Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[Knutsen]

I don't like that Herb Jones trade for lots of reasons, but mostly because it's a high price (Lively) to be paid, and I don't think it really offers an upgrade.

On paper, H Jones is a very good defensive player, but he's coming off MAJOR shoulder surgery that imperils his ability to shoot. He only played 20 games last season. It remains to be seen when he will be healthy again (the guess is by next season, but it's far from certain, and his injury was worse than most of that kind) and to what degree he will be impaired going forward -- but his shooting was already very very suspect without the injury. And do we need ANOTHER injured guy?

Oh, and one more thing about Jones - where do you play him? What need does he fill? Heck, we already have that guy in PJW (who's actually healthier and a better shooter) and everyone wants to ship him away as surplus. With H Jones, yes I recognize the eternal lust for him from many, where it's like Pavolv's dog whenever his name is mentioned, but I really don't get it.

The pick? The problem imo is there's no one really impressive to consider at 7, ESPECIALLY one who would provide what the Mavs need (superior shooting and offense creating). I suspect there may be someone who eventually emerges from this draft and turns into a good-to-very-good PG, but I'll be swear if I can figure out which one that will be. It's way more of a crapshoot than usual.

I‘m completely with you - Herb Jones was a perfect fit on a Luka-centered team, but he‘s far from a perfect fit on a projected Flagg-AD-team that’s way better on D than creating offense.