MAVS NEWS:

[F Gump]

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.

Agreed in general.

Re Kai, he is definitely not eligible for a 2-way, so we can put that idea to bed unless we have a roster spot and a need for another C. (I would be fine if he replaced Powell, frankly, but DP still has a contract to play out.) Kai did NOT actually miss an entire year (although many mistakenly think so). He was on an NBA roster that year (twice, IIRC), but didn't get into a game. You can look it up.

[SkenfromLMF]

It looks good now and I am pretty impressed with what was accomplished, but the proof will be in March - April.
IF they are not churning the 2-way players who are running out of NBA game eligibility, then we can look back on this summer and proclaim it successful.

IF they can be in position to compete for homecourt and the main core pieces are healthy and contributing to that goal, this might be a top 5 summer ever.

[DallasMaverick]

It looks good now and I am pretty impressed with what was accomplished, but the proof will be in March - April.
IF they are not churning the 2-way players who are running out of NBA game eligibility, then we can look back on this summer and proclaim it successful.

IF they can be in position to compete for homecourt and the main core pieces are healthy and contributing to that goal, this might be a top 5 summer ever.

How’d they manage to do that without Lindsey??

[DallasMaverick]

Maybe Nico is really, really good at the small- and medium-sized moves, but really, really bad on the big ones.

Has anyone been paying attention to which day of the week he’s made his bad moves?

[F Gump]

How’d they manage to do that without Lindsey??

Unless I missed something, the last good trade(s) they made were with Lindsey. Did you see Nico manage to make a good trade without Lindsey's skill in negotiating the deal?

I did notice that Nico was able to move OMax off the roster at no cost, negotiating to get one of the  teams with unused Exception room or cap room to take him for a cash payment. Oh wait ...never mind.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Maybe Nico is really, really good at the small- and medium-sized moves, but really, really bad on the big ones.

Has anyone been paying attention to which day of the week he’s made his bad moves?

Christian Wood, Quentin Grimes, etc

[mvossman]

Maybe Nico is really, really good at the small- and medium-sized moves, but really, really bad on the big ones.

Has anyone been paying attention to which day of the week he’s made his bad moves?

Nico has not been really, really good at anything.  He has been ok in free agency, poor in roster construction and terrible at trades.

[myconsumerclub]

+1

They used to be in the old E Dallas area near Central and Henderson, which is where I first tasted their chicken years ago. No longer there, but your location (and others in Oak Cliff and the suburbs south of Dallas) are still worth the effort.

FWIW Gus's in Memphis is the best I've ever run across, incredibly good taste, and they have a location now in Dallas (Deep Ellum area), but I haven't sampled it yet since it's been here

googled it and Gus's is world famous with a high ranking, might need to stop and get some when I am in that area. I also like Bubbas in Highland park and their mashed potatoes are the best mashed potatoes I have ever had in a restaurant. The ownership also owns Babes which is good as well but a lot more expensive since its for those who like to get free seconds since they keep bringing you more if you are still hungry.

[myconsumerclub]

To make any decent moves from here on out it is looking to me like they can still try to clean up the end of the roster. Home run deals can happen still if they can move an older vet for someone that is almost comparable but more on Coopers timeline but I doubt anyone is wanting to add an older vet while giving up a decent talent.

Hardy: if he is going to make a move to show his worth then he can be traded for picks or get bundled with others and help us improve the roster in a trade or in a future draft /offseason. We develop him to his true potential hit or miss this season we either get him onboard or get him gone or we are stuck with him and if he gets to that level were he is a keeper and someone bites do we then trade him or is his fan favorite status something that prevents that?

Martin: His game needs to improve along with his health or we really got screwed a lot more giving Philly Grimes. I am giving him a pass on last season simply because he was injured and getting traded into the hot seat with the Luka trade screwing up everything we had going on back then yeah I can see how his game went south in that environment. If he is working on the 3 and getting better and then healthy enough to defend well he may be worth his salary after all assuming he gets the minutes to show us all what he really can do. Again an improvement over prior season is needed similar to what we hope for and want from DLO and does that make them both trade chips as well.

What will our assets enable us to do in the TDL market? After we see DLO at his 40% 3 shooting old self and we get a good version of Irving back do the Mav's try to trade him with others to send out enough salary so we can add in a star SG that isn't happy somewhere else and who would you say fits that description? Anthony Edwards might be there if he does not see the team winning more.

