AROUND the NBA:

[F Gump]

Don't forget to also lock up Middleton who was 27/5/5 last game before having to sit much of this one.

[F Gump]

Seriously, I think the Mavs will have some summer decisions to make on who they want to keep, and who they don't.

They have 10 players coming back on guaranteed deals, plus 3 current 2-way players (which includes Nemby and Cisse), plus 3 picks (7, 30, and 45 - more or less). They can also sign MLE and BAE. They can trade a player for a more expensive one, perhaps, or try to trade a pick for a player using the 20M TPE. They also have 5 players on expiring deals, some of whom they may want to re-sign (a group which includes Powell, Bagley, Middleton, BWill, Jones, all of whom have looked like a possible part of the solution at one time or another).

Without any trades, and signing/keeping ALL of those except Kelly, while also adding MLE and BAE players, they would have 22 players! Use the TPE to add a player and it's 23. No bueno. A lot of the players around the edges may have almost no shot of returning.

For a starter, let's assume they keep picks 7 and 30, and sign an MLE guy, and waive Johnson (although he MIGHT be usable as expiring trade filler for a salary match). Without any trade, after adding those 3 outsiders, they will only have 3 roster spots (plus 3 2-ways), and all of the following available:
BAE guy, TPE guy, Pick 45, Nemby, Cisse, BWill, Powell, Bagley, Middleton, Jones, Kelly, undrafted free agents, minimum salary free agents

I can see a case for any of the above. But I can also see a reason to say no to each of them. 

This is where that EXPERT GM earns his money, sifting the good from the not-as-good, and deciding how to manage roster slots (more of a skill than is usually recognized, and that Nico had no clue about, repeatedly bungling such subtleties in a really bad way). Presti, please!

My spitball solutions:
1 Find a deal (maybe around draft time?) using a package of Martin + Johnson and use the TPE to take back (or sign) up to a 20M player, if it's the right player. For the RIGHT player, don't you do that and perhaps also include pick 30, 45, or both (with maybe a future 2nd or a pair coming back with the player)? I'm thinking doing that would help open up roster slots and also leave the MLE intact for a different player.
2 With the MLE, I like an aim for PG Gillespie in PHX, a UFA this summer. Tricky evaluation, because this season is really his only significant body of work, after 3 prior seasons of sporadic 2-way play. He's not a big PG. He's already 26. But he's been pretty good this season. Could you sign him away with the MLE? Could you do it for less? Could you get him at all?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/HawksPR/status/2026494727109878102


Have yourself a debut, Kuminga.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401810695


Can't believe Luka passed up a potential game-winning 3
to defer to LeBron for a forced one. Strange play.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Seriously, I think the Mavs will have some summer decisions to make on who they want to keep, and who they don't.

Before the team gets into all of these weeds, they need to decide what their priorities are.  What is the purpose of 26/27?  When do they want to start being good again?  What elements do they need to be a championship contender at that time.  What are the paths available to us to get there?

I would submit that Flagg and our 2026 pick (no matter who he is) won't be ready to compete for a top 4 slot in the west the next two seasons.  

I would submit that since tanking does us no good the next few seasons that developmental competitiveness should be the goal.  A team full of babies creates bad habits.  Keeping high character vets around (like a Middleton for instance) makes the team more competitive and provides role models for the youngsters who matter.  It isn't about whether Klay, Middleton and Kyrie will be part of the "Flagg championship era".  It is about whether they can help him be more successful once he gets there.

We will have a better idea what elements we need (besides Flagg) once we know who our lottery pick is.  A healthy Lively is a very high level starter on a championship team.  Every effort has to be made to bring him along so that he can do that...not in 26/27 or 27/28, but for the stretch that is to come when Flagg and 2026 are in their mid-20's.  Without Lively, Dallas has another slot to fill with few paths to fill them.

If all goes well with 2026 and Lively, by 28/29 you have 3 high level starters.  You might have a 5th-7th man in Christie.  You have NOTHING beyond that that will matter in 28/29 and beyond.  NOTHING!  Pick 30 at the very best is a backup something.  The old guys will be gone.  PJ, Naji and Gafford have questionable fits.  At best one of them sticks as a future backup.  

So, the job is to figure out how to add top 8 rotation pieces to the stew.  I think clearing salary for the year when Kyrie is gone and Flagg's extension hasn't kicked in is critically important.  That means moving PJ is much more important than moving Martin.  It means you structure additions like Bagley, Middleton and/or MLE and TPE types to fit into the salary timeline more than Flagg's age timeline.  Yeah, if you can land a high upside young guy who fits (the reason I've been interested in the Mathurin, Ivey, Risacher and Kuminga types...and others), you do that.  But short of that you can take on ugly salary for picks for two more seasons.  You can trade PJ/Gafford for picks and/or ugly salary as long as it expires in 2028.  You are stockpiling picks not to make the picks as much as to have ammunition when you are ready to make the big swing (or swings).  I don't think that is 26/27.  Therefore, I don't think all of these end of roster decisions are all that important.  The real job is further out than that and what the teams needs now is to make the right intermediate steps.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.hoopshype.com/rumors/


Pistons interested in Khris Middleton?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/NBA/status/2026488050054742040


Kon Knueppel is the fastest to 200 threes in NBA history.

