Trade & FA 2023-24: HOU Targeting Mikal Bridges again!| Mitchell is LAL #1 Target

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I responded to your statement about Wood´s role on defense. That´s Luka´s role. Mavs cannot hide 2-3 guys on defense. That leaves Wood as the odd man out.
As far as alternatives go. Offensive production from Kyrie and Luka is enough to guarantee a top 10 offense (in the past Luka alone was enough). So I am looking at guys that cand defend multiple positions and make up for the defensive short comings of Luka and Kyrie. Something that won´t be as easy if Wood stays because realistically they cannot resign both him and Kyrie and stay under the first apron. They would lose the full MLE and BAE.

And their names are?  Easy to deconstruct.  Tough to construct.

Are you saying that we can have a top 10 offense with roster is currently?

[mvossman]

And their names are?  Easy to deconstruct.  Tough to construct.

Are you saying that we can have a top 10 offense with roster is currently?

I would argue that we are a lot closer to being a top 10 offense than we are a top 10 defense.  Defense is clearly the bigger issue and where we have rightfully put most of our resources toward.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I would argue that we are a lot closer to being a top 10 offense than we are a top 10 defense.  Defense is clearly the bigger issue and where we have rightfully put most of our resources toward.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M...ainObvious

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

I would argue that we are a lot closer to being a top 10 offense than we are a top 10 defense.  Defense is clearly the bigger issue and where we have rightfully put most of our resources toward.

I think we already very much are a top 10 offense, we were just THAT bad at everything else that it's hard to remember.  We had the 6th best ORating last year and I believe the second best after the Kyrie trade.  I agree that defense should be driving every decision made around this team right now.

[dirkfansince1998]

And their names are?  Easy to deconstruct.  Tough to construct.

Are you saying that we can have a top 10 offense with roster is currently?

Pick your favorite MLE free agent. Just scrolling through the last few pages. Grant Williams, Harrison Barnes, Matisse Thybulle.

Yes. Mavs had a top 10 offense last season and as long as Kyrie isn´t leaving that´s not going to change. Luka, good spacing and a rim runner is all it takes.

[KillerLeft]

And their names are?  Easy to deconstruct.  Tough to construct.

Are you saying that we can have a top 10 offense with roster is currently?

The issue you're running into with Wood talk is that other than you, everyone here, even his most ardent supporters (among whom I numbered at one point) feel like there has been an avalanche of signals from both the player and the team that they didn't enjoy collaborating professionally last season. I don't know that bringing him back will be considered, even in the event that there literally isn't a good alternative. 

From my perspective, he's a center. They just drafted a center in the first round, highly enough to expect that he'll play some this season, traded for another, still have McGee on the roster for the time being, still have Kleber, who will play at least a portion of his minutes at that position, and it's unclear at this time whether or not Powell will be back. I humbly submit that this is the MBT screaming "alternatives" at you. You're just not listening. 

The hole seems to be at the 4, from my seat. Kleber will play there some, as will OMAX, I hope. But, Wood cannot. His feet are just too damn slow (maybe that was the problem all along - they were hoping he could play 4, when he quite clearly cannot). I think it might be time to move on to your Kuzma pipe dream at this point. When you started bringing him up a few months back, I thought you were nuts because it seemed to me like WAS had moved Hachimura to clear the way to re-sign him to play with Porzingis and Beal. I still believe that was their thinking at the time, but now they've moved both of those other guys and I'm just not sure it makes any sense for them to retain Kuzma at any price. I'd put him near the top of the list of FA's who are about to change hands.

[mvossman]

I don't see a world in which we employ Powell, Holmes, Lively and McGee.  So, if the last three stick, I think Powell is gone.  If there is a deal that moves McGee...or if Holmes is part of something else, then maybe they bring back Powell.

I'm not sure this is true.  Lively wont be ready, Holmes may be shot and unmoveable, and McGee is shot and unmoveable.  In that case, who is our starting center?  In that scenario its most likely Powell with the BAE or tax MLE.  My biggest concern about picking Lively is that it very likely means center mediocrity for the next year or two until he is ready to go as it won't make sense to spend assets getting a center after we just dropped a lotto pick on one.

[KillerLeft]

Lively wont be ready

I think what this pick says is "we're going to play Lively some, ready or not." I think he's 15-20 minutes per, minimum. 

Don't care in the slightest whether or not that hurts the team's immediate prospects to compete, really. I hope it doesn't, but on the other hand, I'm so sick of trying to figure out ways to string zero assets together to make a trade for players who will obviously cost a lot of assets, I'm simply ready to start over. And, I think the earlier they bite the bullet and do that, the more likely they'll still have Luka on the other side of this mess.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Lively wont be ready

Curious on the general consensus here.  Are there folks on the board who expect him not to be a major part of the rotation?  I feel like that kind of has to be the plan but could be wrong.

[mvossman]

Curious on the general consensus here.  Are there folks on the board who expect him not to be a major part of the rotation?  I feel like that kind of has to be the plan but could be wrong.

Big difference between rotational piece and starter.  He should get as many minutes as he can without clearly hurting the team, but I don't know that it would be good for his development to throw him out there as a starter when he is not ready.  It took him half a season last year to get adjusted to college ball.  It will likely take at least that long at NBA level.

[mvossman]

I think what this pick says is "we're going to play Lively some, ready or not." I think he's 15-20 minutes per, minimum. 

