Trade & FA 2023-24: 76ers Believe They Have A Shot at PG13

[DanSchwartzgan]

https://twitter.com/townbrad/status/1741867322233794906

Brad Townsend (@townbrad)
Inquiring mind wonders why Mavs advisor Dennis Lindsey was taking in Jazz-Heat a couple of nights ago. Yes, he’s a former Jazz executive and maybe still lives here, but scouting seems below his pay grade.






Now who is on the Jazz and/or Miami the Mavs could be interested in...?

Not as sexy as Siakam or Markkanen or as controversial as Collins, but Olynyk crushed it that night.  19 points, 6 boards and 10 assists on 8 of 12 shooting.  Did he know he was being scouted?

[mvossman]

I agree with everything. I would just much rather pay the unprotected FRP and keep Williams. Mavs will still need him. I don't think Toronto necessarily needs a starting PF. I think they just want good young players and it is just a coincidence best young players on Indy and Atlanta are PF (rumor was they were more into AJ Griffin than JJ in the summer). Murray is more a SF than PF. Toronto line-up post trades:
Quickley-THJ-Barrett-Barnes-Poeltl.

Wow.  I was going to post the opposite.  If we can send out Williams instead of an unprotected FRP I see that as a big win.  I'm not a Williams hater, but he has been a little disappointing and Siakam would be eating into his minutes.  I would not have been excited about paying an unprotected for Williams to begin with, and even less so now.

[omahen]

Wow.  I was going to post the opposite.  If we can send out Williams instead of an unprotected FRP I see that as a big win.  I'm not a Williams hater, but he has been a little disappointing and Siakam would be eating into his minutes.  I would not have been excited about paying an unprotected for Williams to begin with, and even less so now.

It was actually pick swap + Williams or unprotected. I think that pick after the swap is worth far less than the full unprotected. So I rather commit full pick and keep a playoff rotation player. 

Williams has not been good recently, but he is still a decent 3-D wing and you can't have too much of those. I think there would still be plenty of minutes left for him.

[Chicagojk]

I saw Stein said Siakam, if traded, is unlikely to sign a two year extension and would prefer to enter free agency to "gain ultimate control". If so, the offers are going to be diluted, I would believe.

Stein also said the Mavs are looking to upgrade their PF spot, but Siam is not their top target. ATL, IND, SAC, DET, MEMP are teams that could be suitors.

[Chicagojk]

So if we are looking at PF help, I wonder if we are looking at the traditional 4 or more of the longish, quick guy who has done well here before. For instance, DFS as the smaller guy. Or the more bulky Isaiah Stewart types. Either of those guys may be tough for us to get with the assets we would be willing to give up.

[KillerLeft]

I would MUCH rather give up Williams, Green, Hardy, ‘27 or all of the above than include O-Max.

The Mavs must keep O-Max. Please!

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

I neglected to chime in back when Olynyk was mentioned previously, but he would be a huge upgrade for us at backup Center. He’s a very skilled offensive player and defenses can’t leave him alone out to the 3 point line. I would like him also as a hedge against Maxi being actually eternally cooked upon return, in that Olynyk enables us to play 5 out with someone larger than Grant Williams (who I think will still play some small ball 5 for us regardless.)

[DanSchwartzgan]

I would MUCH rather give up Williams, Green, Hardy, ‘27 or all of the above than include O-Max.

The Mavs must keep O-Max. Please!

Then the 'four upgrade' Stein mentions is a rental (or limited term player) while you wait for O-Max to get there.  Not saying that's the wrong stance, but no need to hang onto OMax tightly if your target is Grant, Siakam, Markkanen types.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

I would MUCH rather give up Williams, Green, Hardy, ‘27 or all of the above than include O-Max.

The Mavs must keep O-Max. Please!

I’m with you KL. And I’m a certified Josh Green Stan. O-Max is going to be a PROBLEM when/if the game slows down and he gets confident from 3-point range. Problem is, that’s likely 2-3 years down the road.

[mvossman]

I neglected to chime in back when Olynyk was mentioned previously, but he would be a huge upgrade for us at backup Center. He’s a very skilled offensive player and defenses can’t leave him alone out to the 3 point line. I would like him also as a hedge against Maxi being actually eternally cooked upon return, in that Olynyk enables us to play 5 out with someone larger than Grant Williams (who I think will still play some small ball 5 for us regardless.)

He would be an upgrade offensively, but our biggest issues with the second unit are defense and rebounding, and he doesn't really help with either.  The Maxi appeal was that he could allow for 5 out on offense and provide high level defense on the other end.

[mvossman]

It was actually pick swap + Williams or unprotected. I think that pick after the swap is worth far less than the full unprotected. So I rather commit full pick and keep a playoff rotation player. 

Williams has not been good recently, but he is still a decent 3-D wing and you can't have too much of those. I think there would still be plenty of minutes left for him.

Yeah, that makes it a tougher decision.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

He would be an upgrade offensively, but our biggest issues with the second unit are defense and rebounding, and he doesn't really help with either.  The Maxi appeal was that he could allow for 5 out on offense and provide high level defense on the other end.

But there is value in what Olynyk would bring offensively. He’s a fairly huge upgrade offensively on what Powell or Holmes or an undersized Grant Williams can offer right now. He’s a skilled big who can really shoot and has under appreciated playmaking skills. If the price is right, I could totally see a small under the radar move like this and then wait to see if any buyout guys shake loose being the play.

