MAVS NEWS:

[Deebo]

They gotta find a center someplace or tank. Kessler isn’t good. Doesn’t even box out. I’m
I’m
For team tank

[david75090]

Kessler Edwards played 40 minutes last night, hit half his shots, 3 of 4 from three and had the best +/- on the team. 2-way contract? "Both teams played hard".

[mvossman]

The hole at PG?

1. 2 weeks ago, as Exum was about to return, I wondered if he might prove to be the answer to fill the hole at PG that we have been trying to figure out. Both now, and going forward.

I certainly don't buy the idea that last season's playoffs ended him being useful, or ever being part of their plans, and as we get to see him again, he's even better than he was a year ago when everyone was in love with him.

The one question mark is "If he can stay healthy" - of course. But the other side of the coin is - he is literally EVERYTHING we want in a second PG. He defends, he scores, he's aggressive, he has size, he can handle the ball, he is efficient when he shoots, he pushes the pace, he can run the offense -- and his price tag is modest. He also does a good job as the 2nd guard alongside someone like Kyrie.

Right now I would think that he would be available to return in the $5-9M per range on a 2-3 year deal. His value will be easier to see once we get to June - does he stay healthy from now to then, and does he play well in the playoffs like in the regular season. But if yes to both, to me that's gotta be a guy to keep.

2. Dinwiddie? He's not really a PG answer except in an emergency. He also can give minutes as a combo G because he's 6-5. BUT --  SG may be getting crowded if PJW is playing SF, with Klay, Christie, and Martin all in the SG mix. SD's a useful emergency guy, but will he want to be a minimum salary guy again, and do I want him if the price goes up?

3. I also like what I see of B Williams. I think I'm seeing a contributor at PG, not just a 2-way guy filling spare minutes; he defends and makes plays, and I wonder if he's already a better PG answer when one is needed than SD. And I am a bit torn now on whether he might be more valuable - to give a promotion and the 15th playoff spot - over Edwards. That's something to watch as they both get minutes over the next 2 months imo. He makes a lot of sense financially, as a minimum salary guy, to be their 3rd stringer next season.

4. An external PG idea? I've looked at at Lonzo Ball for Hardy-Powell (where the money is a slight savings) or for Martin (close to same salary). His ball-handling and defense are pluses. But his reliability health-wise scares me, as does his bad shooting, and they probably push me away.

My guess is Exum will be cheaper than that.  If he actually stays healthy the rest of the season, continues to play at his current pace, and plays well in the playoffs (assuming that even happens) then its a different story, but I'm afraid that is unlikely.

Agree on liking Dinwiddie at the min and not so much at more.

Need to see more of Williams to think he could take on that role.

Big fan of Lonzo.  Think he would be a really good fit next to Kyrie.  As to his shooting I think you are over focusing on the small sample of current season (high volume 34%) and ignoring his prior three seasons (high volume, high 30s).

[mvossman]

They gotta find a center someplace or tank.  Kessler isn’t good. Doesn’t even box out.  I’m
I’m
For team tank

I think Gump laid it out well that there is not much room to tank.  Best case you are moving a couple of spots.  We just won 4 out of 5 games wildly short handed.  This team clearly does not want to tank.

[Smitty]

Best case scenario this season IMO.

The Mavs are currently 8th in the West.
2 games back of 6th and 3 games clear of 11th. 1.5 ahead of 9 & 10.

If the Mavs can finish 7-8 and win that play-in matchup to secure the 7 seed, they’ll be on the opposite side of the Thunder in the playoff bracket.

Assuming a mid-March return for Davis and Lively. A late-March return for Gafford, the Mavs can head into the playoffs as the low seed that nobody wants to face.

This could be a realist draw for the Mavs:

1 OKC vs 8 LAC

4 DEN vs 5 LAL



3 HOU vs 6 MIN

2 MEM vs 7 DAL

[DallasMaverick]

Best case scenario this season IMO.

The Mavs are currently 8th in the West.
2 games back of 6th and 3 games clear of 11th. 1.5 ahead of 9 & 10.

If the Mavs can finish 7-8 and win that play-in matchup to secure the 7 seed, they’ll be on the opposite side of the Thunder in the playoff bracket.

Assuming a mid-March return for Davis and Lively. A late-March return for Gafford, the Mavs can head into the playoffs as the low seed that nobody wants to face.

This could be a realist draw for the Mavs:

1 OKC vs 8 LAC

4 DEN vs 5 LAL



3 HOU vs 6 MIN

2 MEM vs 7 DAL

Also...

If the Mavs really are healthy and a championship-level team, we shouldn't fear facing anyone, including OKC.

So seeding won't matter.

