SL Game 3: MIA vs. DAL | 2:00pm CST on ESPN2

[DallasMaverick]

Going to call it.  OMax will not break into an NBA rotation.

He's an athlete, not a basketball player.

It's cool that you've figured it all out!

Maybe you should call the Mavs brass and let them know they can just cut him now and quit wasting time and money.

[Chicagojk]

I like Omax and think there is a clear path for success for him. It is just going to be longer than I had expected. I think Nico is right that when the game slows down for him, it will help. Watching him in summer league, I just get the feeling that that he is reading an instruction manual on how to play basketball properly. Like he is reading instructions step by step instead of just playing off instinct. It is being done with very little feel and this really impacts his reaction time in my opinion. I was hoping to see how he would look in a lineup of Kyrie, Klay, Exum, Omax and Lively next year. In theory, that is a fun lineup. He will start the year outside the main rotation. He will get some chances though throughout the year. How he does with the chances will determine if he forces a bigger role. With my eye test, he is just not ready yet to take that bull by the horns.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

It's cool that you've figured it all out!

Maybe you should call the Mavs brass and let them know they can just cut him now and quit wasting time and money.

Wait, I thought I was posting on a fan forum 

So, you think he's the next OG?  Dude has declined since last summer league.  Perhaps someone should question the Mavs brass as to why he only played 1 Legends game, why he hasn't been shooting 500 shots a day.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I like Omax and think there is a clear path for success for him.  It is just going to be longer than I had expected.    I think Nico is right that when the game slows down for him, it will help.  Watching him in summer league, I just get the feeling that that he is reading an instruction manual on how to play basketball properly.  Like he is reading instructions step by step instead of just playing off instinct.  It is being done with very little feel and this really impacts his reaction time in my opinion.  I was hoping to see how he would look in a lineup of Kyrie, Klay, Exum, Omax and Lively next year.  In theory, that is a fun lineup.  He will start the year outside the main rotation.  He will get some chances though throughout the year.  How he does with the chances will determine if he forces a bigger role.  With my eye test, he is just not ready yet to take that bull by the horns.

What do you see in his GAME (not physical ability) that gives you that much optimism?  I've watched him play every one of his summer league games these 2 years and probably 80% of his reserve minutes.  I simply don't see an NBA player.  I held out hope, but he's regressed.

[Chicagojk]

It may be smart to watch Miami's two way guys. Keshard Johnson (Undrafted) has a two way and looks like the exact guy you invest in.

Isiah Stevens has played well as an undrafted guy. He is a 6'0 guard though. Unless they move on from Brandon Williams, Stevens is not really an option. Josh Christopher is a former first round pick and only 22. In addition, they have Alondis Williams (monster dunk last night), Cole Swider, and another undrafted Zyon Pullin. I think I would prefer any of those names over the potential two way guys on our summer league team.

I saw Sam Vecenie also brought up the Spurs player Riley Minix as a sure fire two way guy. Just some names.

[Chicagojk]

What do you see in his GAME (not physical ability) that gives you that much optimism?  I've watched him play every one of his summer league games these 2 years and probably 80% of his reserve minutes.  I simply don't see an NBA player.  I held out hope, but he's regressed.

Physical traits.   I also think he has the right mental makeup as a guy who will work non stop and never complain about his role.    I can envision him being on the court and him doing the dirty work.   Will he get there?    Not sure.   I want to be cautious saying he regressed.  Summer league is tough to evaluate.   I thought his G league was up and down...despite good stats.   I was hoping he would take on more responsibility this summer and really have the look of NBA player.   I don't think we have seen that yet, but there are also a lot of variables that makes this hard to evaluate imo.

take my opinion with a grain of salt though, I talked myself into Nate Hinton 3 years ago.   I tried doing the same with Tyrell Terry...that was hard after they hype leading up to the draft and then seeing him on the floor in summer league.  I tried though.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Physical traits.   I also think he has the right mental makeup as a guy who will work non stop and never complain about his role.    I can envision him being on the court and him doing the dirty work.   Will he get there?    Not sure.   I want to be cautious saying he regressed.  Summer league is tough to evaluate.   I thought his G league was up and down...despite good stats.   I was hoping he would take on more responsibility this summer and really have the look of NBA player.   I don't think we have seen that yet, but there are also a lot of variables that makes this hard to evaluate imo.

take my opinion with a grain of salt though, I talked myself into Nate Hinton 3 years ago.   I tried doing the same with Tyrell Terry...that was hard after they hype leading up to the draft and then seeing him on the floor in summer league.  I tried though.

I hear you.  I've swung and missed on many players (I was the biggest CWood fan here).  That's why we're on a fan forum and not in a front office.

