MAVS NEWS:

[Winter]

Bagley has been fun to watch as well.  Right now, he has been more productive than Gafford.  I am a Gaff fan and we have talked he needs a point guard to get him dunks at the rim.  Probably true, but Bagley has had no trouble finding ways to get multiple scores at the rim. 

Bagley has a little face-to-the-basket offensive game in the paint. Gafford has none of that. Zero. Cisse doesn't have much either. So Bagley is just a little more of a threat out to 6 feet or so. 

I havent watched Bagley much in a Mavs uniform, but that's how he used to play elsewhere. It's just a bit of a changeup from our other centers.

[loki]

Not sure how I feel about this.

The Mavs are leaving it up to Khris Middleton to decide whether he wants to stay with the team or negotiate a buyout, per
@TheSteinLine
.
The Mavs have conveyed to him that he could have a place on next season’s team if he stays.

He shouldn't have played a single game for the Mavs. Prioritizing a 34 year old role player over draft position is crazy. They might end up picking 9th or 10th the way things are currently going.

[Knutsen]

He shouldn't have played a single game for the Mavs. Prioritizing a 34 year old role player over draft position is crazy. They might end up picking 9th or 10th the way things are currently going.

I also don’t get it. Maybe we do have a second secret deal with Silver for the Doncic fiasco, but otherwise it’s beyond stupid. New Orleans doesn’t have their pick, so please allow them to pass us in the standings and stop winning games out of false pride. Can do that next year without our first rounder.

[michaeltex]

I've been thinking about future team improvements and how important it is/will be to have a competent, empowered management team on board ASAP...

(sorry if this rambles a bit, it was stream of conscious writing)

So, we're all on tank watch for the rest of the season (although I admit pleasure when our boys win, even if it's against the Nets and doesn't help build L's). Which should then have us holding our collective breaths for the actual lottery draw on May 10th. Followed by spirited discussions and disagreements about who to draft or who to trade it to up to the actual draft on June 24th. Which then means turning attention to the FA market that opens July 1st.

Thinking about the last part...

Am I correct in thinking that trades are available once both teams are finished playing for the year? For example, DAL and MEM could make a trade once the regular season is complete. Or Dal and a team trying to get their payroll down before June 30th? In other words, the deal making can start, with a few caveats, once both teams are done playing.

Also, some of you guys are waaaay more knowledgeable about the rest of the NBA. Who are some key names we should be watching over the next few months as possible additions to the CF-led Mavs? Where are the glaring needs?

We keep talking about needing a point guard, although I think we address that need if we pick anywhere from 3 to 8. (1 & 2 have to be Dybantsa and Boozer, regardless of need.) We have potential solutions at the 5 with Lively/Gaff/Bagley. Wings are CF, Naji, PJ, Christie, Martin and (maybe) Middleton. Kyrie will be back and BWill has earned another contract (IMO), so some depth at 1/2 may be needed.

TBH, I look at some of the available UFAs and I wonder if they are actual improvements over the current roster or just fresh faces equating to new hope. I don't spend much time on RFAs since they often tie up resources for too long while the market dries up around you.

Could some of the needs get addressed via pre-draft trades?

[F Gump]

1 I've been thinking about future team improvements and how important it is/will be to have a competent, empowered management team on board ASAP...

2 Am I correct in thinking that trades are available once both teams are finished playing for the year? For example, DAL and MEM could make a trade once the regular season is complete. Or Dal and a team trying to get their payroll down before June 30th? In other words, the deal making can start, with a few caveats, once both teams are done playing.

3 Also, some of you guys are waaaay more knowledgeable about the rest of the NBA. Who are some key names we should be watching over the next few months as possible additions to the CF-led Mavs? Where are the glaring needs?

We keep talking about needing a point guard, although I think we address that need if we pick anywhere from 3 to 8. (1 & 2 have to be Dybantsa and Boozer, regardless of need.) We have potential solutions at the 5 with Lively/Gaff/Bagley. Wings are CF, Naji, PJ, Christie, Martin and (maybe) Middleton. Kyrie will be back and BWill has earned another contract (IMO), so some depth at 1/2 may be needed.

TBH, I look at some of the available UFAs and I wonder if they are actual improvements over the current roster or just fresh faces equating to new hope. I don't spend much time on RFAs since they often tie up resources for too long while the market dries up around you.

Could some of the needs get addressed via pre-draft trades?

1 Yes, yes, yes! Getting the expert GM is so crucial. Cuban would not - he thought he was the expert they needed. It's long past time to be competitive (and even dominant) at the GM level. 

2a  "Am I correct in thinking that trades are available once both teams are finished playing for the year? For example, DAL and MEM could make a trade once the regular season is complete.".... YES 
2b - "Or Dal and a team trying to get their payroll down before June 30th?" -- To be clear, trades after the season do not change the payroll for 2025-26. That number (re the tax) is locked in at the end of the season. But yes, a team needing help for next season's payroll can certainly start that work once their season ends.

