MAVS NEWS:

[SkenfromLMF]

DJJ had the ability to guard the opponents best player, and that is not really in Naji’s repertoire at this point. I also am worried about how to get Grimes/Naji into the rotation consistently without making Klay feel threatened for minutes.

IF Grimes can cover guards POA and Naji get the assignment on forwards we should be better, but one or the other being relegated to cheerleader will have us wishing to get DJJ back.

[Knutsen]

DJJ had the ability to guard the opponents best player, and that is not really in Naji’s repertoire at this point. I also am worried about how to get Grimes/Naji into the rotation consistently without making Klay feel threatened for minutes.

IF Grimes can cover guards POA and Naji get the assignment on forwards we should be better, but one or the other being relegated to cheerleader will have us wishing to get DJJ back.

The best way of doing this would be to strip Luka’s and maybe Kyrie‘s minutes during the regular season. That means that we would have to be good enough to win a lot of games against lesser competition without Luka having to go all-out. We kind of achieved that after the trades in the last quarter of the season, but in that phase we had to achieve cohesiveness as a team gearing up for the play-offs and the wear and tear with the nagging lower body injuries was already there for Luka. If we start out at that level or maybe even better with the new additions it could be the first time ever that we could combine winning a lot of games and reducing Luka’s usage, opening up a couple of minutes for Grimes and Naji.

Another way is of course injuries, that you never want to happen but that will happen through the course of a season, especially having a couple of injury-prone players like Kleber, Exum, Kyrie and maybe, but hopefully not, Lively in the rotation.

[SleepingHero]

DJJ had the ability to guard the opponents best player, and that is not really in Naji’s repertoire at this point. I also am worried about how to get Grimes/Naji into the rotation consistently without making Klay feel threatened for minutes.

IF Grimes can cover guards POA and Naji get the assignment on forwards we should be better, but one or the other being relegated to cheerleader will have us wishing to get DJJ back.

The Mavs signed DJJ around this time last year. Did we all think he had the ability to guard the opponents best player?


DJJ had a career year here mostly just of how well he fit. I'm going to miss him mostly because I would've rather stayed with the devil you know than the devil you don't know. 

But there is a very real scenario that Naji is just a better fit all around if he can continue to hit 3s at a near 40% clip. On paper Naji does what we loved from DJJ AND has a reliable 3. 

According to Pelican fans, Naji was a key defender and they viewed him as a core rotation player. They were not happy the Mavs got him for that price. 

I waffle back and forth because again, I would've rather kept DJJ as we KNOW he fits. But he had some fatal flaws that reared its way on the biggest stage. To attempt to upgrade that position at a cheaper cost could prove to be the best move all along.

Plus DJJ didn't exactly make it easy to re-sign him. In fact he basically forced his way out chasing the bag and using his leverage. The Mavs didn't play that game.

[KillerLeft]

The Mavs signed DJJ around this time last year. Did we all think he had the ability to guard the opponents best player?

We did not. 

It might be true that DJJ is far better than any defender Dallas added, but he had never really played the role in which he flourished here before last season, and honestly, it didn't really "work" until after the trades. I'd suggest that both Marshall and Grimes are coming into this season with more of a "guard the best player" track record than DJJ had going into last season. That doesn't mean either will be as effective at it, but it's possible. 

It also seems like Jones made a connection between that defenisve-minded role and getting paid in a contract year. Thank goodness for that, and good for him, but how do we know that same fire is about to be the norm for him? 

I wanted him back, too. Very badly, in fact, and I'm still a little down about it. However, a little thought into the top of the Mavs rotation from last year and it's a relatively simple thing to reach the conclusion that any significant attempt to improve the top 5-6 had to come at the sacrifice of either DJJ or PJW. For me, PJW is better, more two-way, and has more potential to improve over the next few years, expecially on offense. The other was DJJ, who was literally at a fork in the road as a free agent. I get why they did what they did.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I am curious what you base that on? 

Mavs fan only here (since Donaldson, Brad Davis) who knows little about other mid to low level NBA players/contributors, so it is truly just a curious question.

I'll hang up and listen.  

