TRADE: Dallas receives Zaccharie Risacher in 3-team deal

[KillerLeft]

I’m not a fan of Dort but I don’t get the widespread sentiment that is implied when people keep referring to him as a generic undrafted player.

It was really just a joke, my guy. I didn't mean to trigger anything about Dort.

But...I have always thought Dort was pretty overrated, now that you mention it. Obviously, he has far exceeded "undrafted" status, however.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I don’t want to reignite the earlier conversation about Risacher starting, nor do I want to get into whether Flagg is a SG or not.  So, I’ll ask it this way.  What can Max do as our presumed starting SG that Risacher can’t.

I fully understand that Risacher has always played almost exclusively at SF.  That isn’t my point.  Max hits a higher percent of his 3’s.  But, ZR can put it on the floor and create his own shot about twice as often.  Those are generally SG skills.  Their games are otherwise fairly similar…but ZR is two years younger and 3 1/2 inches taller.

Masai (and maybe Schmitz) seem to like positional size.  I guess what I’m saying is I can just as easily see lineups with Kyrie, Risacher, Flagg a PF and a C as I can Kyrie, Max, Flagg a PF and a C.

I liked taking the risk on Risacher back when we were talking about it at the TDL.  We know what it looks like to see him score 30 points in an NBA game.  I’m not saying he should start.  In fact, he was much more impactful coming off the bench last season.  But I don’t think he has to completely strictly for SF minutes because I think he’s basically a taller and younger version of Max with better handles and a worse 3 point shot…for now.

[mvossman]

I don’t want to reignite the earlier conversation about Risacher starting, nor do I want to get into whether Flagg is a SG or not.  So, I’ll ask it this way.  What can Max do as our presumed starting SG that Risacher can’t.

I fully understand that Risacher has always played almost exclusively at SF.  That isn’t my point.  Max hits a higher percent of his 3’s.  But, ZR can put it on the floor and create his own shot about twice as often.  Those are generally SG skills.  Their games are otherwise fairly similar…but ZR is two years younger and 3 1/2 inches taller.

Masai (and maybe Schmitz) seem to like positional size.  I guess what I’m saying is I can just as easily see lineups with Kyrie, Risacher, Flagg a PF and a C as I can Kyrie, Max, Flagg a PF and a C.

I liked taking the risk on Risacher back when we were talking about it at the TDL.  We know what it looks like to see him score 30 points in an NBA game.  I’m not saying he should start.  In fact, he was much more impactful coming off the bench last season.  But I don’t think he has to completely strictly for SF minutes because I think he’s basically a taller and younger version of Max with better handles and a worse 3 point shot…for now.

I would argue that with Flagg plus a PF and a C on the floor you need as much spacing as you can get and Max provides that more than Risacher does right now.  I would also argue that Max might be more suited defensively to taking on the more difficult guard assignment compared to Risacher.  Another option would be to put Flagg at PF and start both Max and Risacher.

[KillerLeft]

It’s probably a closer thing than I think for Risacher to play the 2, but I’d like that guy to be a little more comfortable on ball than Risacher is, and I’d like him to be a little shiftier when changing directions on both ends. I think those are both strengths of Risacher’s…at forward.

But, to dirkfansince98’s point earlier, they might be thinking one guard, one center and 3 6’9” guys…or even just one guard and FOUR 6’9” guys.

It’s not crazy.

[mvossman]

It’s probably a closer thing than I think for Risacher to play the 2, but I’d like that guy to be a little more comfortable on ball than Risacher is, and I’d like him to be a little shiftier when changing directions on both ends. I think those are both strengths of Risacher’s…at forward.

But, to dirkfansince98’s point earlier, they might be thinking one guard, one center and 3 6’9” guys…or even just one guard and FOUR 6’9” guys.

It’s not crazy.

In the long term when Sergio eventually takes over Kyrie role, you might have all 5 guys in that range.

[cow]

What can Max do as our presumed starting SG that Risacher can’t.

Be used in a trade package?

[DanSchwartzgan]

It’s probably a closer thing than I think for Risacher to play the 2, but I’d like that guy to be a little more comfortable on ball than Risacher is, and I’d like him to be a little shiftier when changing directions on both ends. I think those are both strengths of Risacher’s…at forward.

