MAVS NEWS:

[F Gump]

I agree with the idea that he'd be a useful improvement on the junk package you're offering. 

My problem is that I don't think a splash at only that level improves the team much, or at least not enough to get me back to "serious about the Mavericks" land. They need a PG badly, and frankly, I don't think even a healthy Irving is good enough in that specific role to check the box.

Do the Mavs need a star PG to be good? Or can they just use the guys they have, and await Ky return? I dunno. Sure, there are better PGs, but while we want all-stars at every position, that's not how NBA life works.

The Mavs need an expert roster builder to evaluate the issue, the Mavs needs (or lack thereof) in that area, and what to do (if anything). 

Until they fix THAT problem, there's no way to properly move forward in a way that makes sense. To me, that specific Ball trade would be the stopgap needed to get them through the interim, perhaps, with some upside and at very low risk. I can't imagine Powell-Hardy would be missed.

[vfromlmf]

Dirk was a rookie in 1999 and the 25+ year run that followed was amazing, but sadly, it’s over.

It was a great run.

[BoulderMFFL]

When its an idea offering my junk (Powell-Hardy), the return would obviously be flawed. But hopefully also be able to contribute in needed ways. 

I have plenty of issues with Ball, not just health, but I think for that package, it's worth the risk. The contract is very suitable, too.

Doesn’t Ben Simmons check all the same boxes as Lonzo but at lower price?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Doesn’t Ben Simmons check all the same boxes as Lonzo but at lower price?

Ben Simmons? Is he still in the league? ?

[SleepingHero]

Ben Simmons? Is he still in the league? ?

Current 6th man for the Clippers after being bought out by Brooklyn this season. He put up 0 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in 13 minutes against the Nuggets yesterday.

[SleepingHero]

@TheSteinLine
“Rumbles of a new three-year deal for Irving were fairly commonplace before the Dončić trade. The Mavericks' need for an elite guard like Irving is obviously even more acute now post-Dončić, resulting in the widely held expectation that Dallas will indeed re-sign the nine-time NBA All-Star in hopes of ultimately pairing Irving with Anthony Davis.”

[SleepingHero]

@GrantAfseth

Anthony Davis sums up his experience with the Dallas Mavericks to finish the season after the trade:

"I'm just very appreciative that I get to play the game of basketball. Appreciative to Dallas, and the fan base, and my teammates have accepted me and welcomed me with open arms, given the situation. It's part of basketball. You can't control what goes on. It's our job to play basketball, and I just want to come in and showcase that. The injury happened, and I tried to do everything I can to get back on the floor to finish the season and try to carry us into the playoffs.

"I'm just appreciative. Obviously, it's a lot of emotions that I know are not directed towards me. The city loved the guy. You get rid of a guy, new guy coming in, but they want to embrace you, and thankful for you—still stings.

"I'm just thankful and appreciative of the city of Dallas and their fans for welcoming me, and my teammates, coming into a situation — Max [Christie] and I — coming into a situation that, a lot of it was just in the unknown. Guys trying to go out and focus and play basketball and win basketball games. Obviously, it was a tough situation, but I tried to do as much as I can to go out and, when I was on the floor, compete and try to help us win games."

[FireNicoHarrison]

The injury happened...

[david75090]

It's not AD's fault that the cost to acquire him from the Lakers was Luka, Maxi and change. Nico will just have to go out and find another once-in-a-generation talent in this years draft at, around, pick #12.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

It's not AD's fault that the cost to acquire him from the Lakers was Luka, Maxi and change. Nico will just have to go out and find another once-in-a-generation talent in this years draft at, around, pick #12.

If it was just that simple. They may never find another talent like Luka.

[BoulderMFFL]

Current 6th man for the Clippers after being bought out by Brooklyn this season. He put up 0 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in 13 minutes against the Nuggets yesterday.

Defense wins championships 

[Chicagojk]

Don’t really see the Lonzo ball trade proposed interesting Chicago at all. Ball was hurt again to finish the season but they signed him to a reasonable extension. There was reports they turned down a first for him at the trade deadline. Who knows if it was a real or heavily protected first. Although Powell and Hardy does nothing for the bulls. Need to give them some incentive. Bulls have their first bit of fun play in a few years. Not a contender but the makings of a fun team. If they keep their late lottery pick )do they keep it) one of the centers would fit great with them. They are probably maxing out as a first round playoff team but that is a concern for the future.

I just can’t see Ben Simmons here. The Mavs can’t be adding more non shooters. simmons makes Caleb Martin. Look like Steph Curry in comparison.