I'm a Mavs fan from the Nash/Fin/Dirk days.  Originally from NOLA, so the Pels are my second favorite team.

DJJ on defense is a bit more like DFS.  Long.  Naji is a better body-up defender, more covering SFs, PFs, and small Cs.  I'd say their defense is a wash for differing strengths, but Naji has a much more complete offensive game.

Green flies all over the floor on defense.  He's disruptive and looks the part, but not as affective as Grimes.  I'll take Grimes for a POA defender over Green.  There's really no comparison offensively.  As the old adage goes, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.  Green is just too hesitant.

[SleepingHero]

@NationMffl

Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves is a proposed matchup for the upcoming NBA season on Christmas Day, per @TheSteinLine

[SleepingHero]

Luka posted this to his Instagram story

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Mavs signed DJJ around this time last year. Did we all think he had the ability to guard the opponents best player?


DJJ had a career year here mostly just of how well he fit. I'm going to miss him mostly because I would've rather stayed with the devil you know than the devil you don't know. 

But there is a very real scenario that Naji is just a better fit all around if he can continue to hit 3s at a near 40% clip. On paper Naji does what we loved from DJJ AND has a reliable 3. 

According to Pelican fans, Naji was a key defender and they viewed him as a core rotation player. They were not happy the Mavs got him for that price. 

I waffle back and forth because again, I would've rather kept DJJ as we KNOW he fits. But he had some fatal flaws that reared its way on the biggest stage. To attempt to upgrade that position at a cheaper cost could prove to be the best move all along.

Plus DJJ didn't exactly make it easy to re-sign him. In fact he basically forced his way out chasing the bag and using his leverage. The Mavs didn't play that game.

I said before FAgency, that he was going to test the market for more cash, after a career year. They all do.  No hometown discounts here. That bag he was chasing was ultimately the same deal Marshall got to come to Dallas.  In hindsight, he was just chasing his tail...

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I said before FAgency, that he was going to test the market for more cash, after a career year. They all do.  No hometown discounts here. That bag he was chasing was ultimately the same deal Marshall got to come to Dallas.  In hindsight, he was just chasing his tail...

IMO, the front office would rather Naji.  Even though a deal couldn't be signed during those few weeks, they could have come to an agreement with DJJ.  I look at it as the Mavs chose Naji.  I'm in agreement with that.

[mvossman]

IMO, the front office would rather Naji.  Even though a deal couldn't be signed during those few weeks, they could have come to an agreement with DJJ.  I look at it as the Mavs chose Naji.  I'm in agreement with that.

I'm not really sure the evidence supports that?  They offered DJJ a contract and when he said no he wanted to test the waters (including changing agents) they offered the exact same contract to Naji.  The evidence suggests DJJ was first choice and Naji was backup option.  Its possible it will turn out better the way it played out, but no need to rewrite history.

[michaeltex]

I think DJJ was indeed the first choice, but the instant he started getting cute with swapping agents, looking for more $$, anything that was going to extend the timeline on getting a deal done, DAL went instantly to option 2 (or maybe 1A?) to insure securing a quality player for the rotation.

Personally, I applaud Nico & co. decisiveness. That seems to be a trait with their talent acquisitions in the last two years and I'm absolutely on board with that.

[F Gump]

I think DJJ was indeed the first choice, but the instant he started getting cute with swapping agents, looking for more $$, anything that was going to extend the timeline on getting a deal done, DAL went instantly to option 2 (or maybe 1A?) to insure securing a quality player for the rotation.

Personally, I applaud Nico & co. decisiveness. That seems to be a trait with their talent acquisitions in the last two years and I'm absolutely on board with that.

There's no question the Mavs preferred DJJ over Naji. DJJ is a disruptor on defense, which gives him a niche usage that can be very valuable when needed. Naji is not at that level.

I think DAL is probably a much better fit for DJJ's skills than LAC, because DAL has lots of offense and doesn't need him to score. Not sure that will be the same in LA with PG gone.

