MAVS NEWS:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Hope he stays healthy. Him and AD. Those are their biggest issues.

[SleepingHero]

@KevinGraySports
“[Kyrie] Irving holds a $44 million player option for next season that he must activate or decline by June 24. There have been rumbles all season that the Mavericks, either using that option as the starting point for an extension or based on an entirely new deal, have been hoping to re-secure Irving under contract for the next three seasons in the same annual ballpark of $40 million.” - @JakeLFischer #MFFL https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/...nt?r=p156y&utm_medium=ios

[Winter]

"Sources tell The Stein Line that Dallas will be looking to add a capable starter this summer who can later transition into a complementary role once Irving has returned to active duty."

The words "capable starter" in this case is interesting. I assume that would be a PG that is currently not a starter, but is "capable" of managing team with heavy minutes. With Kyrie missing much of the season, any backup rotation player from another team will get a chance to be a "starter" in Dallas. I suppose that could be inviting for someone like Tyus Jones who couldn't find many minutes late in the season with Phoenix, but still averaged about 25 mpg.

I'm not sure it rules out current starters from other teams, but I would suspect players like Holiday and Derrick White would not be the players one would imagine transitioning into backup roles with the return of Kyrie. Certainly the salaries wouldn't suggest a backup role.

The words, "capable starter" makes me think Dallas is looking for a solid rotation PG with a history of playing maybe 20-25 mpg at the very least.

[Chicagojk]

"Sources tell The Stein Line that Dallas will be looking to add a capable starter this summer who can later transition into a complementary role once Irving has returned to active duty."

The word "starter"  in this case is interesting. With Kyrie missing much of the season, any backup rotation player from another team will get a chance to be a "starter." I suppose that could be inviting for someone like Tyus Jones who couldn't find any minutes late in the season with Phoenix.

I'm not sure it rules out current starters from other teams, but I would suspect players like Holiday and Derrick White would not be the players one would imagine transitioning into backup roles with the return of Kyrie. Certainly the salaries wouldn't suggest a backup role.

The words, "capable starter" makes me think Dallas is looking for a solid rotation PG playing maybe 20-25 mpg at the very least.

Yes, if true it leads you to believe they really like the team mostly as is and you are looking at the Lonzo, Chris Paul player types.  Probably not the Sexton types I believe.  But he could fit in the high side of this.

I have no trust in the front office but I got the impression before Flagg they really liked the roster and thought if they found an upgrade at point they were good to go.  At the time I didn’t get the idea PJ or Gafford was going to be offered for this player.  I disagreed that roster was anywhere close.

[KillerLeft]

"Sources tell The Stein Line that Dallas will be looking to add a capable starter this summer who can later transition into a complementary role once Irving has returned to active duty."

The words "capable starter"  in this case is interesting. I assume that would be a PG that is currently not a starter, but is "capable" of managing team with heavy minutes. With Kyrie missing much of the season, any backup rotation player from another team will get a chance to be a "starter" in Dallas. I suppose that could be inviting for someone like Tyus Jones who couldn't find many minutes late in the season with Phoenix, but still averaged about 25 mpg.

I'm not sure it rules out current starters from other teams, but I would suspect players like Holiday and Derrick White would not be the players one would imagine transitioning into backup roles with the return of Kyrie. Certainly the salaries wouldn't suggest a backup role.

The words, "capable starter" makes me think Dallas is looking for a solid rotation PG with a history of playing maybe 20-25 mpg at the very least.

I think you probably have the right of it, but I'm not 100% sure we can extrapolate "backup" from "complementary." It's certainly possible that's what's implied here, but it could just be a matter of being on-ball less once Kyrie comes back.

[Winter]

Honestly, we should probably question the wording in general. I'm not sure what it means, nor do I think it's particularly meaningful. 

Let's face it. We're in "rumor-hole".

[DanSchwartzgan]

 

I suppose that could be inviting for someone like Tyus Jones who couldn't find many minutes late in the season with Phoenix, but still averaged about 25 mpg.

I think Tyus is a very logical name, but I wonder if he'll be willing to take a minimum again or if it will take some/all of the T-MLE.  If it is the latter, Dallas either has to negotiate well with Kyrie or send someone out for air (or a second round pick)...or both to stay under the second apron.

It is the least disruptive to the roster (most of which Nico selected).  Assuming you can get extensions done for Gafford/PJ, that's not the worst idea I've heard.  Here is the resulting roster, though I'd presume at least one person here would be gone with a Tyus signing in order to keep us below Apron 2.

Lively         Gafford    Powell
AD             PJW        OMax
Flagg         Naji         Martin
Thompson  Christie    Hardy
Kyrie          T. Jones   Williams

[Winter]

I think Tyus is a very logical name, but I wonder if he'll be willing to take a minimum again or if it will take some/all of the T-MLE.  If it is the latter, Dallas either has to negotiate well with Kyrie or send someone out for air (or a second round pick)...or both to stay under the second apron.

