MAVS NEWS:

[Winter]

Nico could stick around, but getting Cooper Flagg was nothing more that a lucky ping-pong ball. It has nothing to do with good GM-ing. This draft shouldn't earn Nico any points. All it does distract the public and gets the monkey off the back of the Front Office for awhile.

Nico could get back in the good graces of the owners with some decent trades, but I can't imagine him ever being in the good graces of fans. That doesn't mean he can't survive in Dallas, but if I were the owners I would really be watching the inter-action of the front office including medical personnel as CF's rookie season unfolds. Nothing as messy as last year should ever happen again... especially with a high profile 1st round pick.

[Jmaciscool]

Nico could stick around, but getting Cooper Flagg was nothing more that a lucky ping-pong ball. It has nothing to do with good GM-ing. This draft shouldn't earn Nico any points. All it does distract the public and gets the monkey off the back of the Front Office for awhile.

Nico could get back in the good graces of the owners with some decent trades, but I can't imagine him ever being in the good graces of fans. That doesn't mean he can't survive in Dallas, but if I were the owners I would really be watching the inter-action of the front office including medical personnel as CF's rookie season unfolds. Nothing as messy as last year should ever happen again... especially with a high profile 1st round pick.

Spot on!

[cow]

Agreed, but if Austin Reaves had been included we very well may have made the tourney

I would have routed him elsewhere for more additional picks.  I still would have wanted Knecht too.  /rabbit hole

[LukaMVP]

lottery was obviously rigged. we got robbed in the luka deal but the compensation doesn't look bad as of now, which will probably turn even more pleasant if Flagg turns out a Wembanyama caliber talent. Lakers didn't lose nothing either, the pick ain't theirs anyway.

the sun shines on nico's ass once in a while. just hope he gets fired before he gets a chance to trade Flagg to the Lakers.

[F Gump]

Sources: Mavericks plan to draft Cooper Flagg, won't trade No. 1 pick

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4513...-no-1-pick

This is news. Goodness. 

The fact that there's even a question that the Mavs MIGHT trade CF shows just how stupid the NBA views the Mavs decision-makers.

[DanSchwartzgan]

FWIW, Brian Dameris on his podcast with Followill talked about Flagg being able to play WITH PJ, AD and a center.  In other words, at the two or as a secondary creator or even as your primary ball handler.  Flagg got 20% of Duke's offensive possessions as the PnR ball handler.  Everyone coming out of Duke is a system player and that system often holds down the stats for Duke's best players.  Dameris also pointed out that Flagg was 44% from 3 the last two months of the season.  Dameris thinks there is more to Flagg's offensive game than meets the eye.

The point here is if this proves true, we don't necessarily have to trade for PG help until Kyrie gets back.  Flagg can be part of the solution along with Naji, Williams and presumably Exum (assuming we can work with Kyrie to stay under the second apron).  Even when Kyrie returns, the suggestion was our best lineup might be Lively, AD, PJ, Flagg and Kyrie.  The D would be incredible.  PJ would be relegated to the corner 3 where he's a better shooter and most of the offense would run through Flagg, Kyrie and AD.

[Chicagojk]

FWIW, Brian Dameris on his podcast with Followill talked about Flagg being able to play WITH PJ, AD and a center.  In other words, at the two or as a secondary creator or even as your primary ball handler.  Flagg got 20% of Duke's offensive possessions as the PnR ball handler.  Everyone coming out of Duke is a system player and that system often holds down the stats for Duke's best players.  Dameris also pointed out that Flagg was 44% from 3 the last two months of the season.  Dameris thinks there is more to Flagg's offensive game than meets the eye.

The point here is if this proves true, we don't necessarily have to trade for PG help until Kyrie gets back.  Flagg can be part of the solution along with Naji, Williams and presumably Exum (assuming we can work with Kyrie to stay under the second apron).  Even when Kyrie returns, the suggestion was our best lineup might be Lively, AD, PJ, Flagg and Kyrie.  The D would be incredible.  PJ would be relegated to the corner 3 where he's a better shooter and most of the offense would run through Flagg, Kyrie and AD.

I made a post about this yesterday about potentially starting Flagg at the 2 and then 4 minutes in go with a more standard lineup with subs.  I didn’t know how realistic it was.

Here are Flagg’s highlights against team USA as a 17 year old.  Nothing special but notice how he is handling the ball a lot.
https://youtu.be/ASoYfJMmBF8?si=PybKU_5d0OxiEZQL

[Chicagojk]

Really haven’t been interested in Chris Paul. Another old guy. Although since the Flagg win, I am reconsidering. San Antonio may be drafting another pt guard and pop has retired. So if you keep the team together, maybe signing Paul as a starter in a 20-24 minute role may be a decent stop gap

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

FWIW, Brian Dameris on his podcast with Followill talked about Flagg being able to play WITH PJ, AD and a center.  In other words, at the two or as a secondary creator or even as your primary ball handler.  Flagg got 20% of Duke's offensive possessions as the PnR ball handler.  Everyone coming out of Duke is a system player and that system often holds down the stats for Duke's best players.  Dameris also pointed out that Flagg was 44% from 3 the last two months of the season.  Dameris thinks there is more to Flagg's offensive game than meets the eye.

