MAVS NEWS:

[Chicagojk]

So, is Dinwiddie out of the picture? I haven't heard jack on him.

I would guess so.

[Chicagojk]

@MavsFilmRoom
Stein reports that:

-The Mavericks are expected to sign D’Angelo Russell to a 2-year contract worth around $12 million

-The Mavs are expected to explore the trade market to dump O-Max Prosper so that they can retain Dante Exum




Stein has been all over it. Cuban being back in the fold just a coincidence?

The Mavs appear to be much less secret this year.  I mean, I knew who they were going to pick in the draft weeks ago.   We have not seen that before

Seriously, who knows why there appears to be more leaking.   Anything to take ultimate power out of Nico's hands the better though.

[Smitty]

I am fine either way if Kai is not back.  I thought he was pretty good, but he would be a deep, deep bench guy.  If you can move two guys without giving anything up, sure bring him in.    I think Exum (or someone similar) is the much more important part currently.

I agree. Still, Exum+Kai > Hardy+Omax if the cost is net neutral.

[Chicagojk]

I agree. Still, Exum+Kai > Hardy+Omax if the cost is net neutral.

Yes, I agree.  I think Hardy would be the one hard to get off.  Would probably need to make a tip.  It feels like there are a lot of teams looking to unload guys making 5-8 million.   Not too many openings or teams wanting to take this for free.   

Also reading the tea leaves, I think the Mavs want to keep Martin.  I have trouble seeing a regular role for him here, but if healthy he does provide value.  There is just a minutes crunch.   I just feel like Nico likes certainty and cost controlled contracts are definitions of this.   I think Nico is looking for non rookie bench wings to be between 6-11 million range with years on their contract.    I think if they are coming up for extensions or price themselves out of these bench roles, is when he will move them.   I think marshall, Martin and Max are all examples of this.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I don't love D-Lo but with that contract he is a bargain for sure.

No more Dinwiddie please. He was awful last season.

[DallasMaverick]

I don't love D-Lo but with that contract he is a bargain for sure.

No more Dinwiddie please. He was awful last season.

Was he?

FG% 41.8, just slightly higher than his career average
3FG% 33.4%, also above career average
3.5:1 assist:turnover ratio- pretty respectable

Defensive rating 119, which is poor, but not unusually worse than his career.

He hit some big shots, helped win some games.  A pretty good value for a vet min guy.

[mvossman]

Was he?

FG% 41.8, just slightly higher than his career average
3FG% 33.4%, also above career average
3.5:1 assist:turnover ratio- pretty respectable

Defensive rating 119, which is poor, but not unusually worse than his career.

He hit some big shots, helped win some games.  A pretty good value for a vet min guy.

He was fine for the vet min.  He was simply overextended due to injury/trade.  It does not help that our previous experience of Din was his hottest 3% streak in his career.  If Dlo does not get his 3 percentage back up he is going to look a lot like Din.

[myconsumerclub]

I hope we have such good luck with Nembhard we need to extend him a contract and keep him. Kelly may turn into something as well. Kai has something in his game that makes me want him back as well. I think its the fact he make a higher % of the shots he takes and his size. He looks more like a PF and with AD and PJ plus looking to trade Omax there might be a way to use him there as well as the 5 so he could be a 2 position backup. However if he is playing that means someone is sitting and injury is usually that reason or perhaps they just are resting that player to avoid injury and allow more recovery whatever the reason that other player is not playing his minutes would be useful. Exum is better shot than DLo so I like having him. I just pray that Cooper is going to show potential as a PG in the Luka style.

[Chicagojk]

He was fine for the vet min.  He was simply overextended due to injury/trade.  It does not help that our previous experience of Din was his hottest 3% streak in his career.  If Dlo does not get his 3 percentage back up he is going to look a lot like Din.

Yeah he was fine.  Really tough to ask a vet min guy (regardless of his experience) to carry such a heavy load.    I have a feeeling that Dlo will give me some of the same pain that Dinwiddie did.   Din with his holding the ball and Dlo taking off the dribble contested threes.  I think Dlo is better but I am sure it won't be as appealing as we all hope. Both aren't good defenders. Not sure how bad Dlo is, but I really hope he is a upgrade to Dinwiddie.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Any thoughts on Nembhard‘s defense?  He’s obviously an asset monster, which I love.  I’m tired of scoring combo guards.

He may be ok I guess. Not nearly as good as Andrew however. And he's smaller.

[mvossman]

Yeah he was fine.  Really tough to ask a vet min guy (regardless of his experience) to carry such a heavy load.    I have a feeeling that Dlo will give me some of the same pain that Dinwiddie did.   Din with his holding the ball and Dlo taking off the dribble contested threes.  I think Dlo is better but I am sure it won't be as appealing as we all hope.  Both aren't good defenders.  Not sure how bad Dlo is, but I really hope he is a upgrade to Dinwiddie.

