AROUND the NBA:

[Nowitzki Way]

So far. 

I have a feeling this will change when he's a bit older and more willing to sacrifice to get some help. A few more years to develop personal relationships won't hurt, either, because that seems to be the single biggest driving force behind these team ups. 

Just have to keep reminding ourselves: Luka is 24 in a system designed to be ruled by players who are 28-34.

I'm hoping it does change. This is one thing that hurt us with Dirk. He was never interested in being part of any of team ups or being friends with the other up and coming stars. Not being on those Olympic teams hurt us with recruiting, and could hurt the same way with Luka. 

But Luka seems to have such a different personality than Dirk off the court. Before and after games he is mingling and shaking hands. Dirk never did that. But on the court, Luka is hated. And thats not always a bad thing.

[KillerLeft]

Washington, after losing 10 straight, has a big comeback win over PHX on a night when Porzingis sits with an illness...coincidence, or just another piece of mounting evidence that Porzingis sucks?

[Nowitzki Way]

Washington, after losing 10 straight, has a big comeback win over PHX on a night when Porzingis sits with an illness...coincidence, or just another piece of mounting evidence that Porzingis sucks?

He's not a winning player. He can stuff a stat sheet, when healthy. I was all for trading him. Just wish we could have gotten a better return. i like Dinwiiddie but it sure would have been nice to pull one of these young NBA talents that everyone keeps talking about. a 21...22 year old with talent and upside.

[SleepingHero]

He's not a winning player. He can stuff a stat sheet, when healthy. I was all for trading him. Just wish we could have gotten a better return. i like Dinwiiddie but it sure would have been nice to pull one of these young NBA talents that everyone keeps talking about. a 21...22 year old with talent and upside.

I don't think the KP trade was that bad, as Dinwiddie has been a great guard in his time here so far. 

But yeah... I have no clue how they couldn't have gotten a guy like Hachimura or Kispert. Heck why the f did the Mavs of all teams have to throw in a pick while also giving up the best player???

Crazy to me.

[F Gump]

I don't think the KP trade was that bad, as Dinwiddie has been a great guard in his time here so far. 

But yeah... I have no clue how they couldn't have gotten a guy like Hachimura or Kispert. Heck why the f did the Mavs of all teams have to throw in a pick while also giving up the best player???

Crazy to me.

Speaking of which, the Mavs desperately need to figure out how to make DB useful. He's now healthy, and minutes should be available with all the injuries. With his proven skill set as a stretch-the-floor guy, and the Mavs ongoing need for bigs and shooters, it sure seems like he's just a "coach em up" distance away from being able to add something significant.

[KillerLeft]

Speaking of which, the Mavs desperately need to figure out how to make DB useful. He's now healthy, and minutes should be available with all the injuries. With his proven skill set as a stretch-the-floor guy, and the Mavs ongoing need for bigs and shooters, it sure seems like he's just a "coach em up" distance away from being able to add something significant.

Absolutely. 

If Bertans can't get minutes here and now, on a roster with truly no other 4 (especially while DFS and Kleber are out) and in desperate need of someone to capitalize off of the looks Luka generates, then maybe he is as bad as his detractors think. That, or Kidd is as clueless as his detractors think.

[SleepingHero]

Speaking of which, the Mavs desperately need to figure out how to make DB useful. He's now healthy, and minutes should be available with all the injuries. With his proven skill set as a stretch-the-floor guy, and the Mavs ongoing need for bigs and shooters, it sure seems like he's just a "coach em up" distance away from being able to add something significant.

The issue is Bertan's defense. He's really bad. Kidd seems unwilling to shift his focus. Bertans could be a valuable shooter here if given consistent minutes but I don't think Kidd has the creativity to really capitalize on it.

[Nowitzki Way]

I don't think the KP trade was that bad, as Dinwiddie has been a great guard in his time here so far. 

But yeah... I have no clue how they couldn't have gotten a guy like Hachimura or Kispert. Heck why the f did the Mavs of all teams have to throw in a pick while also giving up the best player???

Crazy to me.

Agreed. We lost on that part. We included the pick, when WE should have been the one receiving a youngster in return.

[BoredAssistant]

https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/...48128?s=20&t=krii7yCNzsSdiXAWFb9n1A

Just for the record.  Only a 2nd? Hmmm ... do we have any 2nds left the NBA can rescind?

[Kammrath]

Kidd is as clueless as his detractors think

[vfromlmf]

Meanwhile in Dallas, declaring Brunson a likely All-Star is burying the lede.

[Mavs2021]

Washington, after losing 10 straight, has a big comeback win over PHX on a night when Porzingis sits with an illness...coincidence, or just another piece of mounting evidence that Porzingis sucks?

Not evidence that he sucks, but is clearly not a #1 option. It was also the night Beal returned from injury.

[Mavs2021]

Absolutely. 

