MAVS NEWS:

[Reunion Mav]

Reading this page just now I got worried, updated my Fried Chicken knowledge and welcomed PJ after all. Now we can worry about his fit or his 3 point shooting but he is ours to watch and root for.

[Kidnova]

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington has agreed to a four-year, $90 million contract extension with the franchise, agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management told ESPN. Washington secures a new deal that keeps him in Dallas through 2029-30.

He's such a versatile player, I'm glad they were able to lock him up for another contract.  I think he and CF will be able to fit together just fine, and if not he'll be a very tradeable contract after next season.

[mvossman]

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington has agreed to a four-year, $90 million contract extension with the franchise, agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management told ESPN. Washington secures a new deal that keeps him in Dallas through 2029-30.

I'm glad that concern has been lifted.

[DallasMaverick]

Shams ends his article in an interesting way:

“The Mavericks enter the upcoming season with arguably the best frontcourt in the league, headlined by Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, Dereck Lively II, Washington and Gafford.”

[DanSchwartzgan]

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington has agreed to a four-year, $90 million contract extension with the franchise, agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management told ESPN. Washington secures a new deal that keeps him in Dallas through 2029-30.

Does it...keep him in Dallas through 29/30?  

Good piece of work avoiding the potential of losing him for nothing next summer.  Flagg made that more complex, but I can see PJ and Flagg playing together for quite some time.  The age is such that he makes good sense here in the Flagg era iteration that comes once AD ages out.

I think it has been a fantastic summer.  Obviously, ping pong balls had a lot to do with that.  But I bet if we could forget the name on the GM's office door, we'd all be pretty pleased.  Retaining Gafford and PJ at the numbers they got, negotiating with Kyrie enough to allow the exception for D-Lo and getting Exum on a minimum contract while staying $1.2mm under the 2nd apron is pretty astonishing if you think about expectations in mid-June.  Yeah, OMax was a miss, but the guy who really forced him out (Williams) looks like a potential hit.  

One note about OMax and this being a blemish on Nico's record.  I'm not sure it is fair to give Dennis Lindsay credit for all the maneuvers that brought him here when we liked him and then blame Nico now that he's gone.  If Lindsay was the power behind the summer of 23, then he gets the blame for the miss.  If the buck stops with Nico as the GM who made the pick, then he also gets credit as the GM who has done some good things (and some bad).  But, we don't get to selectively give Nico all of the things we perceive to be bad and someone else the things we perceive to be good.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Shams ends his article in an interesting way:

“The Mavericks enter the upcoming season with arguably the best frontcourt in the league, headlined by Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, Dereck Lively II, Washington and Gafford.”

It is probably true.  Unfortunately, we probably need a 'consolidation trade' to upgrade the backcourt.  The good news is between Klay, Naji and Hardy, we can put together a pretty good bit of expiring salary next summer if we choose to.

[mvossman]

I think it has been a fantastic summer.  Obviously, ping pong balls had a lot to do with that.  But I bet if we could forget the name on the GM's office door, we'd all be pretty pleased.  Retaining Gafford and PJ at the numbers they got, negotiating with Kyrie enough to allow the exception for D-Lo and getting Exum on a minimum contract while staying $1.2mm under the 2nd apron is pretty astonishing if you think about expectations in mid-June.  Yeah, OMax was a miss, but the guy who really forced him out (Williams) looks like a potential hit.  

One note about OMax and this being a blemish on Nico's record.  I'm not sure it is fair to give Dennis Lindsay credit for all the maneuvers that brought him here when we liked him and then blame Nico now that he's gone.  If Lindsay was the power behind the summer of 23, then he gets the blame for the miss.  If the buck stops with Nico as the GM who made the pick, then he also gets credit as the GM who has done some good things (and some bad).  But, we don't get to selectively give Nico all of the things we perceive to be bad and someone else the things we perceive to be good.

