MAVS NEWS:

[Smitty]

All the draft picks... well...

2026 - we have our pick
2027 - to Charlotte
2028 - swap with OKC
2029 - to Houston or Brooklyn
2030 - swap with San Antonio
2031 on - we have our picks (for now)

There's a three-year wilderness there - and we'll see about 2030. In any event, 2026 is the most likely to be a good pick, given Kyrie's absence and Cooper's rookiedom. 

In any event, I'd say we got lucky in the right draft.

I still think the Luka trade was league-instigated and with the promise of Flagg. But if so, he doesn't receive credit for the dividends.

The swap with OKC and SAS aren't nearly as doom and gloom as they were a month ago. If we think Flagg is that GUY, it could turn out that we are better than each of those teams those years, and the swap isn't even executed, or maybe it's executed but we're looking at a drop from mid-20's to late 20's. Hardly something to gripe about right now anyway. Either way, it's the cost of doing business in the NBA. You way risks and have to give up something to get something...

[Smitty]

Wondering: if the Mavs fired Nico, what do we think about Masai Ujiri as a replacement?

At this point anyone is better than Nico because there's no coming back for him as far as the fans are concerned, but Ujiri has been pretty bad for a while, if we're being honest.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Since the title it seems like he has been floundering.  I feel like he lost a lot of talent without getting proper value and waited too long to go into full rebuild.  Maybe some of that was due to the owner.

Personally, if they actually fired Nico I would probably vote for Linsey.  He has prior experience as GM and recent experience here.

Last checked, Linsey is in Detroit. I'm not familiar what his title is there. They also have former agent Arn Tellem on board.

[mvossman]

All the draft picks... well...

2026 - we have our pick
2027 - to Charlotte
2028 - swap with OKC
2029 - to Houston or Brooklyn
2030 - swap with San Antonio
2031 on - we have our picks (for now)

There's a three-year wilderness there - and we'll see about 2030. In any event, 2026 is the most likely to be a good pick, given Kyrie's absence and Cooper's rookiedom. 

In any event, I'd say we got lucky in the right draft.

I still think the Luka trade was league-instigated and with the promise of Flagg. But if so, he doesn't receive credit for the dividends.

Its a 4 year stretch with virtually no chance for a top 5 pick (much less of an issue after lucking into Flagg), and I am very worried about 2031.

This team suffered massive injuries and another dumb trade by Nico and still was one game from missing the lottery entirely.  With a healthy AD and Kyrie there is no chance they even have a chance at Flagg.  If you want to indulge in conspiracy, the only thing that makes sense is the league saw their fourth largest market get sabotaged by an incompetent GM and felt they needed to step in.

[Smitty]

I would much prefer Paul for the role we have.  Here are some assists for Russell though.  A lot to AD.

Not perfect but gives you an idea of what CP3 or DLO could provide, being a Kyrie replacement. The most glaring difference to me is the scoring, but either one would be a boost for the Mavs. Both are more on the "true PG" side with much higher assist numbers.


   

[mvossman]

The swap with OKC and SAS aren't nearly as doom and gloom as they were a month ago. If we think Flagg is that GUY, it could turn out that we are better than each of those teams those years, and the swap isn't even executed, or maybe it's executed but we're looking at a drop from mid-20's to late 20's. Hardly something to gripe about right now anyway. Either way, it's the cost of doing business in the NBA. You way risks and have to give up something to get something...

This is true now because they got incredibly lucky.  Without Flagg, they would be entering that 4 year window relying on two injury prone stars in their mid to late 30s (as opposed to Luka in his prime).  That is a poor way to manage assets, which was the point of the original post.

[Smitty]

This is true now because they got incredibly lucky.  Without Flagg, they would be entering that 4 year window relying on two injury prone stars in their mid to late 30s (as opposed to Luka in his prime).  That is a poor way to manage assets, which was the point of the original post.

Of course, and I agree that it was looking bleak. 

BUT NOW IT'S NOT, which is the point of my post.

[Chicagojk]

All the draft picks... well...

2026 - we have our pick
2027 - to Charlotte
2028 - swap with OKC
2029 - to Houston or Brooklyn
2030 - swap with San Antonio
2031 on - we have our picks (for now)

There's a three-year wilderness there - and we'll see about 2030. In any event, 2026 is the most likely to be a good pick, given Kyrie's absence and Cooper's rookiedom. 

In any event, I'd say we got lucky in the right draft.

I still think the Luka trade was league-instigated and with the promise of Flagg. But if so, he doesn't receive credit for the dividends.

You forgot we robbed the lakers of the 29 pick in the Luka trade

In all seriousness, looking at the first round picks I really hope they take a wait and see approach and keep their picks.  If they can find a way to add a few seconds, that would be great as well.    

