Trade & FA 2024-25:

[DL2RimRocker]

I agree that you don't strip down the team to bring in KD.

OTOH, while I'd be very comfortable if they said no to a KD deal because of the massive salary and what it does to the team as a whole, is there anyone in this list that you really can't live without, if this could get you KD?
Klay, Gafford, Martin, Marshall, Powell, OMax, Hardy, 2025 1st, other draft capital?

First thought I'd give up all of them for KD but then I think about the supporting cast and I'm not so sure.

On one hand that would be one bitchin SL (Kyrie/Christie/KD/AD/DLive) with a decent supporting cast (Exum/Dinwiddie?/PJ/Edwards). We'd just need a backup center.

On the other hand, with KD, AD and DLive's injury histories, along with Kyrie and Exum normal absences, I'm not sure we'd make it to the POs.

Interesting thought.

[DL2RimRocker]

Actually Nico signed Naji Marshall as the DJJ upgrade. Naji got slotted into the contract that would have gone to DJJ. They just didn't want to keep him at the price the Clippers paid is my understanding.

I think Naji is a better fit overall. He's a great defender but he's also a playmaker and shooter. DJJ was just a great defender. His shooting has been improving. But, he's not to the level of Naji.

Agree...I think Nico has made it very clear that he fantasizes about having a roster full of 2-way players and Naji fits the bill in a supporting role.

He probably saw in DJJ on the offensive side as he did with Luka on the defensive side. Personally, I don't think Nico had a problem with Luka's conditioning from an offensive perspective, but probably didn't feel Luka had the dedication to become the defensive player he needed to be to be a legit superstar player. It seems to me Nico had similar frustrations as the Rockets FO had with Harden and his lack of commitment to defense and the game overall. I can't disagree with Nico on that philosophy because to win championships you can't have a couple of offensive players who play no defense (Luka/Kyrie) and then have to compensate with a couple of defensive players who give you next to nothing offensively (Maxi/DJJ). It makes it too easy for a team full of 2-way players (Boston) to shut down your offense. I do embrace Nico's philosophy on that account.

However, Nico was still a damn idiot for dumping him in a similar fashion as he did Maxi getting what I consider to be about 60% in return.

[mvossman]

Actually Nico signed Naji Marshall as the DJJ upgrade. Naji got slotted into the contract that would have gone to DJJ. They just didn't want to keep him at the price the Clippers paid is my understanding.

I think Naji is a better fit overall. He's a great defender but he's also a playmaker and shooter. DJJ was just a great defender. His shooting has been improving. But, he's not to the level of Naji.

Naji is the guy they signed because they couldn't sign DJJ, but the reason they couldn't sign DJJ was because they made Klay top priority.  If I recall, going after Klay meant they were capped at what they could offer DJJ (the same amount they offered Naji) and a clear sign DJJ was no longer going to be starting.  That is why he went to LA (for 1 mil more than Naji is making).

I disagree on the DJJ/Naji comparison.  DJJ is a significantly better defender and he was doing it as a starter at a very high level in the playoffs.  Naji brings different things to the table like some playmaking (along with some boneheadedness) and a very good midrange game, but he is currently shooting under 32% from 3 which is his career average.

[SleepingHero]

ShamsCharania
Brooklyn Nets forward Bojan Bogdanovic will undergo season-ending foot surgery, sources tell ESPN. Bogdanovic last played on April 28, 2024 for the Knicks before having an initial surgery on his left foot.

[The Jom]

36.8% from 3 DJJ this year, 32.5% career

31.5% from 3 Naji this year, 31.3% career

I’m super impressed with Naji’s ball handling, driving, scoring, dishing, and free throwing. I’m ok with his defense. His shooting outside of 20 feet really isn’t good at all.

[Smitty]

Naji brings different things to the table like some playmaking (along with some boneheadedness) and a very good midrange game, but he is currently shooting under 32% from 3 which is his career average.

IF the Mavs make the playoffs, I can see a real possibility that Naji isn't in the rotation. Those kind of shooting numbers are what made DJJ unplayable at times in the Finals, even with his superior defensive play. And I think the Mavs can make up for some of that playmaking he brings with Exum, if he continues his recent play.

I think we can all agree that the top 8 when healthy is:
Kyrie
Exum
Christie
Klay
PJW
Davis
Lively
Gafford

Next up:
Naji
Martin
Dinwiddie

[F Gump]

I'm a DJJ guy, so I'm pushing back against some of the comments being made.
1 The money was NOT the issue with DJJ - the contracts were only $1M apart, an amount the Mavs had available. I believe the Mavs probably offered him as much as LAC did, and DJJ just didn't want to be here - the negotiating with him to make sure he knew he was going to be a vital part of the team was not good.
2 I don't think Nico wanted to get rid of DJJ at all, but rather he just blundered in getting him signed. Naji was just a backup plan, just in case.
3 Naji is nowhere near the same level of defender. Naji is solid, but DJJ can be a total disruptor because of his athletic gifts that are off the charts (7' wingspan, 46" vertical). I don't know how to quantify it, but I believe DJJ is far quicker and more agile covering the court.
4 Naji is really not a superior shooter, he's just a different style. Naji scores in more versatile ways. But DJJ has a TS of 60, Naji 59. And on the important ability to shoot 3s, DJJ is actually superior - this season DJJ about 37 (career 33), Naji about 31 (career 31).

