MAVS NEWS:

[Chicagojk]

As you say...still early in the season.  I would like to see improved play by our wings and power forwards.  Kyrie does play as a shooting guard some of the times, but beyond that we need better play.  This can be done by our present line up if/when they start meshing.

Upgrades are hard.  A diamond in the rough is easier...

I am not sure a move will come this year, but looking forward.   My thought process is someone who can play 3 and 4, shoot 37 plus from 3 and defend multiple positions.   Tough to find.    It would help clean up the roster a little if they found that player, especially with an aging Klay.   Maybe this year it is Marshall who fills this role.  Or maybe eventually it is Omax (he has a long way to go though).

On the other hand, with Luka's size maybe a smaller(ish) player would work.   Derrick White or Jrue type.  Darn Boston making all the smart moves.   Although these moves probably would be tough to fit now because not sure Klay or the Jrue caliber player would like a bench role.

[michaeltex]

I am not sure a move will come this year, but looking forward.   My thought process is someone who can play 3 and 4, shoot 37 plus from 3 and defend multiple positions.   Tough to find.    It would help clean up the roster a little if they found that player, especially with an aging Klay.   Maybe this year it is Marshall who fills this role.  Or maybe eventually it is Omax (he has a long way to go though).

On the other hand, with Luka's size maybe a smaller(ish) player would work.   Derrick White or Jrue type.  Darn Boston making all the smart moves.   Although these moves probably would be tough to fit now because not sure Klay or the Jrue caliber player would like a bench role.

Good points all.

FWIW, BOS is currently at $197M with 14 contracts. The starting 5 are at ~$169.5M with the cap at ~$148M. Next season they are at $226M with just 11 players and the starting 5 will make $197M with the cap only going up 10% to $163M. I'll leave it to someone smarter than me to add luxury taxes. They have a nice team, but for how long can they afford it?

For comparison, for this season, DAL is at $176M total/$130M starting with 15 contracts.

[Chicagojk]

Good points all.

FWIW, BOS is currently at $197M with 14 contracts. The starting 5 are at ~$169.5M with the cap at ~$148M. Next season they are at $226M with just 11 players and the starting 5 will make $197M with the cap only going up 10% to $163M. I'll leave it to someone smarter than me to add luxury taxes. They have a nice team, but for how long can they afford it?

For comparison, for this season, DAL is at $176M total/$130M starting with 15 contracts.

From what I understand, Boston is going to need to make some changes this offseason.   They are still very well positioned for a extended run especially when your two best players are in their 20's, but they will need to make some tough decisions this summer.    They appear to be thinking the same thing and have some youth that could eventually fill certain roles.

As far as Dallas, as we look for an upgrade or addition it is probably wise not to look at 30 million players and up.   Maybe not even above 20 million.    There is probably a sweet spot somewhere in there.    With the upcoming salaries coming up, we have to be careful added that level of salaries.

[michaeltex]

When would Luka's next extension start? He has this season and two more on the current contract, with the last (~$48M) as a PO. Can he decline his PO and start the new, much $$$, contract in that season? That would only leave this season and next under the current deal. His max is independent of his current salary, correct? Isn't it more of a % of the cap? With 10% cap growth, that would mean a salary of ~$63M (35% of cap for supermax). That equal to almost 50% of the starting 5 salaries this season.

(Apologies if this is confusing, my wife is having an IT crisis at home and this is my way of burning off the shared stress..)

[RGP1981]

I'm also a big CC fan.  Not necessarily of Women's basketball, but I do watch it quite often.  CC is really on a different plane than most, if not all, other players.  There is quite a lot that men can learn from the women's game and adapt to men's basketball.

But...there is little comparison between the respective games...or the players.  I agree that the maturity level between Luka and CC is different.  Luka would learn a lot if he went back and watched CC play.  I think Luka has at least 1 possibly 2 levels of play that he can achieve.  He must "mature" to achieve either level--emotionally, physically, technically, and desire.  Luka plays the way he does because he has never learned better.  Nobody has ever held his nose to the grindstone.  The Mavs need to find someone he respects and will listen to.  Maybe someone like Chandler to Lively.  I don't know.
 

Hey! Glad to find another CC fan on here.

My point of view is this... nobody has ever held CC's nose to the ground. She does and says (both) what she has to do (on the court, off the court, and even in interviews) because she's a natural born winner and instinctively knows what needs to be done or said to lead a team to winning. I had hoped Luka would have reached this level of maturity and awareness 2-3 years ago. But he's still so far away, even though he's now 25 and she's only 22.

Anyway, I think Luka could learn a heck of a lot from her. Not in terms of game-play, because Luka is right up there with the most skilled players ever (CC is a better point guard for her team though). I mean in terms of awareness, leadership, media skills and effort (effort to stay fit, to work on his speed, to improve, to put in time with team-mates)... so literally everything else.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Season is still young and we don't even know the type of team we have yet.  I was wondering as we look forward with this roster, what type of moves we are looking for moving forward.  Is it an addition to the roster or is an upgrade from someone on the roster?  Or is it just holding steady for the next 2 years?    If so, with addition or upgrade, what type of players or positions do you think would be a target?

I think a trade for Tari Eason would solve a lot of woes.  We'd have PJ, Naji, and Tari to guard big wings.  He'd take Maxi's role plus.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

The Nash and Brunson fiascos are among the worst in NBA history.

[F Gump]

Good points all.

FWIW, BOS is currently at $197M with 14 contracts. The starting 5 are at ~$169.5M with the cap at ~$148M. Next season they are at $226M with just 11 players and the starting 5 will make $197M with the cap only going up 10% to $163M. I'll leave it to someone smarter than me to add luxury taxes. They have a nice team, but for how long can they afford it?

