MAVS NEWS:

[OBX Maverick]

The timing was dictated by the timing of the injuries. Up until there was a weird injury epidemic on Mav centers, they had MORE than enough. Gafford, Lively, Powell, and even Maxi. Then AD was added. 

Then they all went away after first AD and then Gafford went down, the latter on Feb 10.

At that point, there were only 2 games until the AS break, and the Mavs only had money for a single 10-day period. Why sign a player to a deal covering a stretch of days you don't even play? I believe the timing of this will allow them to have him for as many as 5 games (they have 5 games in 9 days beginning Fri 2/21) if they sign the deal on 2/20. (And if they sign him too early, where they only get 4, how stupid.)

Whether he can actually help, that still remains to be seen. Usually these fill-in guys are not that great (which is why they're still available in Feb). He's been a FA since Dec 9, and his stint with Indy was meh. Since then he's been dominating the GL, with 15 ppg, 15 rpg over 17 games -- but it's the G-League.

That all makes complete sense, but I was asking why they didn’t go ahead and sign him instead of Kelley in the first place? He’s a guy they know. Has some familiarity with system. Has produced at least on a small level in the NBA. Perhaps they thought they could catch lightning in a bottle with Kelley as opposed to the known commodity that is Brown. Who knows?

[Chicagojk]

I was listening to a recent Locked on Mavs podcast yesterday and they were having doubts if AD, Lively and Gafford return this year. No intel, but just saying the timeline and how the Mavs tend to release injury news. That would suck. It seems fair though. I hope we get to see at least two of our big man in important games down the stretch. I really believe when Nico made the trade, he thought they could go on a run this year. Sucks to lose a year with such a short window.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/...-star-game


DWade explains how his beef with the great Nowitzki started.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/ESPNNBA/status/1892315801476051352


Kyrie Irving has the most leverage out of any FA this year.

[michaeltex]

I was listening to a recent Locked on Mavs podcast yesterday and they were having doubts if AD, Lively and Gafford return this year.  No intel, but just saying the timeline and how the Mavs tend to release injury news.  That would suck.    It seems fair though.  I hope we get to see at least two of our big man in important games down the stretch.  I really believe when Nico made the trade, he thought they could go on a run this year.  Sucks to lose a year with such a short window.

They may be correct, but anything from outside the team is speculation without data.

But, hey, even paranoid people can actually have enemies.

[michaeltex]

If it becomes apparent that DLive, AD and Gaff are done for they year, is it possible to apply for a waiver to add players to the roster?

I think others have done that when their teams were depleted, but I don't know the thresholds to qualify.

[DallasMaverick]

If it becomes apparent that DLive, AD and Gaff are done for they year, is it possible to apply for a waiver to add players to the roster?

I think others have done that when their teams were depleted, but I don't know the thresholds to qualify.

To what end?

It’s doubtful that those players would be difference-makers towards contending for a title.

So, would they help you win a couple more games? Possibly, but at that point, it might be better to lose.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

https://x.com/ESPNNBA/status/1892315801476051352


Kyrie Irving has the most leverage out of any FA this year.

Not even Nico is inept enough to let Kyrie walk

[Reunion Mav]

If it becomes apparent that DLive, AD and Gaff are done for they year, is it possible to apply for a waiver to add players to the roster?

I think others have done that when their teams were depleted, but I don't know the thresholds to qualify.

I’ve wondered this too but even if it is allowed they would still get paid. It is the salary we can’t use without tax penalties. Think about having only $20 in your pocket and then only loan available cost 500% per week. Can’t do it.

[F Gump]

That all makes complete sense, but I was asking why they didn’t go ahead and sign him instead of Kelley in the first place? He’s a guy they know. Has some familiarity with system. Has produced at least on a small level in the NBA. Perhaps they thought they could catch lightning in a bottle with Kelley as opposed to the known commodity that is Brown. Who knows?

It's apples and oranges.

Kelley is a two-way player (they can have up to 3 of them), and costs $0 off of their cap. 
Brown is a 15-man roster signing whose salary is paid out of the cap payroll, which is limited by the hard cap.  Brown is not eligible to be signed to a two-way contract.