Don't care in the slightest whether or not that hurts the team's immediate prospects to compete, really. I hope it doesn't, but on the other hand, I'm so sick of trying to figure out ways to string zero assets together to make a trade for players who will obviously cost a lot of assets, I'm simply ready to start over. And, I think the earlier they bite the bullet and do that, the more likely they'll still have Luka on the other side of this mess.

Don't disagree with this.  My biggest issue is not necessarily with the idea of going partial rebuild, my issue is that the Kyrie trade does not make sense in that context.  We gave away assets to get him, and his massive salary will potentially hamper additional asset acquisitions.  If we are going down a 2-3 year rebuild process, not sure how Kyrie fits with that.

[soog]

https://twitter.com/mavsfilmroom/status/...18048?s=46&t=VkC4p6TKgoXQGQQAi-GBpg

@MavsFilmRoom

Stein also says that he’s unsure of what kind of money Grant Williams would command, but “there has been some [] chatter” about Indiana and the Mavs.

———————————-

I heard rumors before the draft of Mavs involved in a 3-team deal that sent them Buddy Heild. That deal would be dead now. I can’t say I love adding him unless THJ is on the way out. Could there be someone else the Mavs are interested in?

[KillerLeft]

Don't disagree with this.  My biggest issue is not necessarily with the idea of going partial rebuild, my issue is that the Kyrie trade does not make sense in that context.  We gave away assets to get him, and his massive salary will potentially hamper additional asset acquisitions.  If we are going down a 2-3 year rebuild process, not sure how Kyrie fits with that.

Totally agree with the Kyrie angle you're taking. I'm just happy to see some indication that they're capable of choosing not to continue chasing the "sunk cost" of the last few seasons. I'm shocked by that, actually. 

What if they're about to sign and trade Kyrie somewhere else? I'm more susceptible to that thought than I was 48 hours ago, personally.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Only problem with the Bullock angle is that I think his contract becomes fully guaranteed on the 28th of this month. At least according to Spotrac. Hopefully that's wrong and we have more flexibility

Spotrac is right.  Bullock can extend the timeframe and it might benefit him to do so.

Math is very similar if McGee is substituted.  Can go bigger with someone else if the opportunity arises.  Key is not going over the first apron as you lose the $7.5mm spread and go to 110%.

[Chicagojk]

So was Stein referring that Barnes in an MLE candidate? That seems low. Is he done in Sacramento that they are looking for cap room to replace? Or do they want to add a FA to him?

My biggest issue with Barnes is that when a shot needs to be made, I have no confidence he is going to make the shot. There are few really good players who I think that. It just really makes it hard for me to be in on him if that is how I feel. Great guy and teammate and a nice player.

I will state again, Grant Williams would be perfect here. I just don’t know how we get him. Boston may want to move on, but I don’t think they let him go for nothing. If they want something back, I am not sure what we have that would interest them.

[soog]

Totally agree with the Kyrie angle you're taking. I'm just happy to see some indication that they're capable of choosing not to continue chasing the "sunk cost" of the last few seasons. I'm shocked by that, actually. 

What if they're about to sign and trade Kyrie somewhere else? I'm more susceptible to that thought than I was 48 hours ago, personally.

I’ve actually been considering that recently as well. With how they maneuvered in the draft I can’t help but wonder if that was part of why they traded for him - knowing that cal space would be limited around the league and if someone wanted him they could get in on a S&T that brought them back some key, win-now pieces.

[soog]

So was Stein referring that Barnes in an MLE candidate?  That seems low.  Is he done in Sacramento that they are looking for cap room to replace?  Or do they want to add a FA to him?

My biggest issue with Barnes is that when a shot needs to be made, I have no confidence he is going to make the shot.  There are few really good players who I think that.  It just really makes it hard for me to be in on him if that is how I feel.  Great guy and teammate and a nice player. 

I will state again, Grant Williams would be perfect here.  I just don’t know how we get him.  Boston may want to move on, but I don’t think they let him go for nothing.  If they want something back, I am not sure what we have that would interest them.

Yeah he was saying Barnes could be a possibility at the MLE, but just speculation on his part.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I think what this pick says is "we're going to play Lively some, ready or not." I think he's 15-20 minutes per, minimum. 

Don't care in the slightest whether or not that hurts the team's immediate prospects to compete, really. I hope it doesn't, but on the other hand

I really hope you are wrong or this year is gonna be ugly.  Not sure I can make it through and to the other side.  Not sure our two superstars can either.

This kid is not remotely ready.  He is going to get destroyed on both ends against better NBA athletes.

I dont think the Mavs plan to give up on this upcoming season. And I dont think he was a high enough pick where they try that hard to shoehorn him in to that role.

[dirkfansince1998]

I really hope you are wrong or this year is gonna be ugly.  Not sure I can make it through and to the other side.  Not sure our two superstars can either.

This kid is not remotely ready.  He is going to get destroyed on both ends against better NBA athletes.

I dont think the Mavs plan to give up on this upcoming season.

I prefer a clean cut over prolonged suffering. They made it worse because they delayed the inevitable but at some point bad decisions will catch up with you. Long past time to change the approach. Even if they have to take a step back to do it.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Flip Kyrie for some young assets if that's the plan. Having him here on a rebuilding team is asking for trouble.