Trade & FA 2024-25:

[KillerLeft]

The bench unit with CP3 was one of the few bright spots for the Warriors. So good that they even tried to start CP3 instead of Klay for a few weeks. Thompson stood out as the player with the worst plus/minus numbers on the team in any given role. Didn't work next to Curry/Draymond. Was even worse off the bench.
 
Not trying to be an asshole because it isn't really about you but I am so freakin done with the despite the numbers narrative. We have reached a point where the NBA/synergy is tracking everything I can confirm my eyetest with his post defense numbers. Can look at the tracking numbers to confirm that he gets deflections or secures lose balls. Can look at his blow by %. Can look at his plus/minus impact.
There might be a case that one of those metrics is underrating Thompson's defensive abilities but when all of them paint the same picture and confirm the narrative that most Warriors related media outlets and my eyetest agree with I am inclined to believe that he isn't a good defender.

It's interesting that you mention his passing. From what I can tell his athletic decline hurt his decision making. He isn't able to attack close outs like he used to and the Warriors aren't running as much split action for him because teams aren't afraid of his ability to cut. Resulting in an even higher 3-point volume. More contested 3s.

What remains is the intangible part that you mentioned. His reputation. I think that no matter what happens Klay is always going to have a gravity that only a few select star players can match. No one is going to help off him. Even if he is only shooting 37-38% from 3 for the season. That's certainly a positive.

Lots of good, smart points here.

[KillerLeft]

Any interest in D’Angelo Russell?

I personally do not like his knuckleheadness but he could be a third combo guard if they don’t trust Hardy yet. The Spencer Dinwiddie role. Shot 41.5% from three.

He just opted in for $18.7 million. Not sure how that would work.

Nope, and THIS is about the level of what I'd expect were they to go that 3rd guard route. 

To me, you just give Hardy the ball and hope he breaks out.

[myconsumerclub]

Bottom line now that Grimes adds defense and a very nice three pointer to use we need to focus on adding a more offensive player. I expect an improved offensive performance as we see a lot more Hardy and Lively as well with his evolving 3 pointer being encouraged and as PJ should improve I expect him to contribute more on offense as well. If PJ makes the move to improve his 3 pointer and Lively starts to add that element to his game we will have a 7'1 center to use in a five out strategy and a far more productive 3rd leading scorer who both should be 2 way talents. DJJ remains the sole area of concern and finding a guy who has the same defensive ability who can score more efficiently sepecially from 3 that is what everyone is looking for and drafting it is almost the only way to add it since free agents who can do it will often get overpaid more than we can offer. Still I am very happpy with the beginning of offseason.

Recap:

drafted Melvin a 6'7 SF/SG who can shoot the 3 well and possibly become a defensive contributor that we got him at all with our draft position is a miraqcle. So this kid out played the top pick in the draft when they both last played against each other. HMMM maybe we got something.

Got rid of THJ and added Quentin Grimes. To me we got a better player who is younger and has a lot of upside. Great Move!!!!

Summer League Signing of some 7'5" center makes me think they found a potential keeper who is a mutumbo wannabe

[Scott41theMavs]

KL, I love that your perspective on this has become more nuanced over the course of the discussion.

[KillerLeft]

KL, I love that your perspective on this has become more nuanced over the course of the discussion.

My perspective hasn't changed a bit. Your read on it might have, or my ability to express it, maybe.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Can you clarify the point you're making here? I know who Max Scherzer is, but I'm not up on what most fans thought of the move. 

Are you saying that memory of past greatness is leading fans to reach unrealistic expectations of old players' future chances? Do I have that right?

Yes

If you want to argue his volume three point shooting is why we should get him, fine.

I don’t wanna hear about ice water in his veins and playoff pedigree when he’s the main reason they missed the playoffs and the team he’s a living legend of actively does not want him back. 



Theres been a lot of talk on this forum about how the goal isn’t to have the best 15 man roster. The end of the roster guys aren’t going to play and you don’t want them to be mad they’re not playing. You want guys at the end of the roster ok with sitting. A guy like Spencer Dinwiddie might be ok with sitting. A guy like Buddy Hield might be ok with sitting. I believe Klay Thompson will be a big time problem if he’s benched down the stretch because you have defensive players in there next to Luka and Kyrie. I just don’t see how those three guys can be successful playing big minutes together.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Any chance Cuban could swoop in at the last minute and show Klay a cartoon video to "seal the deal"?

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I also cannot see Klay living in Texas.

If it wasn’t for Stein, I wouldn’t believe any of this.

This seems like a your girlfriend dumped you so you shack up with the first chick that comes along.

Mavs are in a good situation. They can be patient.

[KillerLeft]

Theres been a lot of talk on this forum about how the goal isn’t to have the best 15 man roster. The end of the roster guys aren’t going to play and you don’t want them to be mad they’re not playing. You want guys at the end of the roster ok with sitting. A guy like Spencer Dinwiddie might be ok with sitting. A guy like Buddy Hield might be ok with sitting. I believe Klay Thompson will be a big time problem if he’s benched down the stretch because you have defensive players in there next to Luka and Kyrie. The more I think about it, I just don’t see how those three guys can be successful playing big minutes together.

