Trade & FA 2024-25:

[DL2RimRocker]

What tips the conversation in your direction for me is the certainty that Lively is going to get a HUGE contract when his rookie deal is up. I feel pretty confident that Gafford will be gone at that point, regardless of how anyone feels, out of simple necessity. Part of me believes the sooner he's dealt, the more value he'll have, but part of me loves the current two-headed monster (on offense, at least). 

I trust the current Mavs management more than the old, so I'm optimistic they'll get it right, whichever direction they choose.

Well put and pretty much the way I see it.
As much as I would love to keep the two-headed monster at center, there will most likely be a point when it will make sense to move Gaff.

[RGP1981]

Kevin Porter Jr. is looking like a real nice pickup for the Clippers. It would have been nice if the Mavs had gone for him, especially since his WNBA girlfriend is vociferously denying the allegations that were then made against him.

Hardy for KPJ swap, anyone?

[omahen]

Kevin Porter Jr. is looking like a real nice pickup for the Clippers. It would have been nice if the Mavs had gone for him, especially since his WNBA girlfriend is vociferously denying the allegations that were then made against him.

Hardy for KPJ swap, anyone?

Why would you aim for a multiple times proven headcase, that got into trouble wherever he was. Mavs are no longer that desperate, Clippers are. No thank you. Potential risk is far greater than potential reward, imho.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Kevin Porter Jr. is looking like a real nice pickup for the Clippers. It would have been nice if the Mavs had gone for him, especially since his WNBA girlfriend is vociferously denying the allegations that were then made against him.

Hardy for KPJ swap, anyone?

I screamed it from the hills.  I really think we could have gotten Eason and KPJ at the time.

[SleepingHero]

I screamed it from the hills.  I really think we could have gotten Eason and KPJ at the time.

I really don't see the appeal for Porter Jr.

He has some nice games, but there is a reason he's been exiled from the league once already and one of the most desperate teams signed him.

I give it 6 months before some random BS happens that causes his NBA future to again be in jeopardy.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I really don't see the appeal for Porter Jr.

He has some nice games, but there is a reason he's been exiled from the league once already and one of the most desperate teams signed him.

I give it 6 months before some random BS happens that causes his NBA future to again be in jeopardy.

We'll see.  The question isn't KPJ or a starting caliber PG.  It's KPJ or Din...

[SleepingHero]

https://x.com/NationMffl/status/1847104259914936499

@NationMffl
Luka Doncic & Giannis Antetokounmpo

Let this video feed our delusions for the next 7 months.

[SleepingHero]

We'll see.  The question isn't KPJ or a starting caliber PG.  It's KPJ or Din...

That's assuming KPJ would like a role playing spot minutes off the bench behind Luka/Kyrie/Hardy/Grimes. 


He's never shown any sort of emotional stability in his career to assume he'd just be okay with such a role on a contending team. In fact, every team he's ever been on has been a dumpster fire.

[Mavs2021]

https://x.com/NationMffl/status/1847104259914936499

@NationMffl
Luka Doncic & Giannis Antetokounmpo

Let this video feed our delusions for the next 7 months.

No thanks. I´d rather keep Lively, Washington and use the three 1st round picks otherwise.

[RGP1981]

We'll see.  The question isn't KPJ or a starting caliber PG.  It's KPJ or Din...

Yeah, agreed. KPJ can play either guard position. So the Mavs could have rolled with:

- Kyrie, Grimes, Luka, PJW, Giraffe (main lineup)
- Kyrie, KPJ, Luka, PJW, Giraffe (more guard offense... but you could also use Naji at SF here, to give Luka a breather)
- KPJ, Grimes, Luka, PJW, Giraffe (more guard defense)

The guys on this board just don't understand fit and balance from an on-court perspective though. Not many on the interwebs do.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

That's assuming KPJ would like a role playing spot minutes off the bench behind Luka/Kyrie/Hardy/Grimes. 


He's never shown any sort of emotional stability in his career to assume he'd just be okay with such a role on a contending team. In fact, every team he's ever been on has been a dumpster fire.

You're making it sound like he's been kicked off of multiple teams.  I'm not saying I want him to date one of my daughters, but the league is filled with immature man babies.

[SleepingHero]

You're making it sound like he's been kicked off of multiple teams.  I'm not saying I want him to date one of my daughters, but the league is filled with immature man babies.

But he has been kicked off of multiple teams.