Powell: He is a $4 million dollar trade chip that is expiring so teams with taxes will want to give him a new home and maybe they are willing to part with someone on Coopers timeline. Bundle him with Martin and or Hardy to sweeten the deal and enable us to get a player with more salary and a decent enough game to be rotation worthy but maybe he is unwanted or causing trouble to force a trade somewhere else. OKC has a lot of guys that they need to integrate that will not get minutes to develop? What are they going to do with all that unused talent?

[F Gump]

To make any decent moves from here on out it is looking to me like they can still try to clean up the end of the roster. Home run deals can happen still if they can move an older vet for someone that is almost comparable but more on Coopers timeline but I doubt anyone is wanting to add an older vet while giving up a decent talent.

Hardy: if he is going to make a move to show his worth then he can be traded for picks or get bundled with others and help us improve the roster in a trade or in a future draft /offseason. We develop him to his true potential hit or miss this season we either get him onboard or get him gone or we are stuck with him and if he gets to that level were he is a keeper and someone bites do we then trade him or is his fan favorite status something that prevents that?

Martin: His game needs to improve along with his health or we really got screwed a lot more giving Philly Grimes. I am giving him a pass on last season simply because he was injured and getting traded into the hot seat with the Luka trade screwing up everything we had going on back then yeah I can see how his game went south in that environment. If he is working on the 3 and getting better and then healthy enough to defend well he may be worth his salary after all assuming he gets the minutes to show us all what he really can do. Again an improvement over prior season is needed similar to what we hope for and want from DLO and does that make them both trade chips as well.

What will our assets enable us to do in the TDL market? After we see DLO at his 40% 3 shooting old self and we get a good version of Irving back do the Mav's try to trade him with others to send out enough salary so we can add in a star SG that isn't happy somewhere else and who would you say fits that description? Anthony Edwards might be there if he does not see the team winning more.

Powell: He is a $4 million dollar trade chip that is expiring so teams with taxes will want to give him a new home and maybe they are willing to part with someone on Coopers timeline. Bundle him with Martin and or Hardy to sweeten the deal and enable us to get a player with more salary and a decent enough game to be rotation worthy but maybe he is unwanted or causing trouble to force a trade somewhere else. OKC has a lot of guys that they need to integrate that will not get minutes to develop? What are they going to do with all that unused talent?

On an individual basis, I think what you are saying about each of those players seems about right. But I have a hard time seeing any of it actually happen because of the way they sit with their rotations, and with their payroll. 

On Martin and Hardy, sure, the best way to move them is after a season where they get minutes and demonstrate value. But how are either of them going to get any minutes? They are 3rd stringers, and there are too many good players in front of them (and barely enough minutes to feed the 1st and 2nd stringers). An injury or 3 at SG or SF opens up minutes, but otherwise Martin and Hardy look like an afterthought here except in very limited specialty situations. And neither has a team-friendly contract for being about 9th or lower in the pecking order.

In addition, what the Mavs would get from a Martin-Hardy package is probably more self-limited besides finding somewhat-equivalent player value.

What they need most from a Martin-Hardy package is probably an expiring contract, rather than a player they need to keep, because they are well over A2 next summer with the players they have (plus minimum salary adds). 

If you add in a good player (such as Gafford, for example) to that package and access a bigger salary (and better player) in return, you should definitely expect to get back a good player, but then you are KEEPING that player (and his salary) which locks you into remaining at that over-A2 status. That's a problem.

Good GM work (not) to be in trapped into such a situation, with bad contracts that are going to continue running year after year. I really don't know what they are going to do about Martin and Hardy, but imo they are both a problem looming.

[Chicagojk]

So do we think everythink is A OK with the Mavs leadership now?  It is so hard to read the tealeaves because they never talk.  When they do they sound inept.    Some of their actions also seem like they are not all connected either. 

The issues with assistants leaving this summer and the Kidd/Knicks thing is hard to the know if that is a nothing burger or if there is something going on behind the scenes.  

Cuban appears to be a little further in now too....whatever that means. 

I do wonder if a hot Luka/Lakers start may make things more dicey for the front office.