The point here is if this proves true, we don't necessarily have to trade for PG help until Kyrie gets back.  Flagg can be part of the solution along with Naji, Williams and presumably Exum (assuming we can work with Kyrie to stay under the second apron).  Even when Kyrie returns, the suggestion was our best lineup might be Lively, AD, PJ, Flagg and Kyrie.  The D would be incredible.  PJ would be relegated to the corner 3 where he's a better shooter and most of the offense would run through Flagg, Kyrie and AD.

I predict that will be a huge failure.  Mavs will be the worst shooting team in the league.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I predict that will be a huge failure.  Mavs will be the worst shooting team in the league.

Agree.

I like PJ but he has no room here after street clothes trade. That's it.

Trade him for Coby White or another good PG and i'm ok.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

FWIW, Brian Dameris on his podcast with Followill talked about Flagg being able to play WITH PJ, AD and a center.  In other words, at the two or as a secondary creator or even as your primary ball handler.  Flagg got 20% of Duke's offensive possessions as the PnR ball handler.  Everyone coming out of Duke is a system player and that system often holds down the stats for Duke's best players.  Dameris also pointed out that Flagg was 44% from 3 the last two months of the season.  Dameris thinks there is more to Flagg's offensive game than meets the eye.

The point here is if this proves true, we don't necessarily have to trade for PG help until Kyrie gets back.  Flagg can be part of the solution along with Naji, Williams and presumably Exum (assuming we can work with Kyrie to stay under the second apron).  Even when Kyrie returns, the suggestion was our best lineup might be Lively, AD, PJ, Flagg and Kyrie.  The D would be incredible.  PJ would be relegated to the corner 3 where he's a better shooter and most of the offense would run through Flagg, Kyrie and AD.

This may be true down the road for him but it is A LOT to ask of him his rookie year on a team that has winning expectations.  He showed flashes of becoming a great playmaker but we're also suggesting asking someone who played high school center a year ago to become an NBA playmaker...he's probably one of the few human being capable of making that change but I don't think it will be instant and it shouldn't be the long term goal either.  Turning some of this frontcourt logjam to get backcourt help is better for the team now and for Flagg's long term development (imo).

Also got to keep in mind that Dameris and Followill are literally company men and aren't really in the business of suggesting trading players that they are paid to promote.

Personally, I think trading AD/Klay to get some backcourt help and some future picks while just resting Kyrie a full year for a proper one year tank would be the best thing this team could do.  If Kyrie didn't tear his ACL the conversation is totally different but this franchise should be looking forward.  Cooper Flagg won't be 30 until 2037....please let that sink in.

[cow]

Really haven’t been interested in Chris  Paul.  Another old guy.  Although since the Flagg win, I am reconsidering.  San Antonio may be drafting another pt guard and pop has retired.  So if you keep the team together, maybe signing Paul as a starter in a 20-24 minute role may be a decent stop gap

Fun fact: CP3 played in every game last year.  No idea how much money he wants, but if the team is serious about competing next year, he isn't the worst option.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

I think if we're trying to get someone to pair with Kyrie in the backcourt to win now we should be keeping a close eye on how Boston operates moving forward. They are in cap hell and basically have a lost season ahead of them.

PJ/Gafford is a perfect salary match for the contract that White just signed. Do the Mavs look at something like PJ/Gafford for White + 2026 or 2027 FRP? Helps them compete now and gives Kyrie a great defensive minded compliment in the backcourt while also gaining some draft capital for flexibility moving forward while giving Boston two competitive players who happen to be on expiring deals.

[windjc]

Now that the Lakers see they are no better with Lebron and Luka, let's just trade AD back to the Lakers for Luka. Otherwise, Luka walks after next year and comes back to Dallas anyway.

My prediction is that the 60% of this board that left to cheer for the Lakers when Luka got traded and have now come back here to troll this forum about how Nico will trade the #1 pick, will all have to crawl back over once Luka is a Mav again.

Luka loves Dallas. He is not a Los Angeles kind of personality. He has no ties to other teams. Its pretty likely he comes back to Dallas.

[vfromlmf]

I just watched the first half of the Memphis play in game for the first time. What a disaster. Seems like Kidd substituted every 2 minutes and the combinations were all over the map. One thing was crystal clear. The Mavs desperately need a veteran point guard. They opened with point PJW. What a mess. Point AD was just as bad. None of the guards/forwards were competent in the role. Exum didn't work. Williams played totally out of control. Martin and Naji tried to create offense. Max Christie. Dinwiddie got minutes. Basically seemed like it was "point whoever has the ball" for long stretches. Just chaos.

Defensively, they couldn't keep anyone out of the lane and seemed like Dallas had no plan. I think the lack of offensive structure allowed Memphis to rebound and play downhill but watching that game was a stark reminder that defense on paper is different than defense in practice. PJW tried to guard the point of attack and fouled. When Dallas went small Memphis pulled AD away from the rim and scored at will on dump offs. The first half was a defensive disaster as much as it was offensively.

