MAVS NEWS:

[F Gump]

I think DJJ was indeed the first choice, but the instant he started getting cute with swapping agents, looking for more $$, anything that was going to extend the timeline on getting a deal done, DAL went instantly to option 2 (or maybe 1A?) to insure securing a quality player for the rotation.

Personally, I applaud Nico & co. decisiveness. That seems to be a trait with their talent acquisitions in the last two years and I'm absolutely on board with that.

There's no question the Mavs preferred DJJ over Naji. DJJ is a disruptor on defense, which gives him a niche usage that can be very valuable when needed. Naji is not at that level.

I think DAL is probably a much better fit for DJJ's skills than LAC, because DAL has lots of offense and doesn't need him to score. Not sure that will be the same in LA with PG gone.

But in DJJ's defense, he was being demoted with Klay coming to be the starter at SF and get the starter's minutes. The Mavs felt the need for more 2-way players and DJJ's lack of offense was exposed as an issue vs BOS. With Klay coming, there was still a backup role open had he stayed, but backups play fewer minutes and get a smaller role. The Mavs wanted to keep him, of course, and found the money to pay him, but DJJ wanted to stay a starter, with the bigger role, with more minutes, and LAC had an opening, so off he went. 

Naji - only a 19 mpg backup in NO - had been playing the role that DJJ didn't want and that DAL was looking to fill. He would have stayed in NO, but NO's money had run dry, and will be even more of an issue next summer. DAL was a good fit for him to get the money NO couldn't pay, and continue to do what he had done in NO. He won't be the same level of defender, but on paper he'll be more of a factor on offense than DJJ.