MAVS NEWS:

[Kidnova]

This is a very good question.  And one that I have no answer to.  None of our current team has shown any leadership abilities, or even inclination to be a leader.

It seemed Kyrie fell into that position naturally as time went on.  He'll be out for a while.  

I would like to say PJW, but I simply don't know if he can, or will.

AD?....nawwwww.  Klay?...no.  Gafford?...I don't think so.

I don't know anything about DLo except that he used to piss me off sometimes when playing against the Mavs.

Can a rookie be a/the leader?  Man...that would be putting a lot on CF--and I'm worried that some of us already have unrealistic expectations for him.

I think I'm going to hide and watch for awhile.  Hope that a leader drops out of the sky.  A headless snake is dangerous...but it's...headless.

When available, AD is going to be the leader until Kyrie is healthy, I don't know why we'd dismiss that just because he has a terrible history with injuries.  He was the leader in NO both on and off court. Sure, he took a backseat to Lebron in LA, but everybody does that when they play with Lebron.  No doubt CF will be the leader at some point, but whether that's sometime later this season or 3 seasons from now depends on how he develops.

[Smitty]

   

[Chicagojk]

Who is going to be the on-court leader of this team to start the season?

I think the leadership is pretty good.  A lot of good leadership dudes.  I think D Lively is a natural leader.   I think some other guys can also fill into that.  Maybe it is not one, but they are a group of good character guys.

My bigger concern is what happens in the last five minutes of games.   Even when Kyrie is back, but especially when he is not.   I think this wil be really tricky and not neccesary great either.

[Winter]

I have a good feeling about Lively. He's vocal and he seems like a natural. But I'm guessing there's going to be a lot of people looking towards the bench early on. It could AD or Klay, but more likely the whole thing is by committee for awhile. There's lot of experience, but really.... we just won't know early on.

[DanSchwartzgan]

https://x.com/All_Things_Mavs/status/193...8830466359


I don't know if that link will work, but it is 18 minutes of Dlo to AD passes.  I've never been a fan, but that doesn't mean this can't work.

I like the graphic (1st team, 2nd team) that Smitty posted.  Every player on the second unit has or can start for a playoff team.  That is strong.

I looked ahead to 2nd apron for 26/27.  We are over by $4mm.  Assumptions are Powell is replaced by a pick, OMax is replaced by a Vet Min (he is TO and would make $5.2mm if he's not traded).  I have DLo staying on a non-Bird 20% raise.

The real apron issue is Martin at $10mm plus a $1.3m LTBA Bonus.  He's the only player with a bonus next year at this point.  He's basically the 11th/12th man at this point, though he would have been in the second unit had we not landed Flagg.  His contract is a nice size for trades as it pairs well with others to increase outgoing salary.  I guess he could move up the pecking order if PJ doesn't extend, but I think his best value is as outgoing trade matching.  That wasn't something you were going to get with Grimes.

[Smitty]

My bigger concern is what happens in the last five minutes of games.   Even when Kyrie is back, but especially when he is not.   I think this wil be really tricky and not neccesary great either.

This is where I've been for a while. I think the roster is talented and deep enough to compete with anyone in the regular season from tip to the 44-minute mark. What this team lacks is a go-to guy in the clutch. Kyrie will be that guy most of the time, when he's back. But I can't help but envision way too many AD iso's from the perimeter, which doesn't get me excited. 

Maybe Flagg will surprise us...?

[Smitty]

https://x.com/All_Things_Mavs/status/193...8830466359


I don't know if that link will work, but it is 18 minutes of Dlo to AD passes.  I've never been a fan, but that doesn't mean this can't work.

I like the graphic (1st team, 2nd team) that Smitty posted.  Every player on the second unit has or can start for a playoff team.  That is strong.

I looked ahead to 2nd apron for 26/27.  We are over by $4mm.  Assumptions are Powell is replaced by a pick, OMax is replaced by a Vet Min (he is TO and would make $5.2mm if he's not traded).  I have DLo staying on a non-Bird 20% raise.

