MAVS NEWS:

[Radical Mavs]

Roddy B had some nice games.

He was untouchable for any trade... Remember?

[Smitty]

@espn_macmahon
With post-trade chaos swirling around them and an injury report that requires scrolling to read, the Mavs manage to go into the All-Star break with four wins in the last five games.

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford has sustained a Grade 3 right MCL sprain and will miss at least 6 weeks, sources tell me and @espn_macmahon. Gafford, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II now expected to be out significant stretches of the second half of the season.

[Jym]

Step #1) Fire the entire training/recovery staff

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford has sustained a Grade 3 right MCL sprain and will miss at least 6 weeks, sources tell me and @espn_macmahon. Gafford, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II now expected to be out significant stretches of the second half of the season.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOF

That's a doozie. Grade 3 is essentially a full tear of the ligament.

[mvossman]

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford has sustained a Grade 3 right MCL sprain and will miss at least 6 weeks, sources tell me and @espn_macmahon. Gafford, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II now expected to be out significant stretches of the second half of the season.

That sucks.  Wonder how Dwight Powell is doing?

[SleepingHero]

Further, Grade 3 MCL tears can take up to 3 months to fully recover from. Fortunately they rarely require surgery.

AND if you really want to pump sunshine, if you absolutely had to tear a ligament in your knee as a basketball player, the MCL is probably the best one to choose.

[DallasMaverick]

He was untouchable for any trade... Remember?

I seem to remember Cuban saying that Dirk and Roddy B were the only untouchables on the roster. 

Or something like that.

At that point, he was an unscratched lottery ticket.

[audiosway]

My guess is that Kidd, now that Luka is gone, is hanging his hat on defense, and trying to instill a mentality that you MUST defend or else your minutes get cut (or erased).

Any other theories?

Kidd was always defense first. That's what won Dallas the title in 2011. He has been on great offensive teams that got owned in the finals. Defense wins championships. I think Kidd has been trying to create a defense first team since he got to Dallas. When the Lakers won with Kidd on the bench coaching it was defense that did it. AD was at the 4 with a good 5 next to him.

[audiosway]

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford has sustained a Grade 3 right MCL sprain and will miss at least 6 weeks, sources tell me and @espn_macmahon. Gafford, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II now expected to be out significant stretches of the second half of the season.

NOOOOO. They need a new training staff asap.

Gonna be a crazy 2nd half of the season trying to keep it afloat.

[Chicagojk]

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford has sustained a Grade 3 right MCL sprain and will miss at least 6 weeks, sources tell me and @espn_macmahon. Gafford, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II now expected to be out significant stretches of the second half of the season.

Ouch that hurts.  I knew it it was going to be longer than initially reported, but at least 6 weeks is tough.  Not sure how much they can hold on with no size.  Really need Powell to give at least 15-20 minutes a night.

[KillerLeft]

That sucks.  Wonder how Dwight Powell is doing?

It's so hilarious that, not only is Powell still here, but he's probably going to have a prominent rotation role soon, and for a good long stretch.

[cow]

It's too bad we are winning of late. This team feels doomed and not just because of the idiot GM.

[Smitty]

It's so hilarious that, not only is Powell still here, but he's probably going to have a prominent rotation role soon, and for a good long stretch.

The gift that keeps on giving.


Where’s Rondo?

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

It's too bad we are winning of late.  This team feels doomed and not just because of the idiot GM.

Yes, it’s really bad that we are winning games 

What we really need around here is more doom and gloom.

[F Gump]

The hole at PG?

1. 2 weeks ago, as Exum was about to return, I wondered if he might prove to be the answer to fill the hole at PG that we have been trying to figure out. Both now, and going forward.

I certainly don't buy the idea that last season's playoffs ended him being useful, or ever being part of their plans, and as we get to see him again, he's even better than he was a year ago when everyone was in love with him.

The one question mark is "If he can stay healthy" - of course. But the other side of the coin is - he is literally EVERYTHING we want in a second PG. He defends, he scores, he's aggressive, he has size, he can handle the ball, he is efficient when he shoots, he pushes the pace, he can run the offense -- and his price tag is modest. He also does a good job as the 2nd guard alongside someone like Kyrie.

Right now I would think that he would be available to return in the $5-9M per range on a 2-3 year deal. His value will be easier to see once we get to June - does he stay healthy from now to then, and does he play well in the playoffs like in the regular season. But if yes to both, to me that's gotta be a guy to keep.

2. Dinwiddie? He's not really a PG answer except in an emergency. He also can give minutes as a combo G because he's 6-5. BUT -- SG may be getting crowded if PJW is playing SF, with Klay, Christie, and Martin all in the SG mix. SD's a useful emergency guy, but will he want to be a minimum salary guy again, and do I want him if the price goes up?

3. I also like what I see of B Williams. I think I'm seeing a contributor at PG, not just a 2-way guy filling spare minutes; he defends and makes plays, and I wonder if he's already a better PG answer when one is needed than SD. And I am a bit torn now on whether he might be more valuable - to give a promotion and the 15th playoff spot - over Edwards. That's something to watch as they both get minutes over the next 2 months imo. He makes a lot of sense financially, as a minimum salary guy, to be their 3rd stringer next season.

4. An external PG idea? I've looked at at Lonzo Ball for Hardy-Powell (where the money is a slight savings) or for Martin (close to same salary). His ball-handling and defense are pluses. But his reliability health-wise scares me, as does his bad shooting, and they probably push me away.

[cow]

Yes, it’s really bad that we are winning games 

What we really need around here is more doom and gloom.

Sometimes the injury bug just gets your team and it seems like this is one of those years.

[audiosway]

The hole at PG?

I've wondered about that as well. Realistically, teams that move the ball more win more. Yes it was a blast to watch Luka with the crazy passes. But, it's just not the most efficient way to go. Teams will force the ball out of that guys hands with a double or triple as Luka would see at times. It stagnates the offense as well.

I have been liking B Williams as a deep bench guy. SD is more of a 3rd option at the point. I really like what I've seen from Naji as far as playmaking as well.

I feel like Kidd wants to see the ball movement that they saw with the 2011 team. He knows that wins games. Superstar PGs hardly ever win titles. There is a long list of examples that didn't. Then, you have a late in the career Kidd or Billups that makes the right pass at the right time, hits open shots, and plays D. That wins at PG.

[DanSchwartzgan]

4. An external PG idea? I've looked at at Lonzo Ball for Hardy-Powell (where the money is a slight savings) or for Martin (close to same salary). His ball-handling and defense are pluses. But his reliability health-wise scares me, as does his bad shooting, and they probably push me away.

Good call.  There is reporting that they turned down a 1st for Lonzo at the TDL (or possibly a first for second swap).  I could see what you are proposing on draft night (but not executed until the new NBA season).  Many won't like giving up the first, but Lonzo is killing the on/off numbers on a mediocre team.  He's +5.1 overall, but +9.5 as a 20 minute reserve and -3.1 as a starter.  He also fits the timeline in terms of his contract.

[SleepingHero]

Still cannot believe the Mavs have arguably the best PF and C rotation in the league and all of them are injured for a significant time.

Just lol