I get the argument that its not really fair to blame all of the bad moves on Nico and the good ones on Linsay when we don't really know who was responsible for what.  But its hard not to attribute the maneuvering required to get the Omax pick to Linsay as we have not seen anything like that from this FO before or since he was here.  Its also hard not to attribute Omax to Nico as he was so vocal about getting him at the time.

But I am willing to judge Nico solely on what we know he was responsible for (getting rid of Casey Smith, letting DJJ walk to get Klay, Naji, that disastrous TDL and this offseason).  I would call this a good offseason.  Its only fantastic from the standpoint that we have had so many terrible offseasons in the past.  There is still a lot of work to be done.  As mentioned above, the five best healthy players on this roster are frontcourt players.  I'm fine with waiting to see what we actually have, but I think the real measure of this FO is going to be handling the rebalancing of this roster.

[KillerLeft]

One note about OMax and this being a blemish on Nico's record.  I'm not sure it is fair to give Dennis Lindsay credit for all the maneuvers that brought him here when we liked him and then blame Nico now that he's gone.  If Lindsay was the power behind the summer of 23, then he gets the blame for the miss.  If the buck stops with Nico as the GM who made the pick, then he also gets credit as the GM who has done some good things (and some bad).  But, we don't get to selectively give Nico all of the things we perceive to be bad and someone else the things we perceive to be good.

Agreed. And further, it's not fair to judge ANY GM on situations like the O-Max pick. He's obviously a bust. Maybe he could get the hang of the league eventually if he found a home willing to invest the developmental time he needs at any cost, but when the project types don't get that from the team that drafts them while on their rookie contract, the likelihood they'll get it anywhere else basically falls to zero. The other teams all have their own projects to work on, and there are fresh young players coming through the door every year. I imagine O-Max and his agent are currently looking for opportunities overseas. 

But, it's not like it was a dumb pick. LOTS of teams wanted him at the time. The reality is that sometimes, players are drafted solely based on rare physical gifts and athletic potential, and in that situation success isn't a guarantee, obviously. There are bones to pick with Harrison, just like any GM, but O-Max would be pretty far down my list of complaints, personally.

[KillerLeft]

It is probably true.  Unfortunately, we probably need a 'consolidation trade' to upgrade the backcourt.  

I'm ok with waiting for the right deal...if that's what's happening. My worry is that the powers that be might actually think this many front court players is a viable, FINISHED roster.

[mvossman]

Agreed. And further, it's not fair to judge ANY GM on situations like the O-Max pick. He's obviously a bust. Maybe he could get the hang of the league eventually if he found a home willing to invest the developmental time he needs at any cost, but when the project types don't get that from the team that drafts them while on their rookie contract, the likelihood they'll get it anywhere else basically falls to zero. The other teams all have their own projects to work on, and there are fresh young players coming through the door every year. I imagine O-Max and his agent are currently looking for opportunities overseas. 

But, it's not like it was a dumb pick. LOTS of teams wanted him at the time. The reality is that sometimes, players are drafted solely based on rare physical gifts and athletic potential, and in that situation success isn't a guarantee, obviously. There are bones to pick with Harrison, just like any GM, but O-Max would be pretty far down my list of complaints, personally.

Agree with this.  Late first rounders are hard to hit on.  When I talk about Nico mistakes (including presumed mistakes when Cuban was still here) Omax and Hardy are not on that list (although the Hardy extension probably does belong on it).

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington has agreed to a four-year, $90 million contract extension with the franchise, agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management told ESPN. Washington secures a new deal that keeps him in Dallas through 2029-30.

Honestly a fantastic deal on the face of it right now. 22.5 mil a year average for some as integral as PJ is a steal. And on that deal he is a great potential trade chip for salary matching.

[Chicagojk]

[Charania] Free agent forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper has agreed on a two-way NBA contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, Todd Ramasar and Mike Simonetta of Life Sports Agency told ESPN. Prosper sifted through multiple offers, and now chooses the Grizzlies to enter his third NBA season.