The real apron issue is Martin at $10mm plus a $1.3m LTBA Bonus.  He's the only player with a bonus next year at this point.  He's basically the 11th/12th man at this point, though he would have been in the second unit had we not landed Flagg.  His contract is a nice size for trades as it pairs well with others to increase outgoing salary.  I guess he could move up the pecking order if PJ doesn't extend, but I think his best value is as outgoing trade matching.  That wasn't something you were going to get with Grimes.

I was just thinking about a Martin trade, that also clears a roster spot. 

Martin+Hardy+FRP for Herb Jones (A known Nico target)

Doesn't help your A2 issue next season, and it bumps one of those in that Top-10 photo to number 11, but it solves the POA defense issue (a better DJJ) and gets you off Martin's ~$10M PO in 27-28.

IDK, maybe I'm just bored. 

[DanSchwartzgan]

I was just thinking about a Martin trade, that also clears a roster spot. 

Martin+Hardy+FRP for Herb Jones (A known Nico target)

Doesn't help your A2 issue next season, and it bumps one of those in that Top-10 photo to number 11, but it solves the POA defense issue (a better DJJ) and gets you off Martin's ~$10M PO in 27-28.

IDK, maybe I'm just bored. 

I think if I'm going there that I need the acquired player to obviously join the top 10 (if not the top 7/8).  I'd love to hear that we have an extension agreement with PJW (end of August is a long time to wait).  To me, you combine Martin with someone like PJ (if he won't extend) or Klay or Max.  If PJ stays, then the Klay/Max slots are the next weakest link IMHO.  Trading Klay is a tricky proposition.  I really like Max, but if you could land Herb Jones for Martin, Max and pick, then that works better in terms of using the outgoing salary in a way that is useful to the roster (and New Orleans).

[FireNicoHarrison]

Very good depth roster.

[DallasMaverick]

Very good depth roster.

Nico knows what he’s doing.

[Tyler]

Listening to this DLLS podcast and I guess I need to mentally prepare myself for this season being a gap year.  All three guys have the Mavs around .500 and as a play in team.

I think you need to mentally prepare yourself for the DLLS crew to eat major crow this year. Karalla and Cato have become comically negative to the point of making Tim MacMahon sound like the leader of the Mavs fan club. 

It has been a rough year, so I get it. They probably need a vacation as much as anyone. But c'mon -- this team is better than 10th in the West.

[michaeltex]

THE MAVS CURRENT ROTATION WHEN HEALTHY

PG: Kyrie - DLO - Brandon Williams
SG: Klay - Christie - Hardy
SF: Flagg - Naji - Martin
PF: AD - PJ - Prosper
C: Lively II - Gafford - Powell

I cannot stress enough how much Flagg changed the trajectory and ceiling for this team. Holy crap what a freaking longshot.

Has anyone checked in with PJ about this rotation? 

FWIW, I don't consider Klay one of the top 5 on the team right now, older/slower and his shot is not as automatic as it used to be, but he can be a voice of experience to the younger guys. I understand if they choose to start him, but I'd do an early heat check and maybe increase Christie's time a bit if the shots aren't falling.

[michaeltex]

Who is going to be the on-court leader of this team to start the season?

Excellent question. I hope it becomes apparent sooner rather than later.

Not to put too much on Flagg, but I've seen comments about how he changes the mood every time he enters a gym. If positivity, commitment and work ethic are infectious, then I could see him growing into the role. Question is, would the older guys (AD/Klay/Kyrie/etc.) give him the respect? The old vets didn't when Luka was drafted and most of them were gone by the TDL.

[Chicagojk]

Mavs havs so many options they can go depending on how things go. My three main thing are:

1) How good Flagg is and what type of role will he eventually fill. Can he be a legit second creator for a good offense?
2) Can Kyrie get back to his former level prior to injury
3) Can AD play PF and does he amplify the centers

#3 is the big one for me and the one I have the most questions about. If he can, this opens up some really interesting ideas. How long do you think Klay is around? Isn't he best at backup SF? PJ is young and good. Although if AD is here for the next 3 years or so and playing PF and Flagg is playing SF, is PJ a luxury? Caleb (hopefully), Marshall and Max are all on solid contracts as bench players but there is some overlap there too.