For comparison, for this season, DAL is at $176M total/$130M starting with 15 contracts.

Re BOS, their financial hit that's looming is so extreme that their owner decided to sell the team, even though they are on top with a team positioned to keep winning. Seriously.

Your cap numbers are way high. This season it's $140.6M, and next season should be about $154.6M.

Using your payroll numbers for them, according to my tax calculator, this year they are looking at a "Payroll + Tax" financial outlay of about $265M (in the context of the revenues of a $141M cap world), and next summer in a $155M cap world they are staring at a "Payroll + Tax" financial outlay of $400M! I can see them finding a way to choke that down this season, but I can't imagine they would be willing to pay that number next season (which means they will move to offload a big chunk of salary).

[DallasMaverick]

The Nash and Brunson fiascos are among the worst in NBA history.

Hmm...

Really?

Just a reminder of a few bad trades:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-considered...BA-history


...and a few bad contracts:
https://www.reddit.com/r/billsimmons/com...?rdt=39240

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I think a trade for Tari Eason would solve a lot of woes.  We'd have PJ, Naji, and Tari to guard big wings.  He'd take Maxi's role plus.

You think Houston would trade Eason, and you'd get to keep PJ and Naji? That ain't happening lol.

[SleepingHero]

@iztok_franko
Sharing J Kidd frustration of being outrebounded at a critical moment—again, in my Mavs-Suns observations.

Gafford dunks & blocks stand out, but his flaws are more difficult to see...although always pop out in data

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.tmz.com/2024/11/09/delonte-w...ted-again/


Delonte West arrested again. Sad...

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/maveri...create-it/



How Mavs TV was born and with a 53-million-dollar loss to create it.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://thesmokingcuban.com/jason-kidd-d...ss-to-suns


Fiery Kidd drops plenty of F-Bombs in Suns loss.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

You think Houston would trade Eason, and you'd get to keep PJ and Naji? That ain't happening lol.

Well, then what would it take?

[SleepingHero]

@TheSteinLine
The Mavericks say Luka Dončić is questionable for Sunday’s game at Denver due to a left groin strain.

P.J. Washington Jr. (right knee sprain) and Dereck Lively II (right shoulder sprain) remain doubtful, Dallas says.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

Hmm...

Really?

Just a reminder of a few bad trades:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-considered...BA-history


...and a few bad contracts:
https://www.reddit.com/r/billsimmons/com...?rdt=39240

My favourite remains the #1 pick — Joe Barry Carroll for the #3 pick— Kevin McHale. And Robert Parrish. Two Hall of Famers for a flameout. Won 3 titles. Might’ve won a couple more if Len Bias didn’t OD.

[michaeltex]

Re BOS, their financial hit that's looming is so extreme that their owner decided to sell the team, even though they are on top with a team positioned to keep winning. Seriously.

Your cap numbers are way high. This season it's $140.6M, and next season should be about $154.6M.

Using your payroll numbers for them, according to my tax calculator, this year they are looking at a "Payroll + Tax" financial outlay of about $265M (in the context of the revenues of a $141M cap world), and next summer in a $155M cap world they are staring at a "Payroll + Tax" financial outlay of $400M! I can see them finding a way to choke that down this season, but I can't imagine they would be willing to pay that number next season (which means they will move to offload a big chunk of salary).

Thanks for the correction. I mis-read the salary cap values, but that makes it even more painful for BOS.

Like you, I'm not sure how they will keep it together beyond this season. But I'm sure their fans will not like it.

[Chicagojk]

This is a Luka centric post. Looking at his stats, it doesn’t appear off from past years. Watching the games tell a different story. He legs aren’t right and he is doing it all on iq and guts. I am sure he will round into form as the season goes along (if he is able to stay away from a longer term issue), but it has been so long since we saw a healthy, in shape Luka that I am wondering if that version is going to be exception moving forward. Man, have I missed the quick and strong Luka who can use his strength and his quickness to just give the defense no answers. It feels like he is getting to the rim much less often this year. Props to him for gutting through games, but it is tough watching him move out there. There has been a few moments where I thought he was moving well but typically based on quarters or half’s…not full games.

Second, the public frustration with his teammates on the court has to stop. Like today! Some other stars do it…like LeBron. But we are seeing it multiple times a game. I get some of this stuff is what makes Luka great, but he needs to control his emotions more. There is a time to have these discussions and they should be much less public, but the death glares need to stop immediately.

[KillerLeft]

This is a Luka centric post.  Looking at his stats, it doesn’t appear off from past years. Watching the games tell a different story.  He legs aren’t right and he is doing it all on iq and guts.  I am sure he will round into form as the season goes along (if he is able to stay away from a longer term issue), but it has been so long since we saw a healthy, in shape Luka that I am wondering if that version is going to be exception moving forward.  Man, have I missed the quick and strong Luka who can use his strength and his quickness to just give the defense no answers.  It feels like he is getting to the rim much less often this year.  Props to him for gutting through games, but it is tough watching him move out there.  There has been a few moments where I thought he was moving well but typically based on quarters or half’s…not full games.

Second, the public frustration with his teammates on the court has to stop.  Like today!  Some other stars do it…like LeBron.  But we are seeing it multiple times a game.  I get some of this stuff is what makes Luka great, but he needs to control his emotions more.  There is a time to have these discussions and they should be much less public, but the death glares need to stop immediately.

The last time I felt Luka was completely in shape, moving and playing in a totally ideal fashion MIGHT have been all the way back in the bubble, tbqh. That was four years ago. He has had countless moments of brilliance since then, obviously, but in terms of energy, beating people off of the dribble, getting into the paint at will, etc, the bubble (or maybe the following season) was the last time I remember him like that.