If that last sentence is regarding Dlo defense, I'm afraid you are going to be disappointed.  Its kind of crazy that of all the options we are looking at for tax MLE PG, the 40 year old is probably the best defender.

[Smitty]

If that last sentence is regarding Dlo defense, I'm afraid you are going to be disappointed.  Its kind of crazy that of all the options we are looking at for tax MLE PG, the 40 year old is probably the best defender.

@NationMffl
In the 2024-25 regular season Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, and Max Christie were on the floor for 188 minutes together…

In that time:

NETRTG: +9.4
OFFRTG: 115.7
DEFRTG:  106.3


Insert PJ and Flagg and you have what I've been saying is your best closing 5, while Kyrie is out.

[mvossman]

@NationMffl
In the 2024-25 regular season Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, and Max Christie were on the floor for 188 minutes together…

In that time:

NETRTG: +9.4
OFFRTG: 115.7
DEFRTG:  106.3


Insert PJ and Flagg and you have what I've been saying is your best closing 5, while Kyrie is out.

That's a small sample.  It may very well be our best lineup, but having two starting centers sitting on the bench to finish games is a testament to how unbalanced this roster is.

[Smitty]

It may very well be our best lineup, but having two starting centers sitting on the bench to finish games is a testament to how unbalanced this roster is.

No argument there!

[KillerLeft]

I am fine either way if Kai is not back.  I thought he was pretty good, but he would be a deep, deep bench guy.  If you can move two guys without giving anything up, sure bring him in.    I think Exum (or someone similar) is the much more important part currently.

Same here. 

Exum is pretty needed here, on both sides of the court. You put him, DLo, Christie and the Hardy/Williams combo together and if you squint, you can kind of make out the edges of a guard rotation that could plausibly work with a little luck. 

My interest in Kai Jones was 100% about assuming Gafford was going to be traded to another team. If that's not the case, who cares, tbh. There will be other young, cheap backup centers.

[michaeltex]

Yes, I agree.  I think Hardy would be the one hard to get off.  Would probably need to make a tip.  It feels like there are a lot of teams looking to unload guys making 5-8 million.   Not too many openings or teams wanting to take this for free.   

Also reading the tea leaves, I think the Mavs want to keep Martin.  I have trouble seeing a regular role for him here, but if healthy he does provide value.  There is just a minutes crunch.   I just feel like Nico likes certainty and cost controlled contracts are definitions of this.   I think Nico is looking for non rookie bench wings to be between 6-11 million range with years on their contract.    I think if they are coming up for extensions or price themselves out of these bench roles, is when he will move them.   I think marshall, Martin and Max are all examples of this.

Some of these guys may be more TDL candidates as opposed to summer trade candidates, so all is not lost if they start the season on the roster.

FWIW, Kidd seems to like to play with lineups in the first 20-25 games, or until around Christmas, so hanging on to some of these guys to check on their synergy with the core rotation isn't a bad thing as long as they are trying to make a contribution and TDL trades often seem more desperate than summer ones. I'm not expecting any 15-2 runs to start the season so having these guys around isn't really a problem.

Although, I would like to see more of Kai Jones in a big league setting. His limited playing time still gave me a Gafford-like vibe. If he proves himself, that might free up a big trade chip. 

TBH, I wouldn't mind cashing AD in for all the assets DAL didn't get for Luka, but that ain't gonna happen.

P.S. - It has been a total joy to see this board roar back to life over the last few weeks!

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

He may be ok I guess. Not nearly as good as Andrew however. And he's smaller.

If his D is near his brother's, I could see Nembhard starting at some point before Kyrie returns.  Some scouts said he plays bigger on defense and is a great POA defender.

[SleepingHero]

@NationMffl
In the 2024-25 regular season Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, and Max Christie were on the floor for 188 minutes together…

In that time:

NETRTG: +9.4
OFFRTG: 115.7
DEFRTG:  106.3


Insert PJ and Flagg and you have what I've been saying is your best closing 5, while Kyrie is out.

Honestly would love to see Lively there as well just cause he is also a switchable big. Especially if he can hit 3s.

But that is a very switchable lineup. 

DLo/PJ/Flagg/AD/Lively
DLO/Christie/Flagg/PJ/AD

Lots of combos.

[DallasMaverick]

If his D is near his brother's, I could see Nembhard starting at some point before Kyrie returns.  Some scouts said he plays bigger on defense and is a great POA defender.

That would be a super rare event.

Undrafted rookie point guard starting in his first season.

Generally only happens when there aren't any other options.

Think how difficult it is even for a highly-regarded point guard who's a high draft pick to get much playing time as a rookie.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

That would be a super rare event.

Undrafted rookie point guard starting in his first season.

Generally only happens when there aren't any other options.

Think how difficult it is even for a highly-regarded point guard who's a high draft pick to get much playing time as a rookie.

Didn't JJB start some games?