If the above questions are yes, how would this look moving forward in a year

PG-Kyrie, backup point
SG- Trey Murphy, Max Christie
SF- Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, Martin or Marhall
PF- AD, backup PF
C- Lively, Gafford

Or maybe you switch things up and move Gafford instead of PJ, but I still think it is an odd fit for PJ if AD excels at the 4.

[Winter]

Nuggets hire Barea as assistant coach

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/07/nugg...coach.html

[Smitty]

I think if I'm going there that I need the acquired player to obviously join the top 10 (if not the top 7/8).  I'd love to hear that we have an extension agreement with PJW (end of August is a long time to wait).  To me, you combine Martin with someone like PJ (if he won't extend) or Klay or Max.  If PJ stays, then the Klay/Max slots are the next weakest link IMHO.  Trading Klay is a tricky proposition.  I really like Max, but if you could land Herb Jones for Martin, Max and pick, then that works better in terms of using the outgoing salary in a way that is useful to the roster (and New Orleans).

I think I can be talked into including Max in the deal for Herb. To me, he's the perfect guy to pair with Kyrie in the starting group.

Kyrie - DLo
Herb - Klay
Flagg - Naji
AD - PJW
Lively - Gafford

In the starting group I see two offensive creators in Kai and Flagg. Plenty of offense when you combine AD. Then 4 very good/elite defenders surrounding Kyrie. Herb being the "POA" guy.
Off the bench you have another playmaker in DLo & secondary ball handler in Naji. PJ provides scoring off the bench. Klay being the knockdown shooter. It’s just really well balanced.
AD playing a lot more 5, with less Gafford minutes in the playoffs. I like it.

If I was running an 8-man playoff rotation, I'd drop Gafford and Naji. I'd start PJ at the 4 and AD at the 5, to add more shooting in the starting lineup. DLo, Klay, & Lively off the bench.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Nico knows what he’s doing.

The problem was never Harrison , Lakers&NBA need Luka to LA.

Harrison made a lot of good moves.

[mvossman]

https://x.com/All_Things_Mavs/status/193...8830466359


I don't know if that link will work, but it is 18 minutes of Dlo to AD passes.  I've never been a fan, but that doesn't mean this can't work.

I like the graphic (1st team, 2nd team) that Smitty posted.  Every player on the second unit has or can start for a playoff team.  That is strong.

I looked ahead to 2nd apron for 26/27.  We are over by $4mm.  Assumptions are Powell is replaced by a pick, OMax is replaced by a Vet Min (he is TO and would make $5.2mm if he's not traded).  I have DLo staying on a non-Bird 20% raise.

The real apron issue is Martin at $10mm plus a $1.3m LTBA Bonus.  He's the only player with a bonus next year at this point.  He's basically the 11th/12th man at this point, though he would have been in the second unit had we not landed Flagg.  His contract is a nice size for trades as it pairs well with others to increase outgoing salary.  I guess he could move up the pecking order if PJ doesn't extend, but I think his best value is as outgoing trade matching.  That wasn't something you were going to get with Grimes.

I think it's unlikely Dlo stays.  His 120% is roughly 7 mil.  It will be disappointing if he is not worth more than that after this season.  

I'm afraid Caleb is a negative asset right now, and I don't know how that is going to change with him buried on our depth chart.  I would have greatly preferred air and the second (and possibly more).

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I think it's unlikely Dlo stays.  His 120% is roughly 7 mil.  It will be disappointing if he is not worth more than that after this season.  

I'm afraid Caleb is a negative asset right now, and I don't know how that is going to change with him buried on our depth chart.  I would have greatly preferred air and the second (and possibly more).

Why don't we trade Caleb for that young stud defender who was scoring the basketball tremendously well at the end of last season?  I think his name is Grimes

[FireNicoHarrison]

Martin is not so bad (if he can play), he is a grit player with PO experience. Good to have.

But we don't have room for him, he is buried on the bench unless some injuries (yes i know... Street clothes ecc ecc).

It was better an expires than a 4 year contract. That's sure.