But, to dirkfansince98’s point earlier, they might be thinking one guard, one center and 3 6’9” guys…or even just one guard and FOUR 6’9” guys.

It’s not crazy.

Pretty much everyone we've brought in can floor the ball and is above average at shooting 3's.  We've been so used to certain positions doing only certain things, that I'm not sure we yet understand what this could look like.  

I hadn't seen that post from 98, but a bunch of interchangability makes sense in the 2-4 spots (or what we typically call the 2-4 spots).  Mvossman makes a valid point about defense.  If everyone is kind of similar in being moderately good multi-tool offensive players, then the ability to defend probably dictates who does what.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Be used in a trade package?

We need to bring back that 'dislike' button.

[cow]

We need to bring back that 'dislike' button.

Be more careful with your questions, Daniel.

[KillerLeft]

I would argue that with Flagg plus a PF and a C on the floor you need as much spacing as you can get and Max provides that more than Risacher does right now.  I would also argue that Max might be more suited defensively to taking on the more difficult guard assignment compared to Risacher.  Another option would be to put Flagg at PF and start both Max and Risacher.

This is where my instincts lead me, too, though I admit there are a dozen different ways things could go from here. 

My dream is Flagg, a center (hopefully different types of centers) and a bunch of fast, athletic guys around them. To me, the best path to that fit is for the other three guys to play 1, 2 and 3, so the dude I don’t think fits is PJW (though I certainly agree with those who say he’s an Ujiri type in a vacuum).

[soog]

Pretty much everyone we've brought in can floor the ball and is above average at shooting 3's.  We've been so used to certain positions doing only certain things, that I'm not sure we yet understand what this could look like.  

I hadn't seen that post from 98, but a bunch of interchangability makes sense in the 2-4 spots (or what we typically call the 2-4 spots).  Mvossman makes a valid point about defense.  If everyone is kind of similar in being moderately good multi-tool offensive players, then the ability to defend probably dictates who does what.

I went through this thought exercise earlier, but from a different perspective - if Risacher is at the 2, what has to be true about the rest of the line up?

Your 3/4/5 possibilities could be:

Flagg/PJ/Lively
Flagg/PJ/Rez
Flagg/PJ/Aldama
Flagg/Aldama/Lively
Flagg/Aldama/Rez
Flagg/Rezz/Lively
Naji/Flagg/Aldama
Naji/Flagg/Lively
Naji/Flagg/Rez
Naji/Aldama/Lively
Naji/Aldama/Rez
Tarik/Flagg/Lively
Tarik/Flagg/Rez
Tarik/Flagg/Aldama
Tarik/Aldama/Lively
Tarik/Aldama/Rez

There are of course more. I’m assuming Gaff and Klay are gone. Naji and PJ could also be gone. And who knows how much burn someone like Tarik gets (I hope a lot). Some of these aren’t likely while some are highly unlikely.-

Looking through these possible combinations, the ones I wouldn’t want to see Risacher at the 2 are ones that lack shooting/creation elsewhere and put too much burden on him to spaced/create, so anything with PJ/Lively sharing the floor for example. I’d actually love to see Risacher at the 2 in a Flagg/Aldama/Rez lineup. And if Tarek can show he deserves some minutes he adds more possibilities. 

In the end, I think Risacher’s minutes at the 2 depend more on who else is on the court rather than how he compares to Christie. And that probably brings us back to the idea that 2/3/4 may be highly interchangeable this year with it being more of a:

Ball Handler
3 Wing
Center

Line up decision

[FireNicoHarrison]

Ball Handler
3 Wing
Center

Line up decision

This lineup didn't even work with Luka Doncic at the point, what makes you think it could work with Irving?

With Kyrie we need 2 other decent ballhandler and creator in the S5... Cooper is ok, but the other one?

[Chicagojk]

Check the thread below.

https://x.com/dlee4three/status/20789807...02948?s=46

[FireNicoHarrison]

Check the thread below.

https://x.com/dlee4three/status/20789807...02948?s=46

We didn't play good basketball in last 2 seasons and the reason was easy... No playmaking and only Kyrie as ballhandler.