But in DJJ's defense, he was being demoted with Klay coming to be the starter at SF and get the starter's minutes. The Mavs felt the need for more 2-way players and DJJ's lack of offense was exposed as an issue vs BOS. With Klay coming, there was still a backup role open had he stayed, but backups play fewer minutes and get a smaller role. The Mavs wanted to keep him, of course, and found the money to pay him, but DJJ wanted to stay a starter, with the bigger role, with more minutes, and LAC had an opening, so off he went. 

Naji - only a 19 mpg backup in NO - had been playing the role that DJJ didn't want and that DAL was looking to fill. He would have stayed in NO, but NO's money had run dry, and will be even more of an issue next summer. DAL was a good fit for him to get the money NO couldn't pay, and continue to do what he had done in NO. He won't be the same level of defender, but on paper he'll be more of a factor on offense than DJJ.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I'm not really sure the evidence supports that?  They offered DJJ a contract and when he said no he wanted to test the waters (including changing agents) they offered the exact same contract to Naji.  The evidence suggests DJJ was first choice and Naji was backup option.  Its possible it will turn out better the way it played out, but no need to rewrite history.

Not writing history, just stating how I remember it actually published...
-DJJ changed agents, making a waiting period
-Mavs signed Naji
-DJJ signed with LAC
I could be mistaken, but I base my opinions on what I know, not just make stuff up.

Now, if you want to say that DJJ was the Mavs' first choice BEFORE he changed agents, that's probably true.  But I contend that Naji became their choice, with their signing him while DJJ was still available as the proof.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

There's no question the Mavs preferred DJJ over Naji. DJJ is a disruptor on defense, which gives him a niche usage that can be very valuable when needed. Naji is not at that level.

I think DAL is probably a much better fit for DJJ's skills than LAC, because DAL has lots of offense and doesn't need him to score. Not sure that will be the same in LA with PG gone.

But in DJJ's defense, he was being demoted with Klay coming to be the starter at SF and get the starter's minutes. The Mavs felt the need for more 2-way players and DJJ's lack of offense was exposed as an issue vs BOS. With Klay coming, there was still a backup role open had he stayed, but backups play fewer minutes and get a smaller role. The Mavs wanted to keep him, of course, and found the money to pay him, but DJJ wanted to stay a starter, with the bigger role, with more minutes, and LAC had an opening, so off he went. 

Naji - only a 19 mpg backup in NO - had been playing the role that DJJ didn't want and that DAL was looking to fill. He would have stayed in NO, but NO's money had run dry, and will be even more of an issue next summer. DAL was a good fit for him to get the money NO couldn't pay, and continue to do what he had done in NO. He won't be the same level of defender, but on paper he'll be more of a factor on offense than DJJ.

Naji will have a better year than DJJ's last year

[Chicagojk]

https://digginbasketball.substack.com/p/...-about-the

[mvossman]

https://digginbasketball.substack.com/p/...-about-the

Kind of strange that he missed the announcement that Lively is going to be the starter.

[Chicagojk]

Kind of strange that he missed the announcement that Lively is going to be the starter.

Has that been announced by the team or has it been strongly supported by plug in Mavs reporters?   I have been wondering how this plays out.  I agree with Iztok that Lively should see minute increase.   I also think it is probably likely Lively starts.   

I just feel that Gafford is a little more fragile mentally though just by some of his previous comments.   I wonder how he does coming off the bench .

[michaeltex]

I feel like the key is keeping Gaff engaged and feeling like he is an important contributor to team success. Maybe that means continuing to start, but getting subbed early by Lively may also impact his confidence. So, longer term, maybe he evolves into a key role that can be an emotional and physical hub for the bench mob. No shame there, IMO.

[mvossman]

Has that been announced by the team or has it been strongly supported by plug in Mavs reporters?   I have been wondering how this plays out.  I agree with Iztok that Lively should see minute increase.   I also think it is probably likely Lively starts.   

I just feel that Gafford is a little more fragile mentally though just by some of his previous comments.   I wonder how he does coming off the bench .

Maybe I am misremembering or misread, but I thought a report was posted on here a while ago that Lively would be the starter.  It would make sense, not only because he is clearly the better center but also because it makes sense to have our best defensive anchor in a lineup that doesn't have a POA defender.

[F Gump]

https://digginbasketball.substack.com/p/...-about-the

Excellent analysis. Thanks for posting it.