Trade & FA 2024-25:

[BolsDamols]

Mavs still remain confident in signing DJJ until that ink actually dries

[Jason Terry]

Luka
Kyrie/Hardy
Green/Grimes/Naji
PJ
Lively/Gafford/Maxi

I think Green for Tobias balances the roster more. He can create on his own and is versatile on both ends.

Grimes/Naji/Tobias would be adding 3 guys who are well rounded players without a real weakness. Whereas THJ/DJJ/Green have clear limitations.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Free agent forward Derrick Jones Jr. plans to sign a three-year, $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Major pickup for the Clippers.

SMH

Not only did he not have to wait 15 days but he only got $1 million more per year. 

what in the world

[BolsDamols]

If we are talking Tobias’s would rather have Funke than Harris

[Smitty]

I just don't think there are minutes for Green AND Marshall AND Grimes AND Thompson. I know they aren't all the exact same player, but it seems far-fetched to me.

I agree for the most part. Exum and Kyrie will miss plenty of games though.

[KillerLeft]

So, some reality checks here...

Naji Marshall is just fine.  He can guard POA just fine (especially on a team with good rim protection).  Between Marshall, Grimes, PJ and our centers, we haven't dropped off on D much if at all (depends on minutes and rotation more than personnel).  Nobody gave a rats ass when DJ was signed.  Total non-event.  Marshall comes in with his latest season being better than anything Jones Jr. ever achieved.  We all liked the devil we knew.  He worked out incredibly well.  But any perceived drop-off from DJJ to Marshall will not likely be our biggest problem (and no, DJJ isn't coming back and we aren't trading for Thybulle...stop it).

Right now Josh Green is our starting 3.  
Starters are Center, PJ, Green, Kyrie, Luka 
Backups are Center, Maxi, Marshall, Grimes, Exum.  
Hardy and OMax will continue to scrap for developmental minutes.

Personally, I'm fine if this is it.  I'm fine if we make a deal to upgrade a starting spot (Green being the obvious choice).  Thompson gets you premium shooting, but not a ton else (self-creation days are largely over).  

I'd also be fine if we dealt Maxi for Tobias.  He can do more with the ball and that is a need for the second unit.  I'd be all about the 6-9 spots being Grimes, Naji, Tobias and Lively with one of our stars.  Really, any of those guys could start instead of Green, but the rotation might make more sense with Tobias as a secondary creator off the bench.  

I'd still be fine with Green for better creators like Bogdan or even Sexton (he'd definitely need to come off the bench).  We have the means for one more move.  Net improvement is still within our reach.  Heck, I'm not sure we haven't achieved it already.  Grimes/Marshall for Jones is all that really matters from a playoff perspective and Jones was losing minutes that last series.  One more move, whether Klay or Tobias or really anyone more valuable than Green or Maxi and we are good to go IMHO.

Agree with everything except the idea that the Mavs are willing to go into the season with Green as the starting 3. I will continue to doubt that until it happens, and I'm not sure them stopping right where things are would even make that seem likely. 

If it's to be Harris, I will definitely hope for him to come off the bench, as you suggest. That's an area where he might do some good. But, I'd prefer Marshall or Grimes in the starting lineup (because those are now the two best ball-handler defenders).

[BolsDamols]

SMH

Not only did he not have to wait 15 days but he only got $1 million more per year. 

what in the world

one of the more confusing free agency periods in recent memory

[SleepingHero]

one of the more confusing free agency periods in recent memory

I know this is mega frustrating, but taking a step back there is zero chance any of us could've predicted the 1st night of FA starting like this. And that's kind of what makes FA a load of fun.

[KillerLeft]

I know this is mega frustrating, but taking a step back there is zero chance any of us could've predicted the 1st night of FA starting like this. And that's kind of what makes FA a load of fun.

So true. Although you can tell from the gleeful tone of some that this is what they wanted to see happen. 

I'm going to laugh so hard when the next shoe drops.

[BigDirk41]

click on their name and on the new page scroll down to the right.

Perfect. No more Deebo. Thanks

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I mean it's obvious. It wasn't the money. It wasn't the new agent. It's not because DJJ knows Klay is signing here.

DJJ: Hey Nico, can you promise me I'll start next year?
Nico: No. We're trying to get Klay Thompson or someone with more offense to start at small forward.