If Bertans can't get minutes here and now, on a roster with truly no other 4 (especially while DFS and Kleber are out) and in desperate need of someone to capitalize off of the looks Luka generates, then maybe he is as bad as his detractors think. That, or Kidd is as clueless as his detractors think.

He´s had two games with significant minutes (10+) and a highly positive (+/-), against the Nuggets and Wolves without their six best players. We lost both those games. Reality is 4 of 7 NBA seasons he´s been averaging 5/2. Overall he´s 8/2. There is no hidden gem here.

[cow]

Mavs got fleeced in the KP trade because of Bertans' atrocious contract and tipping the Wizards for the privlege of two players they desperately wanted to ditch.

https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/...48128?s=20&t=krii7yCNzsSdiXAWFb9n1A

Just for the record.  Only a 2nd? Hmmm ... do we have any 2nds left the NBA can rescind?

I still think it would be more appropriate for the pick to be given to the team that was tampered with.  Also wish the NBA adopted a compensatory pick system for players lost in free agency like the NFL does.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Pascal Siakam almost singlehandedly, stopped the Knicks 8 game winning streak, 113-106 behind his career-high 52 pts.  He was 17-25 from the field and made 16-18 ft's—First 50 pt at MSG since Harden had 61 in 2019.

[Chicagojk]

First game back, but John Collins goes 2-5 for 4 points and 7 rebounds.   He has way too many of these type of performances (maybe not quite this low, but still).   During their run, he was finding ways to impact games with defense, hitting a big shot, grabbing and important rebound, etc.   He just hasn't done a lot of this since then. 

25 million is a lot for 12 points and 7 rebounds.    I am not a huge fan of Wood, but it is important to remember that Collins is a flawed player too.   I probably like him better than Wood, but you need to factor in his contract as well.

[Chicagojk]

The Orlando Magic playing good ball.  I wish the Mavs would role the dice on guys like Fultz and Bol Bol.  It is tough when you are trying to win, but I would really like some low cost gambles on young guys rather than the Sterling Brown's of the world.

I have always been sort of a fan of Mo Wagner.  He has played well this year.  Say what you want with the Lakers, but they draft well in the late first and second rounds.  Unfortunately, most of their picks are now on other teams.   Although, while Wagner is a solid player they did pass on Brunson, Robert Wiliiams, Gary Trent and Jared Vanderbilt.  So I guess I shouldn't give them too much props on the Wagner selection.

[Mavs2021]

First game back, but John Collins goes 2-5 for 4 points and 7 rebounds.   He has way too many of these type of performances (maybe not quite this low, but still).   During their run, he was finding ways to impact games with defense, hitting a big shot, grabbing and important rebound, etc.   He just hasn't done a lot of this since then. 

25 million is a lot for 12 points and 7 rebounds.    I am not a huge fan of Wood, but it is important to remember that Collins is a flawed player too.   I probably like him better than Wood, but you need to factor in his contract as well.

So you want to judge a 25 year old player on a 25 game stretch rather than the previous four years (220 games), where he averaged 18/9 and shot 55/38/80?
 
At least do it right. Declining numbers from age 22 to 25 each year and two mediocre play-off runs 13/8.

Then a smart GM would say that there is no logical explanation for a player to go from 20/10 to 12/7 (from age 22 to 25) other than injuries or mental/team fit problems. I think we all know in which category Collins falls, in which you should be all over him at the right price.

[Mavs2021]

The Orlando Magic playing good ball.  I wish the Mavs would role the dice on guys like Fultz and Bol Bol.  It is tough when you are trying to win, but I would really like some low cost gambles on young guys rather than the Sterling Brown's of the world.

I have always been sort of a fan of Mo Wagner.  He has played well this year.  Say what you want with the Lakers, but they draft well in the late first and second rounds.  Unfortunately, most of their picks are now on other teams.   Although, while Wagner is a solid player they did pass on Brunson, Robert Wiliiams, Gary Trent and Jared Vanderbilt.  So I guess I shouldn't give them too much props on the Wagner selection.

There is no low-cost gamble with BolBol or Fultz anymore. Those decisions had to be made in the summer. Undoubtedly a decent chance BolBol would have picked 5M Mavs over 2M Magic, but they had to Joel. The Magic probably happily dump the Fultz contract over the summer for something as low as a THJ. Not anymore. If the Magic trade Fultz it will be, because Cole Anthony forces their hand. He´s the real prize imho.

Just like with Mo Wagner you need some forward projection, but we just reserve our 13th to 15th spots for the Theo Pinsons, Joel McGees and Fatu Campazzos of the world rather than gamble on young players with upside. In all three of these cases (BolBol, Wagner, Fultz) you could see the potential.

[KillerLeft]

Pascal Siakam almost singlehandedly, stopped the Knicks 8 game winning streak, 113-106 behind his career-high 52 pts.  He was 17-25 from the field and made 16-18 ft's—First 50 pt at MSG since Harden had 61 in 2019.

52 pts on 25 shots. 

Please, please let this guy become available at a price the Mavs can afford.