I was huge on OMax last SL.  I do see a regression, though.  IMO, he looks like an athlete from another sport trying to learn basketball, like MJ in baseball.  I just don't see that trending anywhere it needs to be.

[Chicagojk]

It may be smart to watch Miami's two way guys.  Keshard Johnson (Undrafted) has a two way and looks like the exact guy you invest in. 

Isiah Stevens has played well as an undrafted guy.  He is a 6'0 guard though.  Unless they move on from Brandon Williams, Stevens is not really an option.  Josh Christopher  is a former first round pick and only 22.  In addition, they have Alondis Williams (monster dunk last night), Cole Swider, and another undrafted Zyon Pullin.    I think I would prefer any of those names over the potential two way guys on our summer league team. 

I saw Sam Vecenie also brought up the Spurs player Riley Minix as a sure fire two way guy.    Just some names.

Man, G-league is just so hard to no what is real.  Everyone scores.   While I like what the NBA is doing, I am just not sure it is the best place to develop.

Look at Cole Swider's stats last year for the Heat G league.  24 poitns, 8 rebounds, 50 percent three point shooting.  

https://gleague.nba.com/player/1631306/cole-swider

Alondis Williams

20, 5 and 7

https://gleague.nba.com/player/1631214/alondes-williams

Does it mean absolutly anything?  Heck Brandon Williams scored 25 in G league.

[dirkfansince1998]

It may be smart to watch Miami's two way guys.  Keshard Johnson (Undrafted) has a two way and looks like the exact guy you invest in. 

Isiah Stevens has played well as an undrafted guy.  He is a 6'0 guard though.  Unless they move on from Brandon Williams, Stevens is not really an option.  Josh Christopher  is a former first round pick and only 22.  In addition, they have Alondis Williams (monster dunk last night), Cole Swider, and another undrafted Zyon Pullin.    I think I would prefer any of those names over the potential two way guys on our summer league team. 

I saw Sam Vecenie also brought up the Spurs player Riley Minix as a sure fire two way guy.    Just some names.

Mavs should definitely look around the league. As I stated earlier. I think Miller is the only two-way worthy guy on the Mavs summer league roster and even he isn't a must have.
There are also some interesting names that aren't playing in summer league. I wonder where Garuba and Koloko end up. Garuba is playing in the Olympics. Wouldn't be suprised if he earns a guaranteed roster spot on a tanking team. Koloko was cleared for a return to basketball and is already taking part in free agent showcases.

[Chicagojk]

Mavs should definitely look around the league. As I stated earlier. I think Miller is the only two-way worthy guy on the Mavs summer league roster and even he isn't a must have.
There are also some interesting names that aren't playing in summer league. I wonder where Garuba and Koloko end up. Garuba is playing in the Olympics. Wouldn't be suprised if he earns a guaranteed roster spot on a tanking team. Koloko was cleared for a return to basketball and is already taking part in free agent showcases.

I think Garuba signed a contract back overseas.   I thought Koloko was still on the Raptors.  No?   I believe he had a pretty serious blood clot that may have ended his career.  I didnt know he was back or not with the Raptors any longer.

[DallasMaverick]

Wait, I thought I was posting on a fan forum 

So, you think he's the next OG?  Dude has declined since last summer league.  Perhaps someone should question the Mavs brass as to why he only played 1 Legends game, why he hasn't been shooting 500 shots a day.

It’s just really hard to know what he’ll be.

I imagine that the Mavs’ staff are pretty well equipped to make that decision. So far, they continue to invest coaching, cash, and minutes into him, which leads me to believe that they still hope he can become a contributing NBA player. 

Even if they aren’t happy with his development, they continue to invest. So the risk/reward ratio is still positive.

But we fans can make a much quicker, and apparently better determination!

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

It’s just really hard to know what he’ll be.

I imagine that the Mavs’ staff are pretty well equipped to make that decision. So far, they continue to invest coaching, cash, and minutes into him, which leads me to believe that they still hope he can become a contributing NBA player. 

Even if they aren’t happy with his development, they continue to invest. So the risk/reward ratio is still positive.

But we fans can make a much quicker, and apparently better determination!

And water is wet.  Of course the front office knows more and disagrees with me.

I just see his decline and don't see it getting better.  He simply doesn't look like an NBA player.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

oh... and Ware is a beast

[dirkfansince1998]

I think Garuba signed a contract back overseas.   I thought Koloko was still on the Raptors.  No?   I believe he had a pretty serious blood clot that may have ended his career.  I didnt know he was back or not with the Raptors any longer.