After the deadline trades, the Mavs have only had enough cap money to pay a single 15-man roster player for 15 days. The smallest possible contract is for either 10-days or "rest of season."

Brown is not replacing Kelley afaik. If they wish, Kelley can stay on the roster to the end of the season at no cost to the cap payroll, and I assume he will continue to be here until and unless the various centers get healthy and he serves no purpose. He can be replaced by a different two-way player as late as March 3.

[F Gump]

If it becomes apparent that DLive, AD and Gaff are done for they year, is it possible to apply for a waiver to add players to the roster?

I think others have done that when their teams were depleted, but I don't know the thresholds to qualify.

That's not a solution for DAL.
1 They have to have a full 15 man roster to apply for an extra roster slot, and until they signed Brown, they only had the minimum of 14.
2 They have no money to pay such a player, should they apply for a hardship exception that's granted. The hard cap is literally the most you can spend, period, and they can't even sign a player to a rest-of-season pro-rated minimum contract. Or to a 10-day contract.
3  The two-way slots are designed to provide possible fill-ins for such situations.
4  There aren't any better solutions available out there. They just signed Moses Brown as the "best available" so the next guy would presumably be even worse.

We also need to consider they are likely to get players returning from injury soon, trickling in here and there. Reportedly DP is looming (and who knows but what he'll be in uni on Fri), and Martin is saying he's close as well. Every warm body helps. 

AD was only supposed to be out for 3-4 weeks, of which we are at about the 12 day mark. Lively was on a "check and see in a month" and that month arrives on Sunday. Gafford was thought to be around 6 weeks, which would put him at the last week of March.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

MarcJSpears
‪@marcjspears.bsky.social‬

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Mavs say Anthony Davis, who suffered a left adductor strain on Feb. 8 against Houston, is making good progress. Davis will be re-evaluated in two weeks with further updates to follow, as necessary.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Man, I hope we see a healthy Lively in important games this season.

https://youtu.be/23l1gS_TF4Y?si=hS1Uhit6LXxdHb84

All these clips with him isolated against guards on the perimeter really puts the difference between him and Gafford in perspective.

Really hope he gets and stays healthy.

[Smitty]

@cclark_13
PJ Washington and Dwight Powell participated in practice and are “trending in the right direction,” per Jason Kidd.

@GrantAfseth
P.J. Washington (right ankle sprain) will be listed by the Dallas Mavericks as questionable against the New Orleans Pelicans, while Dwight Powell (right hip strain) will be doubtful.

@NickVanExit
Jason Kidd gave injury updates on everyone but the date to watch in the Bigs is March 6th he said that’s the day they’ll reevaluate Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively.

@NickVanExit
Mavs Practice Injury Updates

Key Date: March 6 - AD, Gaff, DLive will all be reevaluated on the same day. This day might determine the Mavs season.

PJ was a full participant in practice, he’s Questionable for tomorrow’s game but this is a great sign.

Powell participated in the non-contact portion of Practice, he’s still out for tomorrow.

Caleb Martin did some on court work but non contact but he’s “trending in the right direction” per Kidd.

[Smitty]

Dereck Lively out on the court after Mavs practice

   


No boot!!

[SleepingHero]

@KevinGraySports
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd says today that Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II will ALL have their “big evaluation” on March 6th for their injury statuses going forward for the regular season

[SleepingHero]

Dereck Lively out on the court after Mavs practice




No boot!!

It is a great sign he’s without a boot right now.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Dereck Lively out on the court after Mavs practice




No boot!!

And he's going to come back and play with one hand!

[Reunion Mav]

It is a great sign he’s without a boot right now.

This page of updates today is what makes reviewing this site daily so friggin awesome. The knowledgeable opinions combined with scanning for connected updates!
Thanks all.

[Chicagojk]

Great news about Lively. I wouldn't take the Mavs very serious though abou the March 6h evaluation. They let little slip out.

Sort of dispointing that Powell and Martin are probably out for Friday and PJ is questionable. I was hoping or a few more bodies being back. I think with the Brown signing Dallas really knows they need to tread water. Big two weeks coming up.