Flagg has great potential but I think it will be asking way too much to make him a guard and a primary offensive initiator on Day one.

Rather than try to trick things up I think the Mavs should simplify. Rick Carlisle was a genius putting guys in position to be successful. Tight reins. Against Memphis it seemed like Kidd was asking everyone to do too much. That could be solved by bringing in the right veteran to run the show and get everyone organized.

As much as I hate to say it, Chris Paul does fit the bill.

[KillerLeft]

FWIW, Brian Dameris on his podcast with Followill talked about Flagg being able to play WITH PJ, AD and a center.  In other words, at the two or as a secondary creator or even as your primary ball handler.  Flagg got 20% of Duke's offensive possessions as the PnR ball handler.  Everyone coming out of Duke is a system player and that system often holds down the stats for Duke's best players.  Dameris also pointed out that Flagg was 44% from 3 the last two months of the season.  Dameris thinks there is more to Flagg's offensive game than meets the eye.

The point here is if this proves true, we don't necessarily have to trade for PG help until Kyrie gets back.  Flagg can be part of the solution along with Naji, Williams and presumably Exum (assuming we can work with Kyrie to stay under the second apron).  Even when Kyrie returns, the suggestion was our best lineup might be Lively, AD, PJ, Flagg and Kyrie.  The D would be incredible.  PJ would be relegated to the corner 3 where he's a better shooter and most of the offense would run through Flagg, Kyrie and AD.

I actually buy the potential ball-handling part of this point. I was wondering about that almost right away - can Flagg literally step into Luka's shoes, offensively, just (hopefully) not in such a heliocentric way, where the ball moves a lot more?

I do NOT think that combination holds up, defensively, no matter how good the individual defenders involved might be (and I admit, they're all very good). At some point, being too big just means you're too slow. I think Flagg's defense is one of the main points to get excited about with all of this - doesn't mean I think he should be on the perimeter trying to stay in front of Donovan Mitchell, lol. Davis, PJW and Flagg are ALL great defenders, but they're all great low HELP defenders. I suppose there's a high value in creating a lineup that can't be schemed out of low help defense, and that part is cool, but something tells me this lineup of Brian Dameris's wouldn't be effective against many teams. 

Either way, so nice to have something basketball-related to think out/debate around here again!

[KillerLeft]

Fun fact: CP3 played in every game last year.  No idea how much money he wants, but if the team is serious about competing next year, he isn't the worst option.

100% agree. 

1) He's a PICK AND ROLL master, even at age 73, or whatever. 

2) He'd INSTANTLY make Gafford/Lively (whichever is left, or both) relevant again on offense. 

3) He's a very real, gettable option that the team can afford who'd go a long way towards keeping the team's head above water until the trade deadline, by which time they should know what they have here, how Flagg fits with the team, what they could potentially be down the stretch with Kyrie at (hopefully) 80-90%, who isn't fitting with Flagg and needs to go, etc. 

I know many will hate this idea - I think they could do much worse.

[cow]

100% agree. 

1) He's a PICK AND ROLL master, even at age 73, or whatever. 

2) He'd INSTANTLY make Gafford/Lively (whichever is left, or both) relevant again on offense. 

3) He's a very real, gettable option that the team can afford who'd go a long way towards keeping the team's head above water until the trade deadline, by which time they should know what they have here, how Flagg fits with the team, what they could potentially be down the stretch with Kyrie at (hopefully) 80-90%, who isn't fitting with Flagg and needs to go, etc. 

I know many will hate this idea - I think they could do much worse.

You'd also have to imagine that Kyrie, AD, Kidd, or Nico has some sort of relationship with him.  That said, I think he made $10 million last year and if he's going to take another haircut, you have to wonder what his desire is to ring chase which could rule us out.

[BigDirk41]

I actually buy the potential ball-handling part of this point. I was wondering about that almost right away - can Flagg literally step into Luka's shoes, offensively, just (hopefully) not in such a heliocentric way, where the ball moves a lot more?

I do NOT think that combination holds up, defensively, no matter how good the individual defenders involved might be (and I admit, they're all very good). At some point, being too big just means you're too slow. I think Flagg's defense is one of the main points to get excited about with all of this - doesn't mean I think he should be on the perimeter trying to stay in front of Donovan Mitchell, lol. Davis, PJW and Flagg are ALL great defenders, but they're all great low HELP defenders. I suppose there's a high value in creating a lineup that can't be schemed out of low help defense, and that part is cool, but something tells me this lineup of Brian Dameris's wouldn't be effective against many teams. 

Either way, so nice to have something basketball-related to think out/debate around here again!

Killer, I think Flagg becomes Luka without the ball sticking in this offense. Especially with Kyrie out, it makes sense for him to handle the ball a lot. He's so versatile so the opportunity for him to play so many positions and guard multiple positions is really exciting.

[Jym]

Just from an asset perspective, I think we need to trade both PJ and Gafford
At least one of those guys would walk for nothing in the summer of 2026, probably both. Doesn't make financial sense to pay them starter money
Only way keeping Gafford makes sense is if we're trading Lively which I'd rather not do