[Smitty]

Also...

If the Mavs really are healthy and a championship-level team, we shouldn't fear facing anyone, including OKC.

So seeding won't matter.

I don’t fear OKC. I’m sure the Mavs players don’t either given their recent dominance of that franchise. Just playing the odds is all.

[Smitty]

The team has yet to announce a firm treatment course for Davis — whether or not surgery can be avoided in response to the adductor strain he sustained in his Mavericks bow against Houston on Feb. 8. There has likewise been no projected recovery timetable publicly established by the Mavericks for Davis. It is believed that the absence of a publicly shared timetable is by design as Davis pursues a non-surgical route to recovery.

One source close to the process told the The Stein Line on Wednesday that "no timetable" has been established for Davis' return to the lineup beyond the mutual determination reached by the Mavericks and the Davis camp that both parties "will be cautious" in bringing him back

The Stein Line's initial reporting Sunday revealed that there would be meetings Monday to determine if surgery could be avoided. Another source close to the process said that, as of Thursday, no definitive decision on the matter has been made.

There certainly has been tangible optimism this week in Dallas that surgery can be avoided. That, though, is best classified as a hope or belief at this point. No one in a position to do so has been able to fully rule out the eventual need for surgery.

[F Gump]

Kessler Edwards played 40 minutes last night, hit half his shots, 3 of 4 from three and had the best +/- on the team. 2-way contract? "Both teams played hard".

Edward's is on a 2 way now. I definitely agree that he has been showing promise.

The Mavs don't have enough money now for a rest of season promotion to the 15 man, but they will around Apr 1. I am hoping they offer a rest of season deal then to either Edward's or Williams, with a non-guaranteed 2nd year minimum as part of the contract. 

As for which I would choose, I dunno. Both are showing promise. There's not roster space for both, so if it was me, I'm evaluating closely from now to Apr 1.

I think both are eligible to be 2 way again next year, and both would be RFA re an NBA deal (ie Mavs would have matching rights) if Mavs want to make a QO. Edwards was a draft pick so his minimum might be a small savings on the apron calculations.

[cow]

Still cannot believe the Mavs have arguably the best PF and C rotation in the league and all of them are injured for a significant time.

Just lol

Not that hard to believe with AD and Lively's injury histories.

[Smitty]

Not that hard to believe with AD and Lively's injury histories.

Fair. But PJ and Gafford are kind of Iron Men.

Side note, if Lively does miss the rest of the season he will have missed 77 regular season games in his first 2 years.

[Chicagojk]

I don’t think the issue with Exum was on court play.  I loved what I saw last year.  Although Kidd lost some trust in the playoffs.  It is availability.  He has been out this year all year.  Comes back and plays well but is now dealing with Achilles tightness.  I think best case he is a 20 minute player.  Although his body constantly looks like it is a dive away from a season ending injury.


Anyone notice how smart Christie and Edwards are on defense?  Their rotations are very good.  How they effortly switch when players switch positions is really nice.  Not many missed assignments when two guys are guarding one man.  Also despite being skinny, max really battles inside.  He uses leverage good and while over powered at times, he also makes some plays against bigger guys.  I want to see him the rest of the season, but I see now reason why he can’t be a part of a three guard rotation.  The mid range drive pull up jumpers at his length are very promising.

It is a shame we had all these injuries.  We weren’t winning the title regardless but I really think Nico and Kidd thought we would be a tough out with a healthy Davis, PJ and Gafford playing (not sure if Lively will be back or not). The fight and toughness that physical team would play with would have been fun.

[Winter]

“When I was looking around, I was the vet,” Exum said. “It was like me and Spence (Spencer Dinwiddie). I think just showing that I was gonna push the pace, try and lead in that way. If I’m aggressive and try and get to the paint, see what happens, kind of be contagious.”

“Sometimes when you sit out for that long you get to see what you can be successful at,” Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said of Exum. “Since he’s been back, I think we’re playing faster, understanding that it is unselfishness, but also the ball touching the paint and for him to be able to finish… We’re happy to have him back. We need to keep him on the floor.”

To me, that sounds like a guy who no longer thinks it's a good idea to defer to others... especially in regards to driving to the hoop and shooting from the perimeter.

[F Gump]

“When I was looking around, I was the vet,” Exum said. “It was like me and Spence (Spencer Dinwiddie). I think just showing that I was gonna push the pace, try and lead in that way. If I’m aggressive and try and get to the paint, see what happens, kind of be contagious.”

“Sometimes when you sit out for that long you get to see what you can be successful at,” Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said of Exum. “Since he’s been back, I think we’re playing faster, understanding that it is unselfishness, but also the ball touching the paint and for him to be able to finish… We’re happy to have him back. We need to keep him on the floor.”

