he had just walked this evening.

If he drags it out and still signs with us, it probably does not impact plans A, B, and C.  Those plans are very likely keeping Kyrie and using the MLE.  You can make those agreements prior to Kyrie signing.  The only truly disaster outcome is Kyrie drags it out and then signs with Houston after Toronto matches FVV.  That would be a nightmare as we can't take any advantage of the extra cap space (which is not a lot) and we would desperately need another playmaker.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Oh it’s the athletic report saying the Rockets are interested in meeting with Kyrie.

[DallasMaverick]

Seems like the highest-dollar free agents sign first, then the market for lower-salaried players shakes out.

So likely Kyrie signs quickly.

[KillerLeft]

Seems like the highest-dollar free agents sign first, then the market for lower-salaried players shakes out.

So likely Kyrie signs quickly.

Actually, there is usually one big domino who makes everybody wait until like the Fourth of July, sometimes even past that, before the dominoes start falling for real.

I’m with Dan on this one. If they can keep Kyrie on a good deal for the Mavs, great. If he wants to play somewhere else, that’s fine, too. The important thing is that they figure it out quickly so they can keep filling out the roster with whatever set of resources they have in the week of his decision.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Actually, there is usually one big domino who makes everybody wait until like the Fourth of July, sometimes even past that, before the dominoes start falling for real.

I’m with Dan on this one. If they can keep Kyrie on a good deal for the Mavs, great. If he wants to play somewhere else, that’s fine, too. The important thing is that they figure it out quickly so they can keep filling out the roster with whatever set of resources they have in the week of his decision.

The other thing about the Mavs moving quick or at least having a plan to move on to from Kyrie is that it’s the best way for them to use their leverage with Kyrie because he doesn’t have a market anywhere else. He needs our money so we need to use our leverage here.

[KillerLeft]

Yeah, for the record, I would absolutely play ball with Kyrie and try to help him get wherever he wants to go. The assets might not be what you’re looking for, but if you keep them on the young player/draft capital side of things, you’ll get something useful.

Meanwhile, I can promise you that, despite the efforts of many on this board convincing themselves and others that Kyrie’s rep is all needlessly media driven due to him being misunderstood, the very LAST thing we should want is a Kyrie who feels like that Mavs backed him into a corner and that he had to re-sign for less than his worth.

I don’t think the Mavs would be that stupid, and in fact, I believe his contractual demands were probably known and mentally accepted before the trade even went down, but some of these rumors are starting to scare me a little.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I don’t think the Mavs would be that stupid, and in fact, I believe his contractual demands were probably known and mentally accepted before the trade even went down

Been saying the Mavs never intended to offer Kyrie the max.  

Similar with the Harden report about him being mad at the 76ers.  The players still seem to think if they're a big name, they automatically get the max.  Teams are being more cautious.

[KillerLeft]

There is literally nothing that can happen this weekend that will hurt me or the team as much as watching Jalen Brunson just walk away and sign with the Knicks. If the same thing plays out with Kyrie (don’t think it will) it would suck, but only a fraction of the amount that sucked.

[dirkfansince1998]

There is literally nothing that can happen this weekend that will hurt me or the team as much as watching Jalen Brunson just walk away and sign with the Knicks. If the same thing plays out with Kyrie (don’t think it will) it would suck, but only a fraction of the amount that sucked.

After the draft I dared to hope again. Would be brutal if they manage to crush it just one week later.

[Jmaciscool]

There is literally nothing that can happen this weekend that will hurt me or the team as much as watching Jalen Brunson just walk away and sign with the Knicks. If the same thing plays out with Kyrie (don’t think it will) it would suck, but only a fraction of the amount that sucked.

Cuban: "Challenge accepted!"

[Jym]

There is literally nothing that can happen this weekend that will hurt me or the team as much as watching Jalen Brunson just walk away and sign with the Knicks. If the same thing plays out with Kyrie (don’t think it will) it would suck, but only a fraction of the amount that sucked.

And they let him walk so easily.
They didn't fight at all. So many ways to let him know you're willing to demolish the Knicks offer even if he doesn't want to meet directly at first