[KillerLeft]

Then the 'four upgrade' Stein mentions is a rental (or limited term player) while you wait for O-Max to get there.  Not saying that's the wrong stance, but no need to hang onto OMax tightly if your target is Grant, Siakam, Markkanen types.

I think he's a level above the others you mention in terms of a physically imposing presence, and would love to keep him, even as a backup. 

But honestly, my love affair with whom I think he'll be is part of why I'm usually cool on these talks. I think he's going to be better than any of these guys.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

I think he's a level above the others you mention in terms of a physically imposing presence, and would love to keep him, even as a backup. 

But honestly, my love affair with whom I think he'll be is part of why I'm usually cool on these talks. I think he's going to be better than any of these guys.

Wow! If he turns out to be better than any of those guys I’d venture to say he would be Luka’s Pippen. I’ll be happy if he turns into a hypercharged OG Anunoby who can guard 1-5 and operate as a small ball 5.

[KillerLeft]

Wow! If he turns out to be better than any of those guys I’d venture to say he would be Luka’s Pippen. I’ll be happy if he turns into a hypercharged OG Anunoby who can guard 1-5 and operate as a small ball 5.

Yes, to be clear(er) I mean better than those others DEFENSIVELY, although he's already showing more offensive skill than I expected. 

I think he has a chance to be the best defender in the NBA, and sooner than we might think.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I think he's a level above the others you mention in terms of a physically imposing presence, and would love to keep him, even as a backup. 

But honestly, my love affair with whom I think he'll be is part of why I'm usually cool on these talks. I think he's going to be better than any of these guys.

I think that’s optimistic, but we all have guys we love.  It can’t be proved either way.  If we’ve learned anything this season it is that you can’t point to college as evidence of anything.  Lively does more on a nightly basis than he did in his best game at Duke.  So, let’s assume you are close to being right…what should we do?

I hate the idea of just sitting on our hands in a year where we have this version of Luka and Kyrie.  I love Lively, but don’t want to give away a playoff game(s) when he picks up too many fouls.  I also hate betting our entire offseason on Maxi’s health.  Someone like Olynyk helps with both issues as he can play with or instead of Lively.  People here have said he’s not the defender he once was.  But, you have to look at lineups in Utah to see what is going on.  In lineups where he plays with Kessler (Utah’s Lively), the D is golden.  The issue is Olynyk at Center next to stud defenders like Collins/Markkanen and Sexton et al.  The numbers are horrendous.  It might look different next to DJJ and Exum, GWill and Green.

If we keep our current starters, I like the Olynyk, GWill, THJ and Green bench a ton.  They can mix and match at multiple positions and we have 3 ball handlers of varying sizes who can make the rest of that work.  Olynyk cleans up several issues I have with Maxi, Powell/Holmes and Lively’s status as a rookie big.  He also helps on nights where DJJ can’t find his 3 point shot.  Olynyk is a Schwartz guy and Schwartz just signed Powell here for a very reasonable number at a similar age.  I think we might be able to retain him for a number that is far enough below the first apron that you could also keep DJJ.  At that point, you are solid 9 deep and you can keep shopping for the big deal that brings the third star.

[Scott41theMavs]

I saw Stein said Siakam, if traded, is unlikely to sign a two year extension and would prefer to enter free agency to "gain ultimate control".  If so, the offers are going to be diluted, I would believe. 

Stein also said the Mavs are looking to upgrade their PF spot, but Siam is not their top target.  ATL, IND, SAC, DET, MEMP are teams that could be suitors.

Did I read this right? Siakam is not the Mavs' top target at the 4? Wonder who is, then.

[KillerLeft]

Did I read this right? Siakam is not the Mavs' top target at the 4? Wonder who is, then.

*gasp*

BE PREPARED 

[Scott41theMavs]

*gasp*

BE PREPARED 

Quit trying to ruin my new year.

[SleepingHero]

I saw Stein said Siakam, if traded, is unlikely to sign a two year extension and would prefer to enter free agency to "gain ultimate control".  If so, the offers are going to be diluted, I would believe. 

Stein also said the Mavs are looking to upgrade their PF spot, but Siam is not their top target.  ATL, IND, SAC, DET, MEMP are teams that could be suitors.

If the Mavs were to trade for him and then offer him the full 5 year 250mil max in the summer, Siakam will 100% sign the dotted line. Not sure why he won't. That whole "waiting until free agency" bs is just leverage for Siakam to tell teams "pay me my money or else I walk". 

I think Masai basically backed himself into a corner where he HAS to sell Siakam for pennies on the dollar cause of this situation. It also means it might be more realistic than we think in terms of assets for a Siakam deal. 

Of course that contract gives me pause. Last 2 years is ~54 mil and ~57 mil respectively. But it does emphatically open a clear window for the Mavericks the next 3 years at least. I can't really think of a more ideal 4 next to Luka and Kyrie. Siakam did have 2 years around 36%, one being next to Kawhi. I think next to Kyrie and Luka his looks would be the best he's ever had. 

I think that alone is worth it. Especially since THJ, Holmes, and Green aren't anywhere close to the player Siakam is. I just hope it actually happens at this point. Stein is either downplaying it because the Mavs truly aren't interested, or playing distraction to not tip other teams and drive up the price.