[michaeltex]

Before the team gets into all of these weeds, they need to decide what their priorities are.  What is the purpose of 26/27?  When do they want to start being good again?  What elements do they need to be a championship contender at that time.  What are the paths available to us to get there?

I would submit that Flagg and our 2026 pick (no matter who he is) won't be ready to compete for a top 4 slot in the west the next two seasons.  

I would submit that since tanking does us no good the next few seasons that developmental competitiveness should be the goal.  A team full of babies creates bad habits.  Keeping high character vets around (like a Middleton for instance) makes the team more competitive and provides role models for the youngsters who matter.  It isn't about whether Klay, Middleton and Kyrie will be part of the "Flagg championship era".  It is about whether they can help him be more successful once he gets there.

We will have a better idea what elements we need (besides Flagg) once we know who our lottery pick is.  A healthy Lively is a very high level starter on a championship team.  Every effort has to be made to bring him along so that he can do that...not in 26/27 or 27/28, but for the stretch that is to come when Flagg and 2026 are in their mid-20's.  Without Lively, Dallas has another slot to fill with few paths to fill them.

If all goes well with 2026 and Lively, by 28/29 you have 3 high level starters.  You might have a 5th-7th man in Christie.  You have NOTHING beyond that that will matter in 28/29 and beyond.  NOTHING!  Pick 30 at the very best is a backup something.  The old guys will be gone.  PJ, Naji and Gafford have questionable fits.  At best one of them sticks as a future backup.  

So, the job is to figure out how to add top 8 rotation pieces to the stew.  I think clearing salary for the year when Kyrie is gone and Flagg's extension hasn't kicked in is critically important.  That means moving PJ is much more important than moving Martin.  It means you structure additions like Bagley, Middleton and/or MLE and TPE types to fit into the salary timeline more than Flagg's age timeline.  Yeah, if you can land a high upside young guy who fits (the reason I've been interested in the Mathurin, Ivey, Risacher and Kuminga types...and others), you do that.  But short of that you can take on ugly salary for picks for two more seasons.  You can trade PJ/Gafford for picks and/or ugly salary as long as it expires in 2028.  You are stockpiling picks not to make the picks as much as to have ammunition when you are ready to make the big swing (or swings).  I don't think that is 26/27.  Therefore, I don't think all of these end of roster decisions are all that important.  The real job is further out than that and what the teams needs now is to make the right intermediate steps.

Apparently, if Middleton decides to stay, he's going to be a part of the next stage of team building. Or he could decide on a buyout later this week and try to hook up with a contender. It's his decision according to reports. FWIW, he's looked pretty good out there the last few games and his experience + shooting would surely help. 

I'm kind of getting on the Bagley train. His energy and scoring are really noticeable when he's on the floor. I know he bombed in SAC, but that seems like NBA hell the last few years. And WAS hasn't had any direction in this decade. IMO, he's worth more than the VM, but how much more? He and DL could make a good team to hold down the 5 spot and allow asset acquisition by trading Gaff.

If we decide to keep those two, re-sign Williams, add a FRP and say adios to Powell/Johnson (TO)/Jones then that will only be 12 contracts. So plenty of space to add key FAs. That's without trading PJ and/or Gaff. So maybe taking back bad money + picks in a trade would work. 

But you need someone to define the direction and implement a plan.

[michaeltex]

I know it's dealing with yesterdays news and picking at an old scab, but I found this from Cowherd interesting...

Posted on Fadeaway World:

"We’re a year into the Luka trade, and it’s still not working out that well,” said Cowherd. “It can’t take this long. And it’s not on 41-year-old LeBron to make it work; it’s on Luka to make it work. Two things can be true: The Lakers stole him from the Mavs, and it was a great trade. Secondly, he is aging quickly. The numbers don’t lie. He gets four times more technicals than dunks. His athleticism is regressing.”

Luka arrived in Los Angeles as one of the top three best players in the game, but that status is in doubt now that Lakers fans have seen his flaws first-hand. Despite averaging 32.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 47.1% shooting from the field and 35.5% shooting from three this season, consistency and effort on the defensive end have been a rarity for the Slovenian superstar.

“People used to say, ‘Oh, he’s Larry Bird,’ but Bird made All-Defense three times, and Larry Bird made every teammate he ever played with better,” added Cowherd. “We’re a year into Luka and the Lakers, and it’s not really working yet. How long can it take? Everybody works well with LeBron. Austin Reaves is not a ball hog; he’s a hard worker, and he’s a shot creator. You can’t work with that?”

[DanSchwartzgan]

https://www.hoopshype.com/rumors/


Pistons interested in Khris Middleton?