Rumor is that Garuba is going to return to Madrid but a month ago he stated that he wants to stay in the NBA. Koloko was waived by the Raptors. Is a free agent. His doctors cleared him for a return to basketball.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Omax worries me because he played three years of college ball and one year in the G league already. It’s not like he’s a raw 19yr old like Bronny.

[KillerLeft]

Omax worries me because he played three years of college ball and one year in the G league already. It’s not like he’s a raw 19yr old like Bronny.

Very true. It takes some longer than others. I won't get worried as long as he's got rookie-contract-runway left. 

I'm waaaay worried about where Hardy is, because this is a contract year for him. Will they give him a role, or will he constantly have something to prove when he's out there? Even if they DO give him a role, will he play it, or will he constantly have something to proves when he's out there? 

All O-Max has to do is find a way to get on the floor. Either he will or he won't. The stakes are pretty low for him.

[SleepingHero]

Omax worries me because he played three years of college ball and one year in the G league already. It’s not like he’s a raw 19yr old like Bronny.

I actually don't disagree with this thought at all. But for most NBA prospects, progress is rarely linear. A guy could look totally clueless and by the next week he can look like a world beater. Trae Young is a recent example of this where in his rookie season, his first 47 games he averaged 16ppg/7apg on 39.5% from the field and 28% from 3. The last 44 games of said season, he averaged 22ppg/9apg on 44% from the field and 35% from 3. From there he only got better. 

Of course OMax is nowhere near that level of prospect. I'm not saying he will all of a sudden become Pascal Siakam lite. But I do think he hasn't even really been given a chance to even show what he can be. 

Out of the 40 games he played last season, only 5 of them he played more than 20 minutes. In those 5 he averaged 11.8ppg/5.8rpg/1.8apg on 42% FG and 33% from 3

Are those not promising and fantastic numbers? Doesn't performance in the real league carry more weight than whatever he did in Summer League? 

OMax is raw. He hasn't looked great in this year's summer league at all. But it's also not surprising given that OMax is enhanced around talent. This year's summer league team is by in large bereft of talent. Last year he had Dereck Lively manning the paint. I don't find it a coincidence that OMax looked 10x better last year than this year because of that. 


Don't give up hope on Prosper. He is the final piece for this roster and will be the guy who steps up after our 2nd championship.

[khaled1987]

Omax worries me because he played three years of college ball and one year in the G league already. It’s not like he’s a raw 19yr old like Bronny.

And he is still more than year younger than DFS when he went undrafted in 2016. And he needed a couple of years to figure it out.

I am not saying that OMAX is gonna be like that, and even if he is it is bad news for us because teams rarely have the ability to draft a player at 21 and wait for him until the age of 27 to be good NBA player, just that we need to wait another season to assess him.

[Scott41theMavs]

I actually don't disagree with this thought at all. But for most NBA prospects, progress is rarely linear. A guy could look totally clueless and by the next week he can look like a world beater. Trae Young is a recent example of this where in his rookie season, his first 47 games he averaged 16ppg/7apg on 39.5% from the field and 28% from 3. The last 44 games of said season, he averaged 22ppg/9apg on 44% from the field and 35% from 3. From there he only got better. 

Of course OMax is nowhere near that level of prospect. I'm not saying he will all of a sudden become Pascal Siakam lite. But I do think he hasn't even really been given a chance to even show what he can be. 

Out of the 40 games he played last season, only 5 of them he played more than 20 minutes. In those 5 he averaged 11.8ppg/5.8rpg/1.8apg on 42% FG and 33% from 3

Are those not promising and fantastic numbers? Doesn't performance in the real league carry more weight than whatever he did in Summer League? 

OMax is raw. He hasn't looked great in this year's summer league at all. But it's also not surprising given that OMax is enhanced around talent. This year's summer league team is by in large bereft of talent. Last year he had Dereck Lively manning the paint. I don't find it a coincidence that OMax looked 10x better last year than this year because of that. 


Don't give up hope on Prosper. He is the final piece for this roster and will be the guy who steps up after our 2nd championship.

That is one effective argument I have heard elsewhere - that OMax is meant to be a complementary role player. That means he's a guy who's going to look good when the talent around him is good, and really awful when he has to be the best guy.

[KillerLeft]

That is one effective argument I have heard elsewhere - that OMax is meant to be a complementary role player. That means he's a guy who's going to look good when the talent around him is good, and really awful when he has to be the best guy.

I mean, I think most players look better on the floor with the real Mavericks than they do in summer league. Remember how much better Lawson looked towards the end of last season than he has this summer? It’s easier for anyone to do their thing when they are on the floor with guys like Luka.