MAVS NEWS:

[JamesConway912]

Per MacMahon: Gortman to receive the last open two way contract. Also had interest from other teams.

[SleepingHero]

@espn_macmahon
G Jazian Gortman is getting the Mavs’ open two-way deal, source told ESPN.

Gortman, a pesky defender who averaged 10.3 ppg on 51.6% shooting in the preseason, had interest from other teams.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Definitely Gortman over AJ.

[Knutsen]

Definitely Gortman over AJ.

Right decision! Strange decision to give Lawson the two-way-contract only to waive him again a couple of days later…

[speedkilz88]

Right decision! Strange decision to give Lawson the two-way-contract only to waive him again a couple of days later…

I think it was so he could stay in camp.  Probably knew his situation

[WillE]

Hopefully that means Gortman will be back. I was really impressed by his play and the depth at PG/SG isn’t great. All you have to do is beat out Hardy / Dinwiddie and you’re looking at a solid path to some
minutes here and there.

My theory is that he already started beating out Hardy and Dinwiddie at PG. At least they believe he can compete with both, otherwise he wouldn't have been signed. Or with other words: if Dinwiddie would have impressed more, Gortman would have had worse chances at getting signed.

[Mavs2021]

My theory is that he already started beating out Hardy and Dinwiddie at PG. At least they believe he can compete with both, otherwise he wouldn't have been signed. Or with other words: if Dinwiddie would have impressed more, Gortman would have had worse chances at getting signed.

The Hardy hate is really strong in this fanbase. Gortman´s AST/TO rate in the preason was 1.1. Hardy´s was 1.54. Gortman shot the ball extremely well 52/57/100, but Hardy also shot 41% from three and led the whole team with 15 PPG in 26 minutes. Dinwiddie is Gortman´s main competition. He shot 30/27/67 with an 0.833 AST/TO ratio. Gortman stood out for his shooting in pre-season especially against Thompson, Grimes, Dinwiddie, Williams and Lawson, who were all somewhere between bad and awful.

[F Gump]

10/18, after the others were waived, this happened ...

DALLAS – The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed guards Jamir Chaplin and Jarod Lucas. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Chaplin (6-5, 196) finished his college career as a graduate transfer at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2023-24, where he averaged 14.7 points (.584 FG%, .361 3FG%), 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 33.9 minutes in 34 games (all starts). Prior to transferring to Little Rock, Chaplin played four seasons at South Florida (2019-23).

Lucas (6-4, 195) played his final two college seasons at Nevada from 2022-23 to 2023-24, where he averaged 17.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 33.5 minutes in 67 games (all starts). Prior to transferring to Nevada, Lucas spent three seasons at Oregon State from 2019-20 to 2021-22. After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, Lucas appeared in four games for the Mavericks’ summer league team in 2024, averaging 7.5 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13.3 minutes.

Significance? On the NBA level for this season, none. These were undoubtedly signed to E10 deals, which then gives the players a bonus when they are waived and converted to GL deals. Mavs now are lined up to have 4 such players - Sharp, Miller, Chaplin, Lucas. I don't think Lawson had that sort of setup. The limit is 6.

One observation. I believe both of these players were "Super Seniors" ie players who had 4 or more college years. NBA teams tend to draft younger players with more room to grow, and those who play longer in college get overlooked. But those extra years can offer more growth and better schooling in the fundamentals that are often lacking in the 18-19 year olds. Sometimes a team can get real value from that overlooked talent pool. Brunson was a guy like that, and LAL's Knecht is another.

[Knutsen]

My take on the Saturday before the season finally starts:

If our perimeter and point-of-attack defense sucks this season we‘ll trade for Matisse Thybulle.

Reasons?
He was the original DJJ for us before the actual DJJ. He signed with us last summer before Portland matched, so he wants to be here. He has a player option for next year and can control his own destiny, so if Portland wants to get something for him this trade deadline is their last chance. We stay connected to players we want over years until we get them, like Grimes and Washington. The one year moratorium of him not being allowed to be traded to us is over. Portland will suck and won’t need a player like him. We could need a defender like him, because we probably don’t have this profile any more that fits perfectly next to Luka and Kyrie.

It’d probably cost O-Max and or Hardy, but since we‘re in win-now-mode with Kyrie and Klay I guess we‘ll pay that price.

You‘re buying in or what are your thoughts?

[F Gump]

My take on the Saturday before the season finally starts:

If our perimeter and point-of-attack defense sucks this season we‘ll trade for Matisse Thybulle.

Reasons?
He was the original DJJ for us before the actual DJJ. He signed with us last summer before Portland matched, so he wants to be here. He has a player option for next year and can control his own destiny, so if Portland wants to get something for him this trade deadline is their last chance. We stay connected to players we want over years until we get them, like Grimes and Washington. The one year moratorium of him not being allowed to be traded to us is over. Portland will suck and won’t need a player like him. We could need a defender like him, because we probably don’t have this profile any more that fits perfectly next to Luka and Kyrie.

It’d probably cost O-Max and or Hardy, but since we‘re in win-now-mode with Kyrie and Klay I guess we‘ll pay that price.

You‘re buying in or what are your thoughts?

Nope.

Money (size of contract) is the issue. Mavs have to match dollar-for-dollar, because of the hard cap at Apron 1, making trade matches harder to do than usual. Those names don't salary match, so it's a different outgoing package, which is likely to change the question of desirability considerably.

As for the value of MT, his skill set is not quite the same as DJJ. Whether that's a plus or minus is hard to say, but he wouldn't be a plug-and-play as an easy replacement. And Mavs roster has changed considerably in the off-season.