Kidd and Middleton share the same agent...the same agent that Bagley and Powell uses (and Cade Cunningham).

[DanSchwartzgan]

Two things can be true: The Lakers stole him from the Mavs, and it was a great trade. Secondly, he is aging quickly. The numbers don’t lie. He gets four times more technicals than dunks. His athleticism is regressing.”
 

Two other things can be true...  1. it was a bad return and 2. it ends up being smart to not sign him to a super-max.

[Scott41theMavs]

Two other things can be true...  1. it was a bad return and 2. it ends up being smart to not sign him to a super-max.

Yeah, you can make an argument for trading him, but it should have been for SGA, another significant player for OKC, and 8 of OKC's future 1st round picks. You don't trade a top five player in his prime, but a million times more, you don't trade him for virtually nothing.

When Nellie traded Penny Hardaway and three first rounders for Chris Webber and then that disastrously didn't work out, he traded Webber for Tom Gugliotta - and three 1st round picks. Nico mortgaged the future to build around Luka - and then threw away Luka without doing a damned thing to get that future back. Since medieval torture is not allowed, he should at least have to live on the streets for the next four years.

[Scott41theMavs]

I would submit that since tanking does us no good the next few seasons that developmental competitiveness should be the goal.  A team full of babies creates bad habits.  Keeping high character vets around (like a Middleton for instance) makes the team more competitive and provides role models for the youngsters who matter.  It isn't about whether Klay, Middleton and Kyrie will be part of the "Flagg championship era".  It is about whether they can help him be more successful once he gets there.

Your post was a fantastic one over all, but I particularly loved this presentation of "developmental competitiveness." Well-said.

Looks to me like Khris is on his way out this week. If we draft a guard, it would be good to solicit back his services (if he's available for the MLE or less) this offseason.

[DallasMaverick]

Your post was a fantastic one over all, but I particularly loved this presentation of "developmental competitiveness." Well-said.

Looks to me like Khris is on his way out this week. If we draft a guard, it would be good to solicit back his services (if he's available for the MLE or less) this offseason.

Anybody want to predict what his next contract will be?

He clearly is a serviceable player. Experienced, doesn’t make many mistakes, good attitude.

Less than the MLE, maybe?

[michaeltex]

If Middleton gets a buyout from DAL, does that preclude signing him for next season? I know there are some regulations around buyouts and boomerang players.

[mvossman]

Anybody want to predict what his next contract will be?

He clearly is a serviceable player. Experienced, doesn’t make many mistakes, good attitude.

Less than the MLE, maybe?

He definitely wont get more than the MLE.  My guess is less.  It could be tax MLE, BAE or possibly even vet min depending on how the market goes and what his priorities are.

[F Gump]

If Middleton gets a buyout from DAL, does that preclude signing him for next season? I know there are some regulations around buyouts and boomerang players.

Yes, the Mavs could sign him in the summer after a buyout or waiver now.

However, if the Mavs and Middleton intend for him to sign here next season, a buyout makes no sense whatsoever. In current context, they have signing rights --- but a waiver/buyout ends those, and forces Mavs to use MLE or BAE in the summer on him. If he's their target, you figure that out NOW and keep from having to use up your MLE on him.

[mvossman]

If Middleton gets a buyout from DAL, does that preclude signing him for next season? I know there are some regulations around buyouts and boomerang players.

I don't think that applies to next season.  It would mean that they have to sign him with exceptions (like some part of the MLE).

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Zach Lowe on Luka Doncic complaining to refs: “The whining is back to peak Dallas levels. It’s every f*cking play! Just play man! Not everything is a foul. Are you playing to draw a foul or playing basketball? Which one are you doing? Are you playing 1 on 1 with the refs? It’s every possession now.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1r..._refs_the/

Chris Paul on why he would pick Shai over Luka oncic: "Your teammates just want to see that the stars actually try. Actually try on defense… I got a lot of respect for Steph, Shai, and all these guys who at least try on the defensive end"

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1r...over_luka/


I don't care if we ever go back to the Finals. So glad he is gone. I guess I'm not the only one that loses my shit watching him and his shenanigans. Dude is worse than James Harden ever was. Even the Lakers commentators are laughing at him.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1r...n_defense/

[mvossman]

If all goes well with 2026 and Lively, by 28/29 you have 3 high level starters.  You might have a 5th-7th man in Christie.  You have NOTHING beyond that that will matter in 28/29 and beyond.  NOTHING!  Pick 30 at the very best is a backup something.  The old guys will be gone.  PJ, Naji and Gafford have questionable fits.  At best one of them sticks as a future backup.  

I agree with almost all of this, but I think there is more upside to pick 30.  This is a very deep draft and if you look at the last three times the Mavs had a pick in this area, in 2022 they traded it away for Christian Wood but Peyton Watson was at 30 and Ryan Nembhard was at 31.  In 2020 they just missed Desmond Bane at 31 and in 2018 they drafted Brunson at 33.  I'm not counting on Mavs hitting on that pick, but it could definitely be better than a backup something.