3 The name I have found is Gillespie (PHX) who is a minimum salary player this season (who was 2-way before this season), UFA, who is a PG. He's their B Will or perhaps Nemby, so to speak. With his light resume, I would hope he might be a player who is not highly prioritized there and could be poached from PHX with MLE money. I'm also intrigued by Dosunmu, just traded to Minn, also a UFA, very efficient scoring numbers, but he is a SG type so I'm unsure about his fit with Christie and Klay already here (would there be minutes available). 

I do think that the draft results will also impact what they might want to do in free agency, because they need to have available minutes for a top pick and also for anyone they make a significant commitment to as a FA. And there are only so many minutes to give.

[mvossman]

3 The name I have found is Gillespie (PHX) who is a minimum salary player this season (who was 2-way before this season), UFA, who is a PG. He's their B Will or perhaps Nemby, so to speak. With his light resume, I would hope he might be a player who is not highly prioritized there and could be poached from PHX with MLE money. I'm also intrigued by Dosunmu, just traded to Minn, also a UFA, very efficient scoring numbers, but he is a SG type so I'm unsure about his fit with Christie and Klay already here (would there be minutes available). 

I do think that the draft results will also impact what they might want to do in free agency, because they need to have available minutes for a top pick and also for anyone they make a significant commitment to as a FA. And there are only so many minutes to give.

Gillespie would be a good target, especially if they don't draft a PG.  I'm not sure I would call his resume light though.  He has shot 42% from 3 for his career on high volume.  He also provides quality playmaking and pesky defense.  The Suns can pay him early bird rights which is a little less than the full MLE.  I think the Mavs only chance is to offer him the full MLE and they probably won't be the only team to do it.

[F Gump]

Gillespie would be a good target, especially if they don't draft a PG.  I'm not sure I would call his resume light though.  

I called his resume "light" due to his very limited experience. I was trying to convey that he hasn't played long enough (small sample size) where we know how other teams will value him. 

Before this season, he only played 225 NBA minutes (9 mpg) and then 461 (14 MPG) over 2 seasons as lightly played 2 way guy, in MIN then in PHX. He only has about 2/3 of a season of experience (this season) playing regular minutes.

Yes I know he has suddenly blossomed this season, but it's out of nowhere, which is why I see a possibility the Mavs maybe can get him.

[mvossman]

I called his resume "light" due to his very limited experience. I was trying to convey that he hasn't played long enough (small sample size) where we know how other teams will value him. 

Before this season, he only played 225 NBA minutes (9 mpg) and then 461 (14 MPG) over 2 seasons as lightly played 2 way guy, in MIN then in PHX. He only has about 2/3 of a season of experience (this season) playing regular minutes.

Yes I know he has suddenly blossomed this season, but it's out of nowhere, which is why I see a possibility the Mavs maybe can get him.

I agree its light on experience and it also helps that he is 26 so there is not a ton of future projection like you might do with somebody in their early 20s.  But he has played every game but 1 this season, has started well over half of them and is already up to 29 minutes a game.  His good 3 point shooting the prior two years was very small sample but he is backing that up with the same efficiency on much higher volume, and he provides other value on the court.

I agree with you that he is a good target, I just think the Suns will be willing to offer the full early bird contract (4 for 66) and the Mavs will likely need to go full MLE to have a chance.  I am guessing there are other teams that like him the same as you and me.

[Mavs2021]

Ron Harrod Jr. (@RonKnowsSports)
Jason Kidd said hopefully we can see more AJ Johnson tonight.

Jason Kidd knows he´s the head coach of the Mavs, right?

[Scott41theMavs]

Ah, the twisted satisfaction of force-feeding a win to another tanking team.

Now, find a miraculous way to do that to the Grizz, and I'll be really impressed.

[F Gump]

Ah, the twisted satisfaction of force-feeding a win to another tanking team.

Now, find a miraculous way to do that to the Grizz, and I'll be really impressed.

Mavs had the good fortune of playing SAC when SAC had a cushion on seed 1 and could afford a win. Very fortuitous situation- and a much needed loss for Mavs.

[Chicagojk]

Just take it. Maybe he can come back next year. Hard to turn down Denver or Detroit. He could get some minutes there with a chance to win. I liked what I have seen. For an older player, he should go to a playoff team imo.

Khris Middleton just told @TheSteinLine he is still weighing his options in advance of Sunday’s deadline to pursue a contract buyout … deciding whether to finish the season in Dallas or join a playoff team.

League sources say Denver and other playoff teams have shown interes

[Chicagojk]

Not sure how you get podcasts but The Ticket podcast (radio station in dallas) has a two part interview with Matt Riccardi yesterday.   Total about 30 minutes.

[Chicagojk]

Not sure how you get podcasts but The Ticket podcast (radio station in dallas) has a two part interview with Matt Riccardi yesterday.   Total about 30 minutes.

really good interview BTW.  While you can't make a decision if he warrants or deserves the GM job permanently, it is refreshing to hear realness and not have a GM who trips over himself on a simple basketball question.

[KillerLeft]

Interesting weekend for the Mavs and Kris Middelton, I guess. If he's going to ask for a buyout, it will happen by the end of Sunday. My understanding is that in order to qualify for playoff participation on a new team, Sunday is the deadline for waiving him, not the deadline for him to clear waivers. It seems like the Mavs are open to whatever he wants to do, at the moment.