Starting at USC in college he was suspended indefinitely by the coaching staff due to "conduct issues" that were never specified until after he declared for the draft. 

CLE gave up on him after his rookie year despite solid production because of several issues. He got hit with a weapons charge, driving under the influence, and a car crash in the offseason before his 2nd year that caused him to be suspended by the NBA. He didn't even play a single game for CLE in his 2nd year because he threw a tantrum at his teammates and coaching staff, because they had to move his locker to bring in a new guy after a trade. It was such a bad blowup that CLE announced that they will either trade KPJ or cut him following the TDL. 

He was then shipped off to the wasteland that was the post-Harden Rockets. There he played meaningless basketball for 2 years. Did he grow up at all during that time? No. 3 months after he was traded he violated the NBA's code of conduct by going to a strip club with teammate Sterling Brown (former Mav legend) where they both were involved in an assault. 

His 2nd year with HOU, head coach Stephen Silas got on Porter Jr. at halftime for his poor effort in the first half. KPJ responded by losing his temper at both Silas and assistant coach John Lucas where he threw an object at Lucas and had to be separated from them. He then left the game and stadium entirely despite there being an entire half of the game left.  

Finally his last year in Houston, he gets hit with felony assault and domestic violence charges and that was that. I understand his girlfriend is now walking back the allegations. Of the 3 charges he was hit with originally, one has been dismissed, while 2 others (one still being a felony) are still in place. Its not like this was some isolated event. 

And we're supposed to assume and expect KPJ to be mature about playing a minor bench role?


Sources:
https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-usc-star-kev...the%20time.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/3075...round-pick
https://nypost.com/2022/01/02/rockets-ke...er-blowup/
https://www.nba.com/news/kevin-porter-jr...nce-arrest
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/one-ch...-jr-s-case

[The Jom]

Damn, Sleeping brings it! Do one on Trump next! Then Michael Jackson’s doctor!

[WildArkieBoy]

Damn, Sleeping brings it! Do one on Trump next! Then Michael Jackson’s doctor!

While not an advocate of propofol or wannabe dictatorships, what is the timeworn cliche about the best predictor of future behavior?

[SleepingHero]

Damn, Sleeping brings it! Do one on Trump next! Then Michael Jackson’s doctor!

I just wanted to clarify and set the stage for what kind of player you're advocating for the Mavs to get. I didn't know how familiar you were of KPJ's full tenure in the league before he was exiled. 

And don't get me wrong, I usually do not care what an NBA player does off the court (within reason). If he wins games, then he wins games. But if said player is a clear detriment to the team and a locker room cancer, shouldn't we avoid that at all costs? KPJ is clearly talented. He is a prototypical combo guard in the league and has shown he can score, facilitate, and even defend when he wants to. The last part of the sentence being the key. 

There are levels to headcases in the league. Every team usually needs one with an edge. I just don't think a serious contender could ever win with KPJ in his correct role, most because he would never accept that role and cause a fuss.

[SleepingHero]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
Also: Magic defensive ace Jalen Suggs is seeking a new deal worth least $30 million annually in ongoing extension talks with Orlando leading up to Monday's 6 PM ET deadline, league sources tell @TheSteinLine.

[SleepingHero]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
Newly acquired Dallas G Quentin Grimes has emerged as a candidate for a contract extension before Monday's 6 PM ET deadline for new deals for former first-round picks from the NBA Draft Class of 2021, league sources tell @TheSteinLine.

More NBA from me: http://marcstein.substack.com/

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
The Brooklyn Nets are waiving former No. 7 pick Killian Hayes, sources tell ESPN. Hayes will continue to rehab a hip injury and pursue an NBA deal with Nets' Long Island G League affiliate.

[SleepingHero]

Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA)
Talking to teams this morning, there are a lot of trade conversations from luxury tax teams involving moving off some salary. Teams are angling to move some salary to create openings to keep other players.

Today is shaping up to be a very busy NBA transaction day!

Related:

The Detroit Pistons have an open roster spot and are sitting on $10.2M in cap space. Detroit has let teams know they are open to eating smaller salaries, provided they come with draft pick compensation, a league source told @spotrac.

[SleepingHero]

Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA)
Part of the Bucks interest in trading MarJon Beauchamp (as @JakeLFischer reported earlier) is to open a roster spot.

Milwaukee has some interest in re-signing locker room favorite Thanasis Antetokounmpo, a league source told @spotrac.