So now I will say they better accomplish what they want and get someone like Klay Thompson to start at small forward. Otherwise, it's the same old Mavs. Chasing after the big fish while the sure thing gets away. They'll have major egg on their face once again.

[audiosway]

Agree with everything except the idea that the Mavs are willing to go into the season with Green as the starting 3. I will continue to doubt that until it happens, and I'm not sure them stopping right where things are would even make that seem likely. 

If it's to be Harris, I will definitely hope for him to come off the bench, as you suggest. That's an area where he might do some good. But, I'd prefer Marshall or Grimes in the starting lineup (because those are now the two best ball-handler defenders).

Totally agree. I don't think they would go into the season with Green starting at the 3. I would guess that Marshall would start unless they had Klay. I have a good feeling that Green is going to get flipped for Klay. If for some reason Klay goes elsewhere I wouldn't be surprised to see the Mavs check on Jerami Grant again. If he's not available for the assets I think they would likely wait until training camp to see what they have.

I feel like Grimes is going to be a gem. I was very interested in Naji and mentioned him the day after the finals ended. He is a DAWG. Very good defender and has a good floater. Also, he's a fairly good corner 3 guy. I heard that Grimes is an elite corner 3 shooter. And he can routinely guard the other teams best player.

[KillerLeft]

I mean it's obvious.  It wasn't the money.  It wasn't the new agent.  It's not because DJJ knows Klay is signing here.

Or, at least that Dallas was actively searching and likely to find someone to start ahead of him, yeah. There's just no other explanation.

[BigDirk41]

I just don't think there are minutes for Green AND Marshall AND Grimes AND Thompson. I know they aren't all the exact same player, but it seems far-fetched to me.

Yeah I don't think Green will start if here, but I also don't think he'll be here. Marshall will start at the 3 if we don't get Klay. Klay will obviously start if we get him.

[BolsDamols]

But why even declare that retaining DJJ is priority 1A and 1B? why the sudden pursuit of Klay Thompson? Could this have Kyrie’s fingerprints on it because of the Anta connection? and Luka loves kyrie so he will support him on this. Klay is a big name too. Also, would Lindsey have cosigned this pursuit?

[KillerLeft]

Yeah I don't think Green will start if here, but I also don't think he'll be here. Marshall will start at the 3 if we don't get Klay. Klay will obviously start if we get him.

I hope that's what happens. Maybe it's the fallback, sure. Or, maybe they're specifically out there with the goal of procuring a starting SF in mind. They certainly didn't pay Marshall like a starter, though that doesn't mean everything.

[BigDirk41]

I hope that's what happens. Maybe it's the fallback, sure. Or, maybe they're specifically out there with the goal of procuring a starting SF in mind. They certainly didn't pay Marshall like a starter, though that doesn't mean everything.

DJJ wasn't paid like a starter last year either. I can't speak for the Mavs, but if they think Marshall can do what DJJ did, the cost is irrelevant, right? They seem like similar players. I still think the plan is to get Klay, but Marshall could start if we strike out.

[KillerLeft]

DJJ wasn't paid like a starter last year either. I can't speak for the Mavs, but if they think Marshall can do what DJJ did, the cost is irrelevant, right? They seem like similar players. I still think the plan is to get Klay, but Marshall could start if we strike out.

...and he WASN'T a starter until very late in the season. They've basically said "congrats on being our best option and helping us get to the Finals. Now, we think we can do better." That's well within their rights, I just hope they didn't overthink this! 

If you're suggesting Marshall will be given a chance to earn the job, maybe. But I suspect they're out there promising Thompson a starting job, and I bet that's what they'll do with the next guy (probably Harris) too. 

Dan's right about one thing: Green, at the moment, is the most PAID like a starter.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I better not wake up tomorrow to see we signed Tobias Harris.

[BigDirk41]

...and he WASN'T a starter until very late in the season. They've basically said "congrats on being our best option and helping us get to the Finals. Now, we think we can do better." That's well within their rights, I just hope they didn't overthink this! 

If you're suggesting Marshall will be given a chance to earn the job, maybe. But I suspect they're out there promising Thompson a starting job, and I bet that's what they'll do with the next guy (probably Harris) too. 

Dan's right about one thing: Green, at the moment, is the most PAID like a starter.

I fully expect they are promising Klay a starting job. I'm just saying they were comfortable with DJJ starting if they didn't upgrade that position and they may feel like Marshall can provide the same thing as DJJ.