It is the least disruptive to the roster (most of which Nico selected).  Assuming you can get extensions done for Gafford/PJ, that's not the worst idea I've heard.  Here is the resulting roster, though I'd presume at least one person here would be gone with a Tyus signing in order to keep us below Apron 2.

Lively         Gafford    Powell
AD             PJW        OMax
Flagg         Naji         Martin
Thompson  Christie    Hardy
Kyrie          T. Jones   Williams

Thanks. I leave it to guys like you to tell me how to squeeze contracts.

Right off the bat, I think that player leaving should be Hardy. I think we've chewed the flavor out of that gum.

[KillerLeft]

Here's a helpful interview with Legler, whose opinions I respect tremendously, about the pros and cons of how most of the world expects Flagg to be integrated. 

https://youtu.be/iYqGY51G6qE?si=YOkZaj18mcVTB7Vk

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

A simple, straightforward question that I will extrapolate further from based on the responses.

Which situation would you deem more probable?

A. The Nico-led front office makes a few trades and a core of AD, Kyrie and Flagg win a championship in the next two seasons

Or

B. You log onto this site and learn that AD has suffered a season-ending lower body injury in training camp, which, not only snuffs out the team's chances the next two seasons, but crushes his value

Thanks. I'll hang up and listen.

[david75090]

I'm afraid of guys like AD. Great player when he plays. From a distance, on other teams, I see in the news that he's out with an injury. Now he's on the Mavs. Had that great game, then went out with an injury. Exum is another one. I like him as a player, most of the time. He hasn't lived up to his potential because of his injury history. Not his fault. It is what it is. Fine for the end of the bench. Terrible if you try and count on them or build you team around them. Don't want to trade for anyone like that, with my eyes open. Want to trade that type to another team if I have one. They will beat your team occasionally when they're on the other side.

[KillerLeft]

A simple, straightforward question that I will extrapolate further from based on the responses.

Which situation would you deem more probable?

A. The Nico-led front office makes a few trades and a core of AD, Kyrie and Flagg win a championship in the next two seasons

Or

B. You log onto this site and learn that AD has suffered a season-ending lower body injury in training camp, which, not only snuffs out the team's chances the next two seasons, but crushes his value

Thanks. I'll hang up and listen.

If forced to choose one over the other, based on probability, you have to choose B. But, try to win is what they're GOING TO DO, no matter what we here believe to be the right path. 

And, I personally think it's the right thing to do. Not because I think the team is necessarily well-positioned to make a championship run, but because they're better positioned for that than they are to stockpile meaningful draft picks. If we weren't about to enter the period where their own draft capital is completely mortgaged, I'd be all about using AD/Kyrie/Thompson and possibly some of the other late-20's guys to pile a little more on top, but the reality is that being bad AT THIS SPECIFIC TIME gets you nothing, outside of maybe next year's pick being another lottery dice roll. That one chance doesn't do much for me, and the type of picks they'd get for those guys (other than AD, MAYBE) won't be unprotected, and won't be from bad teams. In other words, they'd be of little value in trades when bundled together and far more likely to result in drafting Jaden Hardy types than Jalen Brunson types if kept. 

Meanwhile, championship or not, a TON can be gained for Flagg by ensuring he at least gets to be around high-functioning, respected pros on a day-to-day over the course of his first contract, and he's very likely to experience a few playoff series during his early years here, at least. That's not an opportunity every #1 pick has, and it could accelerate his growth quite a bit, I think. There's major value in putting him next to a guy like Davis that's being overlooked around here. Value for FLAGG and his longterm career, not just for the next 2-3 seasons. 

It's an absolute no-brainer, from my POV. Now, if the Mavs had access to their own picks over the next several years, I'd at least consider blowing it up. But, they don't, and that bell can't be un-rung by moving anything they have here, I don't think. I mean, you could probably get a few unprotected picks from a team that might be bad FOR FLAGG, but that would obviously defeat the whole purpose.

[Winter]

Realistically, there are a lot players in the NBA that may be more "street clothes" than Anthony Davis is.

He's not what he was, but he's probabaly playing 60-something games a year most of his career to date. The guy started and played in 76 games during 2023-2024 season. Outside of that season though, I think his last 5-6 years in the NBA he averaged probably 50-60 games a season. Out of 13 seasons, there's only been 2 seasons that he struggled with playing time (40 and 36 game seasons). Even last year, he had over 50 games played. I'm not crazy about his age, but It's not a horrible problem for Dallas given our frontcourt depth.

[cow]

A simple, straightforward question that I will extrapolate further from based on the responses.

Which situation would you deem more probable?

A. The Nico-led front office makes a few trades and a core of AD, Kyrie and Flagg win a championship in the next two seasons

Or

B. You log onto this site and learn that AD has suffered a season-ending lower body injury in training camp, which, not only snuffs out the team's chances the next two seasons, but crushes his value

Thanks. I'll hang up and listen.