To me, that sounds like a guy who no longer thinks it's a good idea to defer to others... especially in regards to driving to the hoop and shooting from the perimeter.

Yeah, I think that's right. He's better now than he was last season, and last season he was really good. I think the time sitting this season, and listening to Kidd, I think that was an education to him that moved him away from some weaknesses. In particular, the idea that being aggressive and creating shots is more valuable to the team than just taking the shots that come to you.

[LukaMVP]

I think that applies to other players as well since the trade, not just Exum. it seems the players are finally weaned off luka's breast feeding, even kidd has to design some offensive plays by himself now as opposed to the simple game plan of just giving the ball to luka. the trade was like a kick up the arce to everyone, and i'd say it was one to luka as well if he starts to take conditioning seriously and lose weight.

the trade was a horrible one, still, as there might be multiple alternative ways to motivate your players.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

There's something to be said for teammates just watching a superstar teammate as oppose to give it their all. IMO Garnett in MIN was that way.

[F Gump]

Big fan of Lonzo.  Think he would be a really good fit next to Kyrie.  As to his shooting I think you are over focusing on the small sample of current season (high volume 34%) and ignoring his prior three seasons (high volume, high 30s).

A couple of thoughts on Lonzo and the points you raise ...

1 Yes I am weighing this season more heavily than those of the past.

2 HOWEVER -- In light of the severity of his injury, don't we have to? He missed 2 1/2 seasons because of it. Don't we have to assume that what we see now far outweighs what he did before as an indicator of what he offers?

3 I see possible red flags in the current shooting numbers. Now 83% of his shot attempts are 3s (and almost all of those 3 attempts are catch-and-shoot) - has he lost the ability to create a good shot and get to the rim? Add the fact he's only making 34%, and it makes me wonder if he's lost that first step that's crucial to a PG. Before I trade for him, I would have to figure that question out by watching all his games to see how he's moving and what he can (and cannot) do now.  I don't want a player who just floats on the perimeter and has no inclination (or ability) to attack the defense.

4 I'd have no interest at all in including a pick for him. I think he's only a backup caliber anymore, although he has been starting recently for CHI. (Results have not been any better for him in those starts.) Rumors said CHI turned down a 1st for him at TDL, but then more rumors said they would have been giving up a 2nd and likely having to take ongoing salary at his 20M salary range, so I think his could be a low price. I can see Hardy (young offense guy making only 6M, who perhaps would be seen as having upside) being the asset, and Powell being the expiring filler.

5 In the bigger picture of whether he's the right player for the Mavs, I also have to get more looks at Exum and Williams, both of whom imo might make more sense (both as to salary, and fit). But gotta see more.

[DL2RimRocker]

There's something to be said for teammates just watching a superstar teammate as oppose to give it their all.  IMO Garnett in MIN was that way.

I always thought a lot of that was Luka though.
He seemed to suck the energy out of the offense at times by keeping the ball until a few seconds on the clock.
There wasn't a flow from the group as a whole because Luka is more of a showman imo and had to create for himself and others.
It's tough for others to get in the flow of the game on both ends when you have players like Luka, Harden and Westbrook who need the ball in their hands 80% of the time to be at THEIR best.

The ball movement looks better now.

I've never been a big Luka fan because of that and not upset that we traded him, but you simply can't give someone of that caliber away for 60% or less of his value in return. Just really bad business and in addition was a massive marketing blunder. I really thought Nico was smarter than that.

[Chicagojk]

It just sucks AD got hurt. I don’t think we are a championship team but I was really interested to see if they could make AD work as a 4. If they could make it sort of work with Gafford, you know Lively would make it even look better. This team has a lot on the line on making AD work at the 4. If it doesn’t, then pretty big moves will need to be made.

Same with PJ at the 3. I assume he also gets plenty of minutes at PF, but they appear to have a lot riding on PJ being capable at the 3.

I was really hoping to get a long look at both for the rest of the year. Pj could be back soon but he may get more 5 now than 3. Who knows when AD, Lively and Gafford will be back.

[Smitty]

I think this is what you’re looking at coming out of the break:

Exum | Williams
Kyrie | Christie (Dinwiddie)
Klay | Naji
Edwards | Martin
PJW | Omax (Powell)

The confidence I have in PJ to hold down the fort till reinforcements get back is very high. I’ve always wanted him to play the small ball 5 role instead of Maxi. I think we’re about to see another level in his game. It helps that you can feel good about what Edwards will give you at the 4.

*If Martin can’t go, Christie and Naji slide down, with Dinwiddie getting SG minutes.