What I view is we let this play out a little and see the true needs and then use a salary and a pick or two for that final fitting piece.  I am viewing a similar type of move that Boston used for Jrue and White as a roadmap.   I don't think the current team is the final version, but I am in no hurry to make a move to make a move.   Plus, it seems like instead of 6-7 year windows.  Teams are really at a 2-3 year windows.

[KillerLeft]

Wondering: if the Mavs fired Nico, what do we think about Masai Ujiri as a replacement?

He's been great, and he's been pretty bad. 

More bad than good recently, imho. I really wanted him back when they were changing out from Donnie. Now? Not so sure.

[Chicagojk]

Sounds like Flagg will play some point guard in summer league.

[KillerLeft]

Sounds like Flagg will play some point guard in summer league.

It sounds like, as FGump has been pushing, they're hoping he can play PG a lot, and early. I get the hope part, and wondered about that right after the lottery win happened, but man is there going to be a ton of pressure on him to do that on a team full of great players who all want to win and clearly can't win without great initiation. It could work, but...phew...it's interesting. 

Luka had played PG a lot before coming here. Flagg hasn't, really. Some at Duke, yes, but that was one season. 

Still, I think the way the game is going, you need a 6'6"-6'9" playmaker running your offense, so he'll probably end up there eventually in the best, most heralded version of his career. It's going to be an interesting season. Can't wait!

[Chicagojk]

Yeah, I will be suprised if he plays point guard much in the season, but it is clear Kidd is going to push him to expand his game and maybe in the future he does this more. I do think he is going to handle the ball more than we think this year. I am sure it will be rocky at times, but good longterm. I think.

[Smitty]

It sounds like, as FGump has been pushing, they're hoping he can play PG a lot, and early. I get the hope part, and wondered about that right after the lottery win happened, but man is there going to be a ton of pressure on him to do that on a team full of great players who all want to win and clearly can't win without great initiation. It could work, but...phew...it's interesting. 

Luka had played PG a lot before coming here. Flagg hasn't, really. Some at Duke, yes, but that was one season. 

Still, I think the way the game is going, you need a 6'6"-6'9" playmaker running your offense, so he'll probably end up there eventually in the best, most heralded version of his career. It's going to be an interesting season. Can't wait!

Looking forward to it. I liked Kidd's response that he wants to make Flagg uncomfortable and see how he responds to failure, the same way he did by putting the ball in Giannis's hands early on. I'd much rather that be the plan, than putting any kind of cap on his potential growth in the name of winning a few more games in the regular season this year.

[KillerLeft]

Looking forward to it. I liked Kidd's response that he wants to make Flagg uncomfortable and see how he responds to failure, the same way he did by putting the ball in Giannis's hands early on. I'd much rather that be the plan, than putting any kind of cap on his potential growth in the name of winning a few more games in the regular season this year.

I agree. 

I'd feel even better about that plan if there were multiple others who could plausibly pick up the slack in the ball-handling department, but the summer is still young.

[Smitty]

I agree. 

I'd feel even better about that plan if there were multiple others who could plausibly pick up the slack in the ball-handling department, but the summer is still young.

Point-Marshall will save us

[KillerLeft]

Point-Marshall will save us

How did that look? I'm actually asking, because my Mavs love was completely numb down the stretch and I think I only saw one game after the big AD debut when he got hurt again.

[Smitty]

How did that look? I'm actually asking, because my Mavs love was completely numb down the stretch and I think I only saw one game after the big AD debut when he got hurt again.

I didn't watch much either, when I did it was mostly on for background noise. The parts I do remember, is that it wasn't terrible.

But to the bigger picture, like I've said 100 times... The Mavs went from one guy that could dribble and the others watching at the three-point line, only able to CnS, to now having multiple guys that can dribble and attack closeouts (some better than others). The only time I see "PG" being a real label for this team, is when they run certain actions after time outs or in clutch time. We'll get several different players handling the ball possession to possession. Half-court offense is going to look more Pacers than '24 Mavs. For better or worse...

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/townbrad/status/1938656569782067484?s=46

[Smitty]

https://x.com/townbrad/status/1938656569782067484?s=46

He's Nico's boss again, isn't he...

[Smitty]

https://x.com/noahweber00/status/1938655847263121609

@noahweber00
Mark Cuban on Cooper Flagg and where he can play:

“I’d send a text to J-Kidd, point guard, point guard, point guard, let him bring the ball up…”

Talks about a lineup of:

- Cooper Flagg
- Klay Thompson
- P.J. Washington
- Anthony Davis
- Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford

Says the Mavs are “going to have the biggest team in the NBA.”