Trade & FA 2024-25:

[DanSchwartzgan]

https://youtu.be/qKmW0ljELPw?si=y6jrDvvjMkAWkljS

Bobby Marks comments on Kyrie and KD this summer.

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
New Orleans Pelicans forward Javonte Green has agreed to a contract buyout and intends to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers upon clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. Additional wing depth for the East-best Cavs.

[DallasMaverick]

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.

Does anyone remember last years' series against Boston?  

And how Dallas only had two players that could put the ball on the floor and generate a good look?

And Kyrie was constantly battling against their length to get decent shots?  And missing a lot of those?

And how disappointed we were that DJJ was a zero on offense?

Naji was one of the guys (also Klay, also Grimes, also Dinwiddie) that was supposed to help with that problem.  Two-way guys.

[mvossman]

Does anyone remember last years' series against Boston?  

And how Dallas only had two players that could put the ball on the floor and generate a good look?

And Kyrie was constantly battling against their length to get decent shots?  And missing a lot of those?

And how disappointed we were that DJJ was a zero on offense?

Naji was one of the guys (also Klay, also Grimes, also Dinwiddie) that was supposed to help with that problem.  Two-way guys.

I remember last years Western Conference playoff run when DJJ was a crucial part of the defense that got us to the finals.  No question it would have been nice to have more offensive versatility on the roster (and we could have added Naji, Grimes and Dinwiddie while holding onto DJJ) but none of those guys you listed provide what DJJ does defensively, and replacing DJJ with any them would not have made a difference in the finals.

[KillerLeft]

I think DJJ overachieved here and was a key component to last season's playoff run, no doubt. By the end, I was a huge fan, and was in favor of bringing him back.

All things considered, I find Marshall to be a better player, honestly, so when the dust cleared on how the summer went down, I was ok with it, and that was WITH Luka in mind. Without Luka, I think Marshall makes even more sense.

[LukaMVP]

the fact we don't have luka no more reduces the necessity of having a quick wing defender djj is imho. it's good to have such a player of course but i'd rather have naji or Christie who're more capable offensively in the starting five according to matchups. having a great play maker in luka also disguised djj's lack of offensive abilities and even if we get him back now, without luka feeding him the ball he'd probably struggle to make ends meet here as a starter tbh.

[mvossman]

I think DJJ overachieved here and was a key component to last season's playoff run, no doubt. By the end, I was a huge fan, and was in favor of bringing him back.

All things considered, I find Marshall to be a better player, honestly, so when the dust cleared on how the summer went down, I was ok with it, and that was WITH Luka in mind. Without Luka, I think Marshall makes even more sense.

If by overachieve you mean he played better than expected then I agree.  He is playing even better this season and has established himself as a quality 5th starter.

I realize we signed Marshall when DJJ wouldn't sign, but the real choice was between Klay and DJJ.  We could have signed DJJ and Naji if we wanted.  Not convinced Naji is the better player, but I guess it doesn't matter.

As for who would make more sense now, who knows.  We won't be able to see a lot of this team as intended this season with all of the long term injuries, and not sure who will still be here starting next season.

[LukaMVP]

Klay definitely makes more sense to Nico imho and if there's one thing for sure that is Klay will remain here as a starter next season as long as nico keeps his job as GM. I guess the moment he chose Klay over djj (who made up for luka's slowness in defense so well and also provided another lob threat), the idea of moving on from luka was already being brewed in his mind.

[audiosway]

I think DJJ overachieved here and was a key component to last season's playoff run, no doubt. By the end, I was a huge fan, and was in favor of bringing him back.

All things considered, I find Marshall to be a better player, honestly, so when the dust cleared on how the summer went down, I was ok with it, and that was WITH Luka in mind. Without Luka, I think Marshall makes even more sense.

Same here. He totally overachieved in Dallas. No shade on DJJ. But, Kidd put him in a great position to succeed. (Kidd has been a much better coach than I would have ever imagined btw) I really liked what DJJ did. But, Naji is the better player. He works on both ends of the floor.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://basketnews.com/news-219984-laker...e_vignette


The Lakers tried to trade for Jalen Duren but were rebuffed.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1892274432518812098


The Nets are waiving Bojan Bogdanovich to free up two roster spots
to sign Tyrese Martin to a standard contract, and Killian Hayes to a 10 day.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1i..._not_feel/

Forget KD. Let’s get Giannis.

[mvossman]

Same here. He totally overachieved in Dallas. No shade on DJJ. But, Kidd put him in a great position to succeed. (Kidd has been a much better coach than I would have ever imagined btw) I really liked what DJJ did. But, Naji is the better player. He works on both ends of the floor.

If he overachieved in Dallas then why is he playing better in LA?  He is shooting 37% from 3, scoring 15 points per 36 with a 60% TS.  He is turning into DFS.  If we had this years version of him, there would have been even less reason to let him go.

[mvossman]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1i..._not_feel/

Forget KD. Let’s get Giannis.

We already traded away the only asset that could come close to getting Giannis (and apparently was not enough).

[Radical Mavs]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1i..._not_feel/

Forget KD. Let’s get Giannis.

Si, Claro...   Yeah right! No big player will come here willingly after all what happened with front office.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

https://youtu.be/qKmW0ljELPw?si=y6jrDvvjMkAWkljS

Bobby Marks comments on Kyrie and KD this summer.

Kyrie Irving has the most leverage of all the players this offseason.

[Radical Mavs]

If he overachieved in Dallas then why is he playing better in LA?  He is shooting 37% from 3, scoring 15 points per 36 with a 60% TS.  He is turning into DFS.  If we had this years version of him, there would have been even less reason to let him go.

Easy answer to this... More touches.

[mvossman]

Easy answer to this... More touches.

Most of the numbers I provided were efficiency based.  If he is getting more touches while being more efficient then he is definitely better.

[Winter]

I think DJJ is actually a little better now then he used to be. He got more minutes in Dallas and improved. He got more minutes in LAC and improved again slightly - so far.

But he wasn't coming back to Dallas unless he got those minutes. If we can believe the rumors, he wanted to start games. So there was no getting him back I don't think.

I personally think Klay and Naji are fine. I don't need DJJ back to like this team we have.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Same here. He totally overachieved in Dallas. No shade on DJJ. But, Kidd put him in a great position to succeed. (Kidd has been a much better coach than I would have ever imagined btw) I really liked what DJJ did. But, Naji is the better player. He works on both ends of the floor.

I have said all along that Naji would be an upgrade.  No shade on DJJ.  I love when players can resurrect their careers, but Naji is far more rounded