[david75090]

Wasn't familiar with Martin until he came to the Mavs. A non-shooting 3 and D. His game reminds me of Dwight Powell. Hustles, plays hard, doesn't even look at the basket. Powell looks to shoot around the rim under ideal conditions. Martin drives occasionally after having turned down an open-look 3. Does pass fairly well.

[F Gump]

Ben Simmons is fairly worthless. I have no interest in that. 

I am in favor of Ball for Powell-Hardy with the assumption CHI is ready to move on. I think his new salary that ends quickly was designed to make him easier to trade and get something back of some value with small ongoing salary (Hardy at 6M).as the match.

I put no weight in the claims they turned down good offers -- I suspect any pick was meh with heavy protection, AND that the Bulls would have been taking on considerable ongoing salary (20M ish) for the match as part of the deal, to get that pick. The 20M salary being too high a price for the pick.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I think he nails this.  About the 3:40 mark.

If you are going to trade a Luka Doncic, you have to leave yourself multiple avenues to success.

https://youtu.be/3KPmPhVT3qw?si=KYOuKIvIigW-g8yT

[Chicagojk]

Third time is a charm, but I think I am out. After reading McMahon article and reading some of Cato’s article I just can’t do it anymore. It just keeps getting worse. There are two sides of a story but it is becoming more and more a reality that there is dysfunction all over the place. Just so damn depressing.

I don’t want any more of Nico’s vision of the Mavs any longer. Blow the team up. I just can’t get behind anything that has Nico’s prints on it. Get rid of Nico and I still may not come back, but it will be step 1. Until then and maybe longer, I just can’t any more.

Now either Kidd pr spin is coming or Nico really did go rogue. Doesn’t matter, I don’t want to invest in a vision from a guy like Nico. It won’t work and to try to be proven right it will get worse. Just break it down.

[Nowitzki Way]

Third time is a charm, but I think I am out.

I think most of us are right there with you. Its very sad what one man has done to an entire franchise, overnight.

But it a long off season. Time heals most wounds. Once these playoffs are over and the off season starts i think most of will come back.

Lets see how the draft lottery goes. The draft. Free agency.  We all want Nico gone, but i doubt he goes anywhere yet. We have a talented roster just some the of the pieces don't fit.  Can we build a contender around Davis, Lively, and a returning Kyrie?  Gafford and P.J. both seem to not fit anymore. Both free agents in a year. Can we get a shooter/play maker for each of those guys. Can we get some draft picks back? Does Klay still want to be here?

What can we get with 11th or 12th pick?

We have hope Mavs fan. But we need to see how this plays out. Just adding a free agent or two to this roster will have me walking away for a few years. We need to keep going all-in or blow it up. I'll stay for either option.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Worst season ever endured by a fanbase in pretty much any sport that didn't involve a team leaving a city.

Firing Nico and stripping this thing down to the studs is the only way to salvage this fanbase at this point.

[vfromlmf]

At this point I'm only paying attention to see how this all plays out. I've been a Mavs fan since I was a kid in the 80's and as I moved into a professional career I didn't have time for every sport so I focused on basketball. Dirk through Luka for 25 years. At this point I'm spending my free time catching up on what I missed over the last couple of decades in baseball. I hear the Rangers are pretty good.

I'll grant that AD and Kyrie are great players but I just can't reward the Mavs with my time or money at this point. Fire Nico and I'll probably listen to whoever is next but I need to hear an apology from Dumont and a really damn good plan to work their way out of this mess or I'm so out on this franchise.

[david75090]

The Mavs have that train-wreck/car wreck appeal. I don't want to look, but it's hard to take my eyes off of it. Not the games, which were hard to watch. I didn't want to watch, because I don't want to call them my team, but some of 'em are my guys, as a fan. It's the goings-on around the team. How can Nico survive this? The longer he stays, the more I dislike him and his ignorance about the dynamics of the team.

1st, no matter what Dumont thinks about Nico, Nico has to go. The new GM, and it had better be someone really good, has to put this thing back together, if that can be done. Not so much on court, but how to get back a lost fan base. They've sold quite a few season tickets, I believe, but the rank and file feel shat-upon. Have to be fairly kinky to enjoy that, as a fan.

On court, they've got to get a young PG to build around to be able to start to compete. Off court, it's going to take a miracle worker to get the fans back. Nico will say winning will cure all ills, and maybe so, but it has to be, winning after he's gone.