Trade & FA 2024-25:

[JamesConway912]

I agree with every word of this, except I hold out more hope than you that Thompson might be a positive (for a year or so).

Our offense has been suspect all year. I think Klay‘s impact on our spacing and shooting efficiency has not been brought up nearly often enough. We will finally have a legitimate third scorer on a nightly basis and he will do it without needing a ton of iso plays being called for him but within the flow of the offense. 

Also we still have plenty of options to lock down fools. Lively, Gafford, PJ, Grimes, Marshall, Exum, Kleber. That’s seven (!) guys who play above average defense in their area on the court. Kidd will have plenty good lineup possibilities and he’s already shown that he can build a lockdown defense despite HUGE midseason roster changes.

I think it’s time to sit back and have some trust in this FO. They appear to have a clear vision for this team all while being super flexible to me if changes are needed to be made on the fly.

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

If the Mavs get Klay, I just hope Luka takes a lesser number of step back 3s. No reason for him to do more of that with Kyrie and Klay with him at the same time.

[KillerLeft]

I agree that the offense needed help, James. No doubt about that.

[mvossman]

FA started at 12 AM in Europe.  The lack breaking news was so anticlimactic I actually fell asleep almost immediately lol. Just got up to the DJJ and Naji news.

This makes me circle back to what I wrote yesterday. As long as we have means to replace DJJ loosing him isn’t the end of this team’s playoff aspirations. Marshall is a good defender and shooter I am perfectly fine with going from DJJ to him if the latter wasn’t on board with a diminished role. I understand that he did good things here but we’ve seen in the finals that a PJ + DJJ starting frontcourt isn’t talented enough on offense at that level. It’s a good thing to me that they’re willing to address this spot with their biggest offseason move.

And even if Klay / T. Harris suck Marshall is a very good safety net.

I’m afraid we are going to find that the Luka/Kyrie/Klay lineup is not good enough defensively to make it to the finals.

[audiosway]

Our offense has been suspect all year. I think Klay‘s impact on our spacing and shooting efficiency has not been brought up nearly often enough. We will finally have a legitimate third scorer on a nightly basis and he will do it without needing a ton of iso plays being called for him but within the flow of the offense. 

Also we still have plenty of options to lock down fools. Lively, Gafford, PJ, Grimes, Marshall, Exum, Kleber. That’s seven (!) guys who play above average defense in their area on the court. Kidd will have plenty good lineup possibilities and he’s already shown that he can build a lockdown defense despite HUGE midseason roster changes.

I think it’s time to sit back and have some trust in this FO. They appear to have a clear vision for this team all while being super flexible to me if changes are needed to be made on the fly.

This. Klay on the court would open up the offense like never before. You'll see driving lanes for Luka and Kai that we didn't see last year.

I see why Nico likes Grimes and how it was that he got traded. Divincenzo's contract is what made him start over Grimes. Also, I think making Brunson happy played into that as well since those 2 played together in college.

I think there is a possibility that Grimes was brought in as part of the future core of the team. That kid is young, high BBIQ, he can pass, he is an Elite defender. More so than DJJ or Marshall. And can score at all 3 levels as well as make plays. I knew he was good but he is special. He is also very athletic with good length. Very strong player too.

I am seriously starting to think that Dallas just got considerably better. Marshall is an enforcer type. He can defend and shoot. He is basically DJJ with more length and less athletic.

I think Grimes may be a possible long term solution for Kai aging out. He's a 6'5" 2 guard that can play the 3 like DJJ did. Imagine Klay coming in and Grimes being surrounded with Klay, Kai, and Luka working with him.

Obviously we need to see how it all plays out but I am definitely giving Nico the benefit of the doubt. He has earned it. I think we may see him playing chess right now while the rest play checkers. It feels great to finally have confidence like that in the FO.

[omahen]

Unlike some previous years, not many deals were done on the first day. Especially it is pretty much obvious George will sign with Philly. But I guess the new CBA rules are making everyone think more before doing anything.

Many interesting names still on the board after George, Thompson, DeRozan and Harris that were often mentioned. Several 3 but weak D guys like Hield, Trent, Beasley, Kennard, McDermott and Fournier. Several older 3-D wings like Batum, RoCo and Morris. Some smallish PG that used to be excellent back ups like Tyus Jones (looking for a starting role), Melton, Monte Morris and Lowry. There is Kyle Anderson that doesn't really fit into any category. Okoro, the other Bridges, Caleb Martin, Achiuwa are some other more interesting names

[mvossman]

This. Klay on the court would open up the offense like never before. You'll see driving lanes for Luka and Kai that we didn't see last year.