I would much rather have DJJ, and think LAC got the much better player at close to the same salary. I would have eagerly swapped Naji for DJJ at any time. In the summer I would swap Naji for DJJ all day long (and hope LAC would want something different and look favorably on Naji and his less-expensive contract).

[Chicagojk]

DJJ was an excellent signing by the Mavs (and the Clippers). If you remember there was a lot of ho hum when the Mavs signed him. It also took him a bit to find his footing. Even when he did, it seemed like it went months before he was consistent from the three. He was in our run. He was really good defending.

The reason is left is pretty simple. It is tough to tell a player who went to the finals that we want you back but want you to take a step back. That is literally what the Mavs had in mind when they signed Klay. DJJ starting spot was gone. We can argue that until we are blue in the face, but that is reality. DJJ thinks of himself as a starter and didn't want to go backwards. So he went to LAC for that opportunity at similar money.

I want to hold off my analysis on Marshall. I love his toughness and his offensive game has been really suprrising. His man to man defense has been a little worse than I expected. He also has some brain dead moments. I want to see him for a good 20 game run andn hopefully with a healthy roster before I feel confident in my evaluation though.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

IF the Mavs make the playoffs, I can see a real possibility that Naji isn't in the rotation. Those kind of shooting numbers are what made DJJ unplayable at times in the Finals, even with his superior defensive play. And I think the Mavs can make up for some of that playmaking he brings with Exum, if he continues his recent play.

I think we can all agree that the top 8 when healthy is:
Kyrie
Exum
Christie
Klay
PJW
Davis
Lively
Gafford

Next up:
Naji
Martin
Dinwiddie

Only reason I would expect Naji over Gafford in a playoff rotation if everyone is healthy is because Kidd and Sweeney don't want to run drop in pick and roll defense so I would expect AD to play more center minutes and Naji to fill in more wing minutes since it also means that PJ will have to play more at the 4.

[Smitty]

Only reason I would expect Naji over Gafford in a playoff rotation if everyone is healthy is because Kidd and Sweeney don't want to run drop in pick and roll defense so I would expect AD to play more center minutes and Naji to fill in more wing minutes since it also means that PJ will have to play more at the 4.

That would be the way I would go also. Don't know that Kidd sees it that way. And one could argue it'd be Martin over Naji in that scenario. The last two seasons Martin has shot 43% from three on 4.6 attempts per game in the playoffs. I could see that being a bigger weapon to use off the bench than Naji's playmaking.

[DallasMaverick]

That would be the way I would go also. Don't know that Kidd sees it that way. And one could argue it'd be Martin over Naji in that scenario. The last two seasons Martin has shot 43% from three on 4.6 attempts per game in the playoffs. I could see that being a bigger weapon to use off the bench than Naji's playmaking.

Maybe. It all seems like it’s predicated on matchups.

Against Cleveland, for example, I could see either a similarly big lineup to match their size. But Boston might call for more rangy two-way wings.

Versatility is important.

[Smitty]

Versatility is important.

That is something this team has. Good point!

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

That would be the way I would go also. Don't know that Kidd sees it that way. And one could argue it'd be Martin over Naji in that scenario. The last two seasons Martin has shot 43% from three on 4.6 attempts per game in the playoffs. I could see that being a bigger weapon to use off the bench than Naji's playmaking.

Keep forgetting that Caleb Martin exists on this team....

[mvossman]

DJJ was an excellent signing by the Mavs (and the Clippers).  If you remember there was a lot of ho hum when the Mavs signed him.  It also took him a bit to find his footing.  Even when he did, it seemed like it went months before he was consistent from the three.  He was in our run.  He was really good defending. 

The reason is left is pretty simple.  It is tough to tell a player who went to the finals that we want you back but want you to take a step back.  That is literally what the Mavs had in mind when they signed Klay.    DJJ starting spot was gone.  We can argue that until we are blue in the face, but that is reality.  DJJ thinks of himself as a starter and didn't want to go backwards.    So he went to LAC for that opportunity at similar money.

I want to hold off my analysis on Marshall.  I love his toughness and his offensive game has been really suprrising.  His man to man defense has been a little worse than I expected.  He also has some brain dead moments.  I want to see him for a good 20 game run andn hopefully with a healthy roster before I feel confident in my evaluation though.