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probably a pretty good place for him.  A team who has a good track record developing players.   G-league is probably the best for him.  He needs playing time.  Not sure sitting on the end of the bench for a year is going to be very helpful.  Get him a lot of reps.

[Chicagojk]

So I guess the last thing left for the Mavs is their last two way, right?  I certainly didn't see a two way worthy guy on the remaining summer league team.

[Winter]

So I guess the last thing left for the Mavs is their last two way, right?  I certainly didn't see a two way worthy guy on the remaining summer league team.

In year's past, they've frequently grabbed some G league or rookie center, but there's no way any front line player is going to get a single minute barring a plague. So if they grab another two-way player, it's likely a guard with a shot. Otherwise, why bother?

[F Gump]

[Charania] Free agent forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper has agreed on a two-way NBA contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, Todd Ramasar and Mike Simonetta of Life Sports Agency told ESPN. Prosper sifted through multiple offers, and now chooses the Grizzlies to enter his third NBA season.

***************************
probably a pretty good place for him.  A team who has a good track record developing players.   G-league is probably the best for him.  He needs playing time.  Not sure sitting on the end of the bench for a year is going to be very helpful.  Get him a lot of reps.

Obviously he had multiple teams wanting him as a 2-way, but no one wanted to spend an NBA slot (and money) on him. At least that eliminates the concern that the Mavs should have been able to get some team to take him off their hands, and just were too inept to figure it out.

From what we have seen, I would think OMax might have been better served to land in Europe. From what I'm seeing, I'm not convinced the GL has served him very well in developing the skills he lacks so badly to be able to play in the NBA.

[F Gump]

In year's past, they've frequently grabbed some G league or rookie center, but there's no way any front line player is going to get a single minute barring a plague. So if they grab another two-way player, it's likely a guard with a shot. Otherwise, why bother?

There's no downside in picking the best of the litter, so to speak, and then churning the 2-way list as you go. I think they might pick the best E10 player (training camp player) they have in their TC and/or keep an eye on youngsters cut from other teams who are not 2-ways, and find someone to fill that 3rd slot in Oct.

[Winter]

There's no downside in picking the best of the litter, so to speak, and then churning the 2-way list as you go. I think they might pick the best E10 player (training camp player) they have in their TC and/or keep an eye on youngsters cut from other teams who are not 2-ways, and find someone to fill that 3rd slot in Oct.

You're right. Doing something later with a bigger pool of players is a smarter move.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Y'all, OMax is 23yrs old and played all 4 years in college. That cake is baked.

The only player I can think of who had a similar beginning to his career and was able to later contribute to an NBA rotation is Mikki Moore. I hope OMax figures it out, but there's just no developing his lack of coordination and bball IQ.

[DallasMaverick]

Looks like the Mavs have three NBA Hall of Fame locks. And maybe a potential fourth.

They should be pretty good, dontcha think?

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4614...emby-flagg

[Chicagojk]

Obviously he had multiple teams wanting him as a 2-way, but no one wanted to spend an NBA slot (and money) on him. At least that eliminates the concern that the Mavs should have been able to get some team to take him off their hands, and just were too inept to figure it out.

From what we have seen, I would think OMax might have been better served to land in Europe. From what I'm seeing, I'm not convinced the GL has served him very well in developing the skills he lacks so badly to be able to play in the NBA.

I like what they did last year.   Invest in a version of a baseball 4A player.   A guy with pedigree who just hasn't found a footing in the NBA.  Kessler Edwards fit this last year.   I have seen both directions on Kai Jones.   The latest I saw is because he missed a year he is eligible for a two way.   Center is not a position of need, but if he is able for a two way he would be a good get.   The regular NBA spots seem really limited.  There are probably a lot of others who are similar to Omax.   That is what I would gamble on.