[DL2RimRocker]

So do we think everythink is A OK with the Mavs leadership now?  It is so hard to read the tealeaves because they never talk.  When they do they sound inept.    Some of their actions also seem like they are not all connected either. 

The issues with assistants leaving this summer and the Kidd/Knicks thing is hard to the know if that is a nothing burger or if there is something going on behind the scenes.  

Cuban appears to be a little further in now too....whatever that means. 

I do wonder if a hot Luka/Lakers start may make things more dicey for the front office.

"In Nico We Don't Trust" is the band wagon I'm on and it seems jam packed. There is nothing that should make a Mavs fan more nervous than a Nico+Flagg situation.

[mvossman]

So do we think everythink is A OK with the Mavs leadership now?  It is so hard to read the tealeaves because they never talk.  When they do they sound inept.    Some of their actions also seem like they are not all connected either. 

The issues with assistants leaving this summer and the Kidd/Knicks thing is hard to the know if that is a nothing burger or if there is something going on behind the scenes.  

Cuban appears to be a little further in now too....whatever that means. 

I do wonder if a hot Luka/Lakers start may make things more dicey for the front office.

I assume you are asking if there is any internal strife vs our opinion of leadership?  Hard to know given the dysfunction.  I'm still amazed Nico was not let go after the complete disaster of last season.  Then they lucked into Flagg, which gives everyone a reprieve.  My guess is Killer is right and Nico (and probably Kidd as well) will stick around until its blatantly clear window 1 is over.

[Winter]

So do we think everythink is A OK with the Mavs leadership now?  It is so hard to read the tealeaves because they never talk.  When they do they sound inept.    Some of their actions also seem like they are not all connected either. 

The issues with assistants leaving this summer and the Kidd/Knicks thing is hard to the know if that is a nothing burger or if there is something going on behind the scenes.  

Cuban appears to be a little further in now too....whatever that means. 

I do wonder if a hot Luka/Lakers start may make things more dicey for the front office.

There's a lot of new people and no reported in-fighting. But a lot of things seem to be in separate silos. 

There are new coaches, the ownership + Rick Welts group, the new medical staff, Nico-Michael Finley GM group, and a reasonably new public relations department. Honestly, I don't think they've had enough time to create more drama. They probably could, but I don't see a lot decisions on the horizon.

I suspect the major upcoming buzz-discussion will be the new season lineup and some positive pre-season talk if there are no injuries. I expect Nico's bear-like hibernation to continue.

I think the only thing that could get everyone more excited is if we found out ownership was holding interviews for a new GM.

[Winter]

Mavs Coaching Staff Announced

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/09/mave...staff.html

[Chicagojk]

Nothing going on except the Clippers stuff.  I saw Stein mentioned that the Lakers could have interest in Wiggins now that Luka has been extended.  So I was wondering, without considering salary which players would you prefer over PJ on this Mavs teams (again without factoring in salaries)

Andrew Wiggins
Michael Porter Junior
Cam Johnson
Keegan Murray
Brandon Ingram

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Nothing going on except the Clippers stuff.  I saw Stein mentioned that the Lakers could have interest in Wiggins now that Luka has been extended.  So I was wondering, without considering salary which players would you prefer over PJ on this Mavs teams (again without factoring in salaries)

Andrew Wiggins
Michael Porter Junior
Cam Johnson
Keegan Murray
Brandon Ingram

Cam Johnson is the only player you list I’d consider over PJ

[omahen]

Nothing going on except the Clippers stuff.  I saw Stein mentioned that the Lakers could have interest in Wiggins now that Luka has been extended.  So I was wondering, without considering salary which players would you prefer over PJ on this Mavs teams (again without factoring in salaries)

Andrew Wiggins
Michael Porter Junior
Cam Johnson
Keegan Murray
Brandon Ingram

I think Mavs would not really need any of these guys, they should target more PG/SG type. I would assume PF/SF is covered by Davis, Flagg and Klay while Naji and Martin can be adequate replacements. If I would be looking for improvement, I would be looking for someone that can play with Kyrie while Russell and Christie take back-up roles. A good defender that can create to an extent or a really good offensive player. I guess teams are more or less set at this stage and I think it is unlikely someone will make a bigger move before at least couple of months into the season. That is why it is difficult to speak about specific names. When thinking about prototypes, I could see someone like Derrick White as a perfect piece for that first Mavs window. Or Nembhard or Mathurin from Pacers. 

