06-23-2024, 01:04 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-23-2024, 01:10 AM by KillerLeft.)
Just listened to the latest episode of Hardwood Knocks, which contained a nice, accurate rundown of the Mavs' offseason outlook. They mentioned many of the same names we've discussed, only no mention of Tobias Harris or Thybulle. Here are some highlights:
They both think that the Mavs' offensive ineptitude against Boston is a problem to be attacked, but that Boston is so good right now that Dallas shouldn't overreact and try to reinvent themselves too much. Both seemed on board with the idea that re-signing DJJ should be mission #1.
They both agreed that the mini-MLE won't be enough to keep DJJ, but both thought there was a decent chance the Room MLE range, starting at roughly $8 Mill would be enough. I'm hearing more and more people suggest that the full $12.9 mil MLE might be overkill for Jones, and the logic that keeps coming up is that teams are smart enough to know that he won't play as well when you get him out of here and into a less custom-made situation. One of them even went so far as to suggest the possibility of him taking a 1+1 (player option) at the vet min again, knowing ahead of time he'd opt out of that 2nd year and get a new deal with full early bird rights. Here's hoping, because that would change the Mavs' maneuverability in a profound way because then, Hardaway's expiring contract could be used in a package not to jettison money, but to acquire an actual player (Dan's point over the past few weeks). Honestly, even without that pipe dream I found the conversation encouraging.
Grant, Kuzma and ESPECIALLY Advija, the only target they were willing to kick in 2031 to get, were discussed as positive big splash improvements. In each case, they felt the short term gain would be worth a high trade cost to acquire for the immediate future, but might leave Dallas with an uncomfortable and hard to work around salary structure moving forward. You guys all know how I feel about Kuzma, but I'm here to do some fair reporting tonight. The fact that they were so excited about Advija means that a lot of smarter people than I are in support of that move. I might need to rethink my lukewarm take on that.
They listed Luka, Kyrie, Lively and PJ Washington as the guys Dallas should build around, and specifically discussed how Green is not making as much sense on this team as he used to, suggesting that he's a player who could be included in a deal for an upgrade.
Interestingly, they ALSO said what I TRIED to say a few weeks back about Gafford. He's a good player and might have some worth out there, and if Lively is what he looks like he's going to be, the Mavs really don't need another guy around who does the same things, only not quite as well. The discussion was about how Gafford will help them eat innings during the regular season, but come playoff time he's kind of overkill as long as Lively is healthy, and can even be neutralized completely in a playoff series. They mused that his salary could easily be used in a deal this summer, and said "you probably need a minimum salary player at backup 5." I see Gafford as expendable, too, but only in the RIGHT deal. I don't expect the Mavs to do that this summer at all, because I think they'd probably like to give Lively one more year to get going for real, but I feel like we'll all be thinking about what they can get for Gafford pretty soon. Maybe next summer. Maybe even at the deadline.
They agreed with many of you that an upgrade at stretch big is a need. They mentioned Larry Nance Jr and Jalen Smith, if circumstances might allow, but neither idea was fleshed out, just brainstorming.
No mention of Tobias Harris or Matisse Thybulle. They DID mention our old friend DFS.
All in all, good listen. It's becoming one of my go to podcasts (thanks, Dan!).
They both think that the Mavs' offensive ineptitude against Boston is a problem to be attacked, but that Boston is so good right now that Dallas shouldn't overreact and try to reinvent themselves too much. Both seemed on board with the idea that re-signing DJJ should be mission #1.
They both agreed that the mini-MLE won't be enough to keep DJJ, but both thought there was a decent chance the Room MLE range, starting at roughly $8 Mill would be enough. I'm hearing more and more people suggest that the full $12.9 mil MLE might be overkill for Jones, and the logic that keeps coming up is that teams are smart enough to know that he won't play as well when you get him out of here and into a less custom-made situation. One of them even went so far as to suggest the possibility of him taking a 1+1 (player option) at the vet min again, knowing ahead of time he'd opt out of that 2nd year and get a new deal with full early bird rights. Here's hoping, because that would change the Mavs' maneuverability in a profound way because then, Hardaway's expiring contract could be used in a package not to jettison money, but to acquire an actual player (Dan's point over the past few weeks). Honestly, even without that pipe dream I found the conversation encouraging.
Grant, Kuzma and ESPECIALLY Advija, the only target they were willing to kick in 2031 to get, were discussed as positive big splash improvements. In each case, they felt the short term gain would be worth a high trade cost to acquire for the immediate future, but might leave Dallas with an uncomfortable and hard to work around salary structure moving forward. You guys all know how I feel about Kuzma, but I'm here to do some fair reporting tonight. The fact that they were so excited about Advija means that a lot of smarter people than I are in support of that move. I might need to rethink my lukewarm take on that.
They listed Luka, Kyrie, Lively and PJ Washington as the guys Dallas should build around, and specifically discussed how Green is not making as much sense on this team as he used to, suggesting that he's a player who could be included in a deal for an upgrade.
Interestingly, they ALSO said what I TRIED to say a few weeks back about Gafford. He's a good player and might have some worth out there, and if Lively is what he looks like he's going to be, the Mavs really don't need another guy around who does the same things, only not quite as well. The discussion was about how Gafford will help them eat innings during the regular season, but come playoff time he's kind of overkill as long as Lively is healthy, and can even be neutralized completely in a playoff series. They mused that his salary could easily be used in a deal this summer, and said "you probably need a minimum salary player at backup 5." I see Gafford as expendable, too, but only in the RIGHT deal. I don't expect the Mavs to do that this summer at all, because I think they'd probably like to give Lively one more year to get going for real, but I feel like we'll all be thinking about what they can get for Gafford pretty soon. Maybe next summer. Maybe even at the deadline.
They agreed with many of you that an upgrade at stretch big is a need. They mentioned Larry Nance Jr and Jalen Smith, if circumstances might allow, but neither idea was fleshed out, just brainstorming.
No mention of Tobias Harris or Matisse Thybulle. They DID mention our old friend DFS.
All in all, good listen. It's becoming one of my go to podcasts (thanks, Dan!).
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