This is the right fulcrum for the conversation. 

But, there's a wide range of what "ok with sitting" might mean, wouldn't you agree? Obviously, were the Mavs to do this, they'd view him as a rotation player. If Thompson isn't ok with the concept of sitting down the stretch of a game, then I don't think this happens. 

I guess I just trust the Mavs not get this wrong more than some of you do. I think their interest is likely either for a specific, helpful role, and possibly a smaller one than we assume, OR being overplayed somewhat. Maybe even a lie.  

All of my thinking on this is based on the idea that DJJ is the priority. If we find out tomorrow that's not the case, I'll start to get worried.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I’m thinking of the Russell Westbrook situation for years. When you have three hall of famers who are also your three highest paid players, they will want to start and close games.

You can theorize all you want about staggering their minutes but that almost always leads to discontent and drama.

You can only make this move if you believe Luka, Kai, Klay, PJ, Lively/Gafford is a lineup you’re comfortable playing in the most important situations.

[KillerLeft]

Someone help - does this mean George to GS is dead? 

https://x.com/wojespn/status/1807152270930223230

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Someone help - does this mean George to GS is dead? 

https://x.com/wojespn/status/1807152270930223230

yep

[Mavs2021]

Someone help - does this mean George to GS is dead? 

https://x.com/wojespn/status/1807152270930223230

Awesome. That increases the likelihood GS will overpay Thompson.  

Plus if PG13 really leaves the Clippers that is $50M gone from either Orlando or Philly.

[Deebo]

Wait he declined 48 million? lol. He’s not worth that. Dumb take that $$$

[Jym]

Wait he declined 48 million?  lol.  He’s not worth that.  Dumb take that $$$

he's about to get $200 million

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I wonder if that’s because the Warriors wouldn’t include Kuminga in a sign and trade and Clippers said it’s not worth it to us otherwise.

[KillerLeft]

I’m thinking of the Russell Westbrook situation for years. When you have three hall of famers who are also your three highest paid players, they will want to start and close games.

You can theorize all you want about staggering their minutes but that almost always leads to discontent and drama.

You can only make this move if you believe Luka, Kai, Klay, PJ, Lively/Gafford is a lineup you’re comfortable playing in the most important situations.

I agree, to an extent. I really do. 

But, this is also my argument against rebuttals like Bogdanovic, Kennard, etc. For me, those moves do very little, even if they're improvements on paper. The elephant in the room, as you've identified, is improving your TOP 5-man lineup, which needs to function on both ends of the floor. This is TOUGH to do. More accurately, it's probably to add a player who can function in a few different lineups consisting of players from your top 6-7 guys. 

If they don't think Thompson can do that, and their actions are screaming to me that have a good sense of these things, they won't do what we're all worried about them doing. If you're right about that being the only set of circumstances Klay will accept, he won't end up here. 

If I'm wrong about that, we go scorched earth and turn victory plaza into Portland.

[Mavs2021]

Wait he declined 48 million?  lol.  He’s not worth that.  Dumb take that $$$

I assume he has a standing offer from Philly. He wouldn´t opt out, if he wasn´t confident to get a big bag.

[KillerLeft]

Awesome. That increases the likelihood GS will overpay Thompson.  

Plus if PG13 really leaves the Clippers that is $50M gone from either Orlando or Philly.

I agree. I think what made this Thompson thing plausible was that it looked like they were getting PG to replace him. Without that, they might still want to move on, but I'm less inclined to believe they'll help him get to his destination without getting something they think is really useful in return. Green/Kleber was already a little too much, and the worst part of the theory for me, value proposition wise, but if it turns to Green, Kleber, 2025, O-Max or some other crazy conversation that's where my interest officially ends. 

And, I agree that this makes Thompson back to GS quite a bit more likely.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I agree, to an extent. I really do. 

But, this is also my argument against rebuttals like Bogdanovic, Kennard, etc. For me, those moves do very little, even if they're improvements on paper. The elephant in the room, as you've identified, is improving your TOP 5-man lineup, which needs to function on both ends of the floor. This is TOUGH to do. More accurately, it's probably to add a player who can function in a few different lineups consisting of players from your top 6-7 guys. 

If they don't think Thompson can do that, and their actions are screaming to me that have a good sense of these things, they won't do what we're all worried about them doing. If you're right about that being the only set of circumstances Klay will accept, he won't end up here. 

If I'm wrong about that, we go scorched earth and turn victory plaza into Portland.

I actually like Grant so much more. 

And if Portland says no, ok cool just stay patient. Go into the season with this team. Check back in January and he might be available then. Or there might be a host of other good fits available. 

The Locked on Mavs podcast guy was thinking this is all different sides doing this for leverage. If it wasn’t Stein reporting this, I’d not even comment on it.