I see why Nico likes Grimes and how it was that he got traded. Divincenzo's contract is what made him start over Grimes. Also, I think making Brunson happy played into that as well since those 2 played together in college.

I think there is a possibility that Grimes was brought in as part of the future core of the team. That kid is young, high BBIQ, he can pass, he is an Elite defender. More so than DJJ or Marshall. And can score at all 3 levels as well as make plays. I knew he was good but he is special. He is also very athletic with good length. Very strong player too.

I am seriously starting to think that Dallas just got considerably better. Marshall is an enforcer type. He can defend and shoot. He is basically DJJ with more length and less athletic.

I think Grimes may be a possible long term solution for Kai aging out. He's a 6'5" 2 guard that can play the 3 like DJJ did. Imagine Klay coming in and Grimes being surrounded with Klay, Kai, and Luka working with him.

Obviously we need to see how it all plays out but I am definitely giving Nico the benefit of the doubt. He has earned it. I think we may see him playing chess right now while the rest play checkers. It feels great to finally have confidence like that in the FO.

Thought I was the biggest Grimes fan, but apparently not. I don’t think there is much chance he can be a Kyrie replacement, but I do think he can become a quality starter. 

I don’t think we should underestimate what we lost.  DJJ was a limited offensive player, but he is a better more versatile defender than Grimes or Marshall. He will be missed.

[WillE]

https://x.com/wojespn/status/1807678190078308537

BREAKING: Free agent F Paul George has agreed on a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. George committed in a meeting with Sixers officials and returns East to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in pursuit of an NBA title.

[Knutsen]

I will be royally pissed off if Mavs made all that effort for Klay and come short. They carefully planned the move, they likely have more money than competition (unless Lakers come with some crazy SnT deal), they offered a promiment (probably starting role) on a team that was in the finals.

Then come the mediocre Lakers after whiffing on 20 players they were targeting first. If Klay decides for them, he was the wrong target since the beginning and I am really pissed about that. Because every other player Mavs will go after, will be a back-up plan for Klay and probably not too pleased about that.

I do like that we are very aggressive in trying to improve the overall quality of the roster - even if we were to lose out against the Lakers for Klay I like that approach. It would have been too easy to just keep the band together and hope for that internal improvement Nico was referring to. We probably would have done that in the past. But now we are trying on every possible way to get better and better, so I won‘t fault them for trying and even if it doesn’t work out now who knows what Nico will be able to do with the trade exception around the deadline.

[omahen]

who knows what Nico will be able to do with the trade exception around the deadline.

Unfortunately nothing, unless Mavs make some room under the apron now (basically meaning trading Green and or Maxi for air)

[Chicagojk]

Clippers make controversial decision that two letter name abbreviations are out and 3 are in.

Move on from PG to DJJ and KPJ. If this sentence makes sense to you, you are a basketball junkie.

[LukaMVP]

https://thesmokingcuban.com/posts/dallas...e-thybulle

sorry for bringing up this name again but I do believe the addition of Thybulle would mitigate people's concerns about D following DJJ's departure. while we still have a bunch of guys who play above average D, no one plays it at an elite level. when the top three scorers on your team are not all that good defenders, you need a guy like Thybulle to fall back upon on the defensive end. his offensive game is limited even more than djj's but it's not like some Tony Allen type of uselessness because dude can hit 3s, and his offensive efficiencies would only get better here playing alongside luka and Kyrie. there was a good reason he was a target of our team last summer. we need a reliable defensive option of the wing tbh.

Thybulle has player option for the third year of his contract, and half of his annual salary has to be paid by October, which means moving him mid season would cost them extra 5.5m in expenditure (unless they trade him for air), and if he plays good next season he will probably opt out and seek bigger money, otherwise he would stay and continue to disgust them for one more year.

[mvossman]

I do like that we are very aggressive in trying to improve the overall quality of the roster - even if we were to lose out against the Lakers for Klay I like that approach. It would have been too easy to just keep the band together and hope for that internal improvement Nico was referring to. We probably would have done that in the past. But now we are trying on every possible way to get better and better, so I won‘t fault them for trying and even if it doesn’t work out now who knows what Nico will be able to do with the trade exception around the deadline.