Yes of course, Kidd was a mediocre basketball coach.
I know.

[Chicagojk]

We didn't play good basketball in last 2 seasons and the reason was easy... No playmaking and only Kyrie as ballhandler.

Yes of course, Kidd was a mediocre basketball coach.
I know.

I think May will have the offense look different.  Mostly better but there may be some things worse.   I am looking forward to seeing the change though.

I think they clearly need another creator...even if you assume Flagg makes a jump in that area.   At this stage, I think you need to assume Kyrie plays 55ish games.   If true, Dallas needs other options when he is not available.    The team cannot fall off the cliff when he is not playing.   Finding a creator who is one of your top 7 players is the goal.    It is tricky because you want to balance 3-4 years vs the now.  Although I would be fine relocating some assets to the backcourt even if you got older and that player may or may not be viable in that 3-4 year window.   

My view, even with a really nice Sergio summer league is my ideal pairing to start the year would be a backcourt of Kyrie, Max, Sasser and X.   The X is a combo guard who can play with Kyrie and then play when Kyrie is off the floor.    Sergio gets minutes to begin the year when Kyrie is out.

[soog]

I think May will have the offense look different.  Mostly better but there may be some things worse.   I am looking forward to seeing the change though.

I think they clearly need another creator...even if you assume Flagg makes a jump in that area.   At this stage, I think you need to assume Kyrie plays 55ish games.   If true, Dallas needs other options when he is not available.    The team cannot fall off the cliff when he is not playing.   Finding a creator who is one of your top 7 players is the goal.    It is tricky because you want to balance 3-4 years vs the now.  Although I would be fine relocating some assets to the backcourt even if you got older and that player may or may not be viable in that 3-4 year window.   

My view, even with a really nice Sergio summer league is my ideal pairing to start the year would be a backcourt of Kyrie, Max, Sasser and X.   The X is a combo guard who can play with Kyrie and then play when Kyrie is off the floor.    Sergio gets minutes to begin the year when Kyrie is out.

I keep thinking this exact thing has to be in the works with Klay, Naji, PJ, and Gaff no longer fitting the timeline. I love those guys, but would like to see some combination of them moved to do exactly what you said.

[michaeltex]

We didn't play good basketball in last 2 seasons and the reason was easy... No playmaking and only Kyrie as ballhandler.

Yes of course, Kidd was a mediocre basketball coach.
I know.

With no Kyrie for 1 1/2 of those 2 seasons and very little in the way of center support. Plus Kidd making Flagg "uncomfortable" to start his rookie season. 

FWIW, I think any stats used from the last two years has to be considered suspicious. 

I'm trying to be more of "everyone has a clean slate right now" and see how the team comes together. Thinking they should start offering Spanish lessons during the offseason, though.

[mvossman]

With no Kyrie for 1 1/2 of those 2 seasons and very little in the way of center support. Plus Kidd making Flagg "uncomfortable" to start his rookie season. 

FWIW, I think any stats used from the last two years has to be considered suspicious. 

I'm trying to be more of "everyone has a clean slate right now" and see how the team comes together. Thinking they should start offering Spanish lessons during the offseason, though.

Kyrie will help, but this team is still very light on creation.  Given Mays intent to be the best passing team in the NBA, the FO has not enough yet to get him there.  Offseason is not over though.

[Smitty]

Kyrie will help, but this team is still very light on creation.  Given Mays intent to be the best passing team in the NBA, the FO has not enough yet to get him there.  Offseason is not over though.

I agree. I think they’re one really good, proven, ball handler short. I’ve said more times than I can count that they probably view Flagg as a SG, off-ball, secondary creator/playmaker on the offensive end. Every move they’ve made signals that I’m on the right track there. (Not that it’s the way they should go - just that it’s what they’re going to do). I’ve also said over and over that this team is going to be a 1 Guard - 3 Wings - 1 Big OR 1 Guard - 2 Wings - 2 Bigs lineup construction for the most part. Every move they’ve made signals that I’m on the right track there also.

Your point is a good one though… the off-season is not over!

[FireNicoHarrison]

I agree with you guys and i think Masai will trade for a SG with ballhandling and passing skills...