I'm not sure what to think. If he stays, I can imagine him being a useful bench piece for another year or two. Very useful, in fact, if the Mavs are somehow good enough for it to matter. If they're not good enough soon, however, what even is the point? Contractually, I'm pretty confident he's not going to be a minimum player, but also won't command nearly as much as he has in the past. Maybe he's a BAE level guy? In that case, there could be some value in being able to sign him to that kind of deal through Bird rights without having to use an actual exception, correct? Then again, there are so many balls in the air with next year's roster I'm not even sure they'll have the room to bring back everyone they want, given the players they're likely hoping to add.

Where are we as a group on this? Are we at all excited about having him around next season? What do we think he might want?

[Scott41theMavs]

Interesting weekend for the Mavs and Kris Middelton, I guess. If he's going to ask for a buyout, it will happen by the end of Sunday. My understanding is that in order to qualify for playoff participation on a new team, Sunday is the deadline for waiving him, not the deadline for him to clear waivers. It seems like the Mavs are open to whatever he wants to do, at the moment.

I'm not sure what to think. If he stays, I can imagine him being a useful bench piece for another year or two. Very useful, in fact, if the Mavs are somehow good enough for it to matter. If they're not good enough soon, however, what even is the point? Contractually, I'm pretty confident he's not going to be a minimum player, but also won't command nearly as much as he has in the past. Maybe he's a BAE level guy? In that case, there could be some value in being able to sign him to that kind of deal through Bird rights without having to use an actual exception, correct? Then again, there are so many balls in the air with next year's roster I'm not even sure they'll have the room to bring back everyone they want, given the players they're likely hoping to add.

Where are we as a group on this? Are we at all excited about having him around next season? What do we think he might want?

I think he could be a decent starter for the next year or two (depending on who our draft pick is) - hold the fort while younger players are being developed/build team culture?

[KillerLeft]

I think he could be a decent starter for the next year or two (depending on who our draft pick is) - hold the fort while younger players are being developed/build team culture?

Yeah, maybe. 

Do you think that's a role he's likely to be excited about? I can't really decide. I guess it has to do with how good things are looking behind the scenes, from the players' perspectives.

[michaeltex]

Interesting weekend for the Mavs and Kris Middelton, I guess. If he's going to ask for a buyout, it will happen by the end of Sunday. My understanding is that in order to qualify for playoff participation on a new team, Sunday is the deadline for waiving him, not the deadline for him to clear waivers. It seems like the Mavs are open to whatever he wants to do, at the moment.

I'm not sure what to think. If he stays, I can imagine him being a useful bench piece for another year or two. Very useful, in fact, if the Mavs are somehow good enough for it to matter. If they're not good enough soon, however, what even is the point? Contractually, I'm pretty confident he's not going to be a minimum player, but also won't command nearly as much as he has in the past. Maybe he's a BAE level guy? In that case, there could be some value in being able to sign him to that kind of deal through Bird rights without having to use an actual exception, correct? Then again, there are so many balls in the air with next year's roster I'm not even sure they'll have the room to bring back everyone they want, given the players they're likely hoping to add.

Where are we as a group on this? Are we at all excited about having him around next season? What do we think he might want?

I wouldn't mind having Kris around next year, at the right price. He'll be 35 in August, but seems like a good guy and still can make contributions on the court. He's making ~$33M this season and knows he'll take a cut next season. If the wants out, will he give up part of this year's guaranteed salary? Does someone like DEN or DET (leading contenders?) sign him for multiple years or just as an add-on for this season + playoffs? Will he get more than a Vet Min with either?

Den has an open slot and (per Sportrac) is $4.4M under A1 and $16.3M under A2. Their salary total goes up by ~$30M with only 10 contracts next season.

Det has no open slots and is $9.1M under A1 and $21M under A2. Their salary total goes DOWN by ~$50M with only 10 contracts next season and 3 of those are TOs. 

Not sure what DAL might offer for something like a 2-1 contract or if he'd get anything better from the other teams. I wish him well whatever he decides.

[vfromlmf]

If you take centers out of the equation, Middleton might be the third best player on the team to be honest.

Kyrie and Flagg then ... ?

Naji is great but not exactly the kind of guy you want playing 40 minutes when everyone is healthy. PJW and Christie are younger.

I look at it like this: Middleton has as much left in the tank as Harrison Barnes. I'd like for KM to play a similar role in Dallas next year. I think both are great candidates for taxpayer-MLE or similar mid level deal.

[KillerLeft]

I look at it like this: Middleton has as much left in the tank as Harrison Barnes. I'd like for KM to play a similar role in Dallas next year. I think both are great candidates for taxpayer-MLE or similar mid level deal.

So that's definitely part of the equation: what will his next contract look like? It's advantageous to have his Bird rights, I suppose, so you can give him a deal like that without actually using the exception (if such a thing is even possible - his cap hold is pretty big, I bet), but...that doesn't mean you'd necessarily want him on your books at money like that by the end of this next deal. 

Even the TPMLE level scares me a bit with him, tbh, though it isn't an instant "no."