As for Lakers, I was a bit surprised by this Stein news. Its not like there was any doubt Luka would sign an extension with Lakers. I think it might have more to do with how Luka is currently playing at Eurobasket, as he is looking as the best player currently. If you have the best player, it really doesn't make much sense for a wait and see approach. But similar as what I said in the Mavs paragraph - I doubt any team would be willing to make a move at this stage, unless you give them an offer they can't decline (overpay). I guess anyone will have more clarity closer to the TDL. 

Best version of Wiggins could make a lot of sense next to Luka/Reaves (best version of Wiggins has not been around for a couple of seasons), but I would not give up both Rui and a FRP for him. If Miami would be willing to do a deal for one of those assets, I would pull a trigger. But it would be very difficult to make a deal as both teams can't really take more money back. For example, Vando, Maxi and Vincent is 34 mil (add FRP as sweetener). Lakers would need three players back. Wiggins is at 28 mil, so there is barely enough space for two vet min guys. They would likely still need to involve third team to take one of those contracts, which would cost assets Lakers don't really have. An interesting option could be Rui, Vincent and Kleber (40 mil of expiring) for Wiggins, Fontecchio and Larsson (38.5 mil, 28 mil is not expiring). Doesn't look like Miami is motivated by any of these ideas.

[mvossman]

I think Mavs would not really need any of these guys, they should target more PG/SG type. I would assume PF/SF is covered by Davis, Flagg and Klay while Naji and Martin can be adequate replacements. If I would be looking for improvement, I would be looking for someone that can play with Kyrie while Russell and Christie take back-up roles. A good defender that can create to an extent or a really good offensive player. I guess teams are more or less set at this stage and I think it is unlikely someone will make a bigger move before at least couple of months into the season. That is why it is difficult to speak about specific names. When thinking about prototypes, I could see someone like Derrick White as a perfect piece for that first Mavs window. Or Nembhard or Mathurin from Pacers. 

While I agree with all of this, I think his point was to compare PJ to similar players with bigger contracts.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I think Mavs would not really need any of these guys, they should target more PG/SG type. I would assume PF/SF is covered by Davis, Flagg and Klay while Naji and Martin can be adequate replacements. If I would be looking for improvement, I would be looking for someone that can play with Kyrie while Russell and Christie take back-up roles. A good defender that can create to an extent or a really good offensive player. I guess teams are more or less set at this stage and I think it is unlikely someone will make a bigger move before at least couple of months into the season. That is why it is difficult to speak about specific names. When thinking about prototypes, I could see someone like Derrick White as a perfect piece for that first Mavs window. Or Nembhard or Mathurin from Pacers. 

As for Lakers, I was a bit surprised by this Stein news. Its not like there was any doubt Luka would sign an extension with Lakers. I think it might have more to do with how Luka is currently playing at Eurobasket, as he is looking as the best player currently. If you have the best player, it really doesn't make much sense for a wait and see approach. But similar as what I said in the Mavs paragraph - I doubt any team would be willing to make a move at this stage, unless you give them an offer they can't decline (overpay). I guess anyone will have more clarity closer to the TDL. 

Best version of Wiggins could make a lot of sense next to Luka/Reaves (best version of Wiggins has not been around for a couple of seasons), but I would not give up both Rui and a FRP for him. If Miami would be willing to do a deal for one of those assets, I would pull a trigger. But it would be very difficult to make a deal as both teams can't really take more money back. For example, Vando, Maxi and Vincent is 34 mil (add FRP as sweetener). Lakers would need three players back. Wiggins is at 28 mil, so there is barely enough space for two vet min guys. They would likely still need to involve third team to take one of those contracts, which would cost assets Lakers don't really have. An interesting option could be Rui, Vincent and Kleber (40 mil of expiring) for Wiggins, Fontecchio and Larsson (38.5 mil, 28 mil is not expiring). Doesn't look like Miami is motivated by any of these ideas.

Great post.  Dyson Daniels is my dream backcourt mate for Kyrie.  Offensively he’s not a traditional high usage PG, more of a combo, but defensively would complete this team for many years to come.