Trade & FA 2024-25:

[audiosway]

I 100% think Thompson would be the starter, if he came here. But, it's not black-and-white. Starting doesn't necessarily mean finishing, as all Mavs fans know. There is certainly a point at which treating Thompson with too much reverence could be a negative, but I have to think they'll be upfront with him about their plans, and I have to think the team that put DJJ into the starting lineup and stopped playing Hardaway altogether has an understanding of what will work next to Luka/Kyrie that at least equals our own. This part doesn't worry me.

The lowering of DJJ on the priority list worries me, as does the nonchalant attitude about him popping up in this community. Yes, he's obviously a flawed player. I was one of the few saying that a year ago. But, his defense was not something the Mavs will be able to replicate with Naji Marshall (who I like, actually) or anyone else they can get this summer. We are forgetting the impact this man just made here. He fit with Luka/Kyrie the same way Tyson Chandler fit with Dirk, at least on one end of the floor, and he's only 27. I really believe his shooting can improve. I'm gong to be disappointed if the Mavs lose him - a lesser role, sure, but they need him, imho.

The wide range of what to expect in any Thompson deal worries me. The optimistic views seem to have that $16 million(ish) range to start, with only Green outgoing and maybe a 2nd or two. That is a good deal, imo, and that's before we even get into how much of years 2 and 3 of Thompson's contract are guaranteed. You can't complain about that. But, I'm also seeing people thinking it's going to be $20 million per...$23 million per...$25 million per...MORE? That starts to get scary, and that also makes it harder to envision that he'd be coming in with the mindset of platooning with other forwards, as needed (whether starting or not). Also, I really, really hope giving Josh Green to GS (if that's the way this is done) for a player they're losing anyway doesn't require paying them a first round pick for their "trouble." Now THAT would be a Cuban move.

Jason Timpf is saying that Klay is a much better fit for LAL than he would be in Dallas, due to the differences in their offensive systems. As long as this isn't the sign of some new system change, I agree with him. Klay will basically be used here the way Hardaway was, and I wonder if he might not look a little more Hardaway-like than we think, but that's not my point here. If Klay, himself, believes the LAL offense is the best fit, it seems to me he has three choices:

1) Lakers - stay in Cali, his Dad calls games for the radio, play with LeBron, everything that comes (good and bad) with being a Laker, probably the lowest number, contractually

2) Dallas - current best team available to him, probably a little more money than LAL

3) Orlandon - most money, by FAR, and biggest need for him in terms of giving him a meaty role, I'd assume.

Where Dallas can really get in trouble here, I think, is becoming desperate enough to stray from that middle lane. If they try to compete with LAL by nudging their offer towards that "Orlando-style" offer, this could get ugly. I'm comfortable with the idea of figuring out what the Lakers can (realistically) accomplish to get him and beating that by a little. Then, you let him decide and live with the results. That approach should give them a good shot at him and allow for a Jones re-signing. But, some of this Stein stuff is reading to me like this is going to turn into a bidding war. I'm not liking that.

Nailed it. DJJ has to be back. No way around it. I also like Naji Marshall but you are spot on that it would be a downgrade defensively. He is one I've been interested in since the Finals ended. But, DJJ is part of the core of this team. I'm fine with Klay in the $16m-$18m range. But, when it gets up over $20m count me out. I'm also fine with Josh going out in a S&T. But, to start including an asset that hasn't been replaced (1st round pick) is where you lose me. Green has already been replaced with Grimes.