I think there were a few of us on here that were excited about the DJJ signing (although I don't think anybody pictured him becoming a quality starter).

I think we would have been better off keeping DJJ.  Grimes could have provided most of what we are getting from Klay (and probably more by the end of Klay's contract) without needing to be in the starting lineup.  Hell, we could have had DJJ, Grimes and Naji for less assets and cap hit than going the Klay route.

[michaeltex]

I think there were a few of us on here that were excited about the DJJ signing (although I don't think anybody pictured him becoming a quality starter).

I think we would have been better off keeping DJJ.  Grimes could have provided most of what we are getting from Klay (and probably more by the end of Klay's contract) without needing to be in the starting lineup.  Hell, we could have had DJJ, Grimes and Naji for less assets and cap hit than going the Klay route.

You are likely correct. I'm not saying Klay isn't a good addition, but it almost felt like a status thing. That a multi-ring champion would leave the team he won with to move over to DAL, who is historically bad at FAs, and indicate he expects to compete for a title. Despite the last 5 years of extended injuries and declining productivity. 

At the time I was OK with it as I expected Klay and Kyrie to provide veteran leadership to the basket of young talent DAL was accumulating. They can still do that, but the basket is smaller now. I am hopeful they can hang on until the calvary arrives as I think there are going to be a lot of surprised teams if they can get healthy. (BIG IF, I know, I know).

[mvossman]

You are likely correct. I'm not saying Klay isn't a good addition, but it almost felt like a status thing. That a multi-ring champion would leave the team he won with to move over to DAL, who is historically bad at FAs, and indicate he expects to compete for a title. Despite the last 5 years of extended injuries and declining productivity. 

At the time I was OK with it as I expected Klay and Kyrie to provide veteran leadership to the basket of young talent DAL was accumulating. They can still do that, but the basket is smaller now. I am hopeful they can hang on until the calvary arrives as I think there are going to be a lot of surprised teams if they can get healthy. (BIG IF, I know, I know).

I think its less about status and more about Klay being somebody Nico had a prior relationship with.  Almost to the day Linsey was announced going to Detroit is when the rumors turned from DJJ to Klay.  At this point I feel like the pattern is too strong to ignore.  First Kyrie, then Klay and now AD.  Folks can rationalize about why AD was picked but its hard for me not to think a big part of it was his relationship with Nico.  This is why I fear he is going to do everything he can to get KD.

[audiosway]

36.8% from 3 DJJ this year, 32.5% career

31.5% from 3 Naji this year, 31.3% career

I’m super impressed with Naji’s ball handling, driving, scoring, dishing, and free throwing. I’m ok with his defense. His shooting outside of 20 feet really isn’t good at all.

We haven't been able to see what Naji is truly capable of due to the season being so in flux with injuries. Once they start nailing down a rotation and everyone knows their defined role you'll see what I'm talking about.

[audiosway]

I'm a DJJ guy, so I'm pushing back against some of the comments being made.
1 The money was NOT the issue with DJJ - the contracts were only $1M apart, an amount the Mavs had available. I believe the Mavs probably offered him as much as LAC did, and DJJ just didn't want to be here - the negotiating with him to make sure he knew he was going to be a vital part of the team was not good.
2 I don't think Nico wanted to get rid of DJJ at all, but rather he just blundered in getting him signed. Naji was just a backup plan, just in case.
3 Naji is nowhere near the same level of defender. Naji is solid, but DJJ can be a total disruptor because of his athletic gifts that are off the charts (7' wingspan, 46" vertical). I don't know how to quantify it, but I believe DJJ is far quicker and more agile covering the court.
4 Naji is really not a superior shooter, he's just a different style. Naji scores in more versatile ways. But DJJ has a TS of 60, Naji 59. And on the important ability to shoot 3s, DJJ is actually superior - this season DJJ about 37 (career 33), Naji about 31 (career 31).

I would much rather have DJJ, and think LAC got the much better player at close to the same salary. I would have eagerly swapped Naji for DJJ at any time. In the summer I would swap Naji for DJJ all day long (and hope LAC would want something different and look favorably on Naji and his less-expensive contract).

I gotcha. I think the main thing with Naji is that we haven't gotten to see him just yet. Too much instability this year. Once everyone has their defined roles we'll see what Naji is capable of.

[Reunion Mav]

I gotcha. I think the main thing with Naji is that we haven't gotten to see him just yet. Too much instability this year. Once everyone has their defined roles we'll see what Naji is capable of.

I think Naji is a very strong 9th best player. I love his ability to score 4-6 feet from the basket over almost anyone. That skill has been very useful.

[LukaMVP]

agree. naji scores from that range with good efficiency and we haven't seen a mav scoring that way so much since Marion.