In theory I like the IDEA of having someone like MT with strong skills on D on the roster. But I don't see the trade, and not sure I see the minutes or role either.

[F Gump]

BTW, if there are holes on this roster, it is looking like the following will be where we see them:
1 backup PG - loss of Exum, combined with suckiness of SD and JH in that role, leaves a big problem area if either Luka or Ky get injured
2 depth at PF - Maxi is apt to be hurt again, Mavs (Kidd) do not see Naji as big enough to fill backup PF needs, OMax is still quite a ways away from being an answer, Morris is not good enough to have a regular role (fwiw, MT is not big enough to be the answer either, nor is Grimes). One way-outside-the-box answer is minutes for Lively as a PF (which then leaves backup minutes to be filled at C, presumably by DP).

But the Mavs also have hard cap issues, so they can't simply sign someone. So the help might be in the form of
1 a 2-way who gets minutes, or
2 Morris has to be waived (he's NG for the first 2 months or so) so they can sign a min salary guy, or
3 a player on the roster gets traded into air so that the Mavs can then sign a minimum salary free agent, or
4 the Mavs trade to fill the hole.

[Knutsen]

Nope.

Money (size of contract) is the issue. Mavs have to match dollar-for-dollar, because of the hard cap at Apron 1, making trade matches harder to do than usual. Those names don't salary match, so it's a different outgoing package, which is likely to change the question of desirability considerably.

As for the value of MT, his skill set is not quite the same as DJJ. Whether that's a plus or minus is hard to say, but he wouldn't be a plug-and-play as an easy replacement. And Mavs roster has changed considerably in the off-season.

In theory I like the IDEA of having someone like MT with strong skills on D on the roster. But I don't see the trade, and not sure I see the minutes or role either.

Thanks for your thoughts, Forrest! I mentioned those two pieces because they could be of value from a talent standpoint for a team like Portland. Moneywise we would surely have to add something, for example Kleber if he stays injured. He would be almost be a perfect financial match, wouldn’t he?

[WillE]

The Hardy hate is really strong in this fanbase. Gortman´s AST/TO rate in the preason was 1.1. Hardy´s was 1.54. Gortman shot the ball extremely well 52/57/100, but Hardy also shot 41% from three and led the whole team with 15 PPG in 26 minutes. Dinwiddie is Gortman´s main competition. He shot 30/27/67 with an 0.833 AST/TO ratio. Gortman stood out for his shooting in pre-season especially against Thompson, Grimes, Dinwiddie, Williams and Lawson, who were all somewhere between bad and awful.

Saying Gortman can compete with both doesn't mean hating on Hardy. And with pointing out Dinwidde's limited impression so far, we both agree that he is Gortman's main competiton.

Yet, what went unmentioned so far is Exums absence. That was probably the biggest factor for signing him. And that's good thinking, as he might get a decent chance to show if he can fit in sooner than later.

[Chicagojk]

I think Thybulle (and DFS) are interesting names to keep in your back of your mind. Right now there just isn’t room for them. What happens though if Grimes plays well or not, but just doesn’t impact defense enough? Same with Marshall. Could Thybulle be an option then? What would Portland want? Would an expiring Grimes plus second round picks work?

Maybe we never get to that point but I think it is something to store away if the defense takes a step back throughout the season

[SleepingHero]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
Newly acquired Dallas G Quentin Grimes has emerged as a candidate for a contract extension before Monday's 6 PM ET deadline for new deals for former first-round picks from the NBA Draft Class of 2021, league sources tell @TheSteinLine.

More NBA from me: http://marcstein.substack.com/

[SleepingHero]

Related:

Quentin Grimes on Instagram

“I like this chapter !!!!!”

[Scott41theMavs]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
Newly acquired Dallas G Quentin Grimes has emerged as a candidate for a contract extension before Monday's 6 PM ET deadline for new deals for former first-round picks from the NBA Draft Class of 2021, league sources tell @TheSteinLine.

More NBA from me: http://marcstein.substack.com/

Lock him up! For a sub-Josh Green deal, of course.

[Chicagojk]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
Newly acquired Dallas G Quentin Grimes has emerged as a candidate for a contract extension before Monday's 6 PM ET deadline for new deals for former first-round picks from the NBA Draft Class of 2021, league sources tell @TheSteinLine.

More NBA from me: http://marcstein.substack.com/

Makes sense if the Mavs have liked what they have seen.  Probably a little north of the Josh Green extension #.

It is sort of in the sweet spot for both team and player.  Sure, Grimes could bet on himself and make 30-40% with a good season....will there be a lot of money available in the market though?  But Grimes has also had some knee issues.   So lock down 40-50 million now and you are set for life.    If he stays healthy another 50-75 mil may be possible for his next contract.   

It is going to be interested how Mavs keep everyone healthy at the 1-3 coming off the bench.   Naji, Grimes and some point should get the majority of the minutes.

[SleepingHero]

I'm pretty surprised the Mavs are being proactive about an extension for Grimes. The number is the sticking point though.

Are we excited about a Grimes extension if its 4/100? What about 4/70?

If they can get him for 4/50-60 range I think they got a steal.

[mvossman]

I'm pretty surprised the Mavs are being proactive about an extension for Grimes. The number is the sticking point though.

Are we excited about a Grimes extension if its 4/100? What about 4/70?

If they can get him for 4/50-60 range I think they got a steal.

My guess is that it would be around MLE, which is roughly 4/65?