I think just the opposite. When you make the finals as a young team with limited assets it makes sense to work around the edges. grimes plus retaining DJJ would have already been improvement (I think Grimes is their best chance to improve starting lineup offense without big drop off on defense). 

And this team has a long history of making big plays for past their prime stars and striking out.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

This. Klay on the court would open up the offense like never before. You'll see driving lanes for Luka and Kai that we didn't see last year.

I see why Nico likes Grimes and how it was that he got traded. Divincenzo's contract is what made him start over Grimes. Also, I think making Brunson happy played into that as well since those 2 played together in college.

I think there is a possibility that Grimes was brought in as part of the future core of the team. That kid is young, high BBIQ, he can pass, he is an Elite defender. More so than DJJ or Marshall. And can score at all 3 levels as well as make plays. I knew he was good but he is special. He is also very athletic with good length. Very strong player too.

I am seriously starting to think that Dallas just got considerably better. Marshall is an enforcer type. He can defend and shoot. He is basically DJJ with more length and less athletic.

I think Grimes may be a possible long term solution for Kai aging out. He's a 6'5" 2 guard that can play the 3 like DJJ did. Imagine Klay coming in and Grimes being surrounded with Klay, Kai, and Luka working with him.

Obviously we need to see how it all plays out but I am definitely giving Nico the benefit of the doubt. He has earned it. I think we may see him playing chess right now while the rest play checkers. It feels great to finally have confidence like that in the FO.

Love the positivity,  but to be honest we don't really know how it's going to work out. Losing DJJ is huge. Marshall may be a good fallback option, but we know what we had with DJJ with the fit. Grimes was starting and had his moments with the Knicks, but quickly fell out of favor with Thibs for some reason. And if Klay decides to go to the Lakers or somewhere else, then what?  Mavs still need to address some things.

[LukaMVP]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1008...by-blazers

when they signed that offer sheet for Thybulle it seemed mavs FO had every detail carefully designed to screw the blazers in case of them matching that offer. I think we should have confidence in mavs FO they will make the right and best possible moves. with the Klay deal done we would still have either green or a good part of that exception to seek further improvements through trades, and the remainder of the MLE should be sufficient for a backup PF or PG imho.

[Knutsen]

I think just the opposite. When you make the finals as a young team with limited assets it makes sense to work around the edges. grimes plus retaining DJJ would have already been improvement (I think Grimes is their best chance to improve starting lineup offense without big drop off on defense). 

And this team has a long history of making big plays for past their prime stars and striking out.

Fair enough, I get your point. 

From my perspective we have two years of the Kyrie-window left to win a title - and that is if Kyrie stays healthy for the next two years like he did this season, which was the first season in a long time.

If true most probable assumption is that you have to beat the Celtics in the finals now that they know how to win then you have to try to build a team that has a chance to do so and be opportunistic and take chances. If those turn out to be the right ones we‘ll only know afterwards anyways.

[DanSchwartzgan]

https://x.com/wojespn/status/1807678190078308537

BREAKING: Free agent F Paul George has agreed on a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. George committed in a meeting with Sixers officials and returns East to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in pursuit of an NBA title.

PG goes from playing with the often unavailable Kawhi Leonard to playing with the often unavailable Embiid.

[WillE]

PG goes from playing with the often unavailable Kawhi Leonard to playing with the often unavailable Embiid.

True, but it seems like he even more just wanted to get away from the Clippers.

Idk if that or moving on to Philly is a good choice, but at least Morey delivered once more.

[omahen]

While we are waiting in Europe that US wakes up and starts making deals...

A lot of cap space is still around. OKC (Hartenstein?), Detroit (?), Orlando (nearly 30 mil left after KCP and no idea where it goes), SA, Utah and a bit in Charlotte.

Phoenix, Minny and Boston are teams above the second apron. Phoenix is a lost cause and will certainly stay there. Minny also doesn't have a viable path below it, unless they make some serious changes to their core. Seems like Boston is also destined to be there, unless perhaps dumping Pritchard for air brings them just under (not sure about the numbers, it would be very close). Bottomline - these teams will not be looking to dump more salary.

It will be interesting to see how much those cap space teams can help facilitate some trades by taking unwanted salary (like Russel from Lakers) or how much will they just overpay those available free agents.

[omahen]

Notable names that could be on the market: Ingram, a bunch of Washington players, Markkanen (will OKC go "all in"?), who knows what happens in Atlanta, a bunch of Chicago players, a bunch of BKN players, Milwaukee will likely desperately try to do something