Both are equally likely and A. is almost assuredly what Nico will do.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

If forced to choose one over the other, based on probability, you have to choose B. But, try to win is what they're GOING TO DO, no matter what we here believe to be the right path. 

And, I personally think it's the right thing to do. Not because I think the team is necessarily well-positioned to make a championship run, but because they're better positioned for that than they are to stockpile meaningful draft picks. If we weren't about to enter the period where their own draft capital is completely mortgaged, I'd be all about using AD/Kyrie/Thompson and possibly some of the other late-20's guys to pile a little more on top, but the reality is that being bad AT THIS SPECIFIC TIME gets you nothing, outside of maybe next year's pick being another lottery dice roll. That one chance doesn't do much for me, and the type of picks they'd get for those guys (other than AD, MAYBE) won't be unprotected, and won't be from bad teams. In other words, they'd be of little value in trades when bundled together and far more likely to result in drafting Jaden Hardy types than Jalen Brunson types if kept. 

Meanwhile, championship or not, a TON can be gained for Flagg by ensuring he at least gets to be around high-functioning, respected pros on a day-to-day over the course of his first contract, and he's very likely to experience a few playoff series during his early years here, at least. That's not an opportunity every #1 pick has, and it could accelerate his growth quite a bit, I think. There's major value in putting him next to a guy like Davis that's being overlooked around here. Value for FLAGG and his longterm career, not just for the next 2-3 seasons. 

It's an absolute no-brainer, from my POV. Now, if the Mavs had access to their own picks over the next several years, I'd at least consider blowing it up. But, they don't, and that bell can't be un-rung by moving anything they have here, I don't think. I mean, you could probably get a few unprotected picks from a team that might be bad FOR FLAGG, but that would obviously defeat the whole purpose.

Okay, I wanted at least a few reasoned responses to my posite, before I go further. 

Like all of us, I was caught up in the Flagg Lottery Euphoria, but now that my high has dissipated, I think that it's a fatal error of Titanic proportions in continuing to have Nico in any form of decision making (I know, not exactly a mind blowing opinion), especially one that just landed a player that allows it to hit restart. 

- Yes, there's the fact that he's previously traded a 25 year old, top 3 player in his prime. There's the fact that he got so little in return. But my overwhelming issue is that Nico repeatedly chooses to paint himself into corners. First, he entered landed the position after stating and, thus, made decisions based on the fact that, he only sees himself in the job for five years. For me, hearing that, makes me rage drunk that Cuban would ever hire Nico or that, based on his track record, Dumont letting him remain at the helm. Nico is making generational organizational decisions in the most narcissistic of ways: based on his own, personal timeline -- fallout be damned. And, he again shows that he negotiates with preconceived notions like getting AD because he fits his own timeline and relationship rather than casting a wide net that would be in the best longterm interest of the team -- and one that may transcend his own presence. 

The fact that I asked that question and it was met with apathy that, regardless of what would be most prudent we're all just continually subject to "the whims of a madman!!!" (Thank you, Dennis Hopper in 'Speed')

No, KL, I disagree that AD has limited trade appeal. I think, at a minimum, he would get the Mavs back to neutral from the lack of 1sts dealt to build around Luka. In fact, I can think of a number of teams who would pay handsomely to return AD to his valuable Tier One "Robin" role. 

I think we currently find ourselves at a crossroads where the Mavs will look back and realize they were once again gifted the ability to build around a cheap, generational talent, but are going to waste those years rushing (just like the KP trade), rather than cleaning the slate while you are flush with assets (AD, Kyrie, PJ, Gafford) who will all, very quickly, for a variety of reasons, lose their value. 

I'd take Flagg, Lively, possibly Christie and B. Williams, the 5 to 8 1sts and young players you could get in return by trading them, plus the boatload of cap space left any day rather than the void of Cooper and (what) post-26-27 Season will look like. In fact, I'm afraid it's going to generate posts like, "Do we trade Flagg so we can rebuild?", rather than doing a soft rebuild now and being able to do so with Cooper as the centerpiece.

[F Gump]

RBWS - while I agree wholeheartedly with your distaste for Nico and desire to see him fired before he does any more damage (and yesterday isn't really soon enough), I have to push back on your take (oft shared by others) that Nico sees himself as and intends to be a short-timer. as GM here. Many had that as their takeaway from his post-trade remarks, and it gets recited that way from time to time, but I don't think he really meant it in that vein.

And consider - why would a control freak who has finally gotten a chance to exert total control over 1 of only 30 NBA teams willingly walk away a few short years after getting the opportunity?

Instead, I think he was merely acknowledging, in an intended-to-be self-deprecating kind of way, that the job he's manning is one that is very demanding and offers no assurance of being around for decades; therefore, he's focused on doing whatever it takes to get things right now, and assuming nothing is a given for his future. It was his declaration that what he did in trading Luka was not done lightly, but instead with the full understanding that he'd better get it right, and if he didn't his neck is on the line.

That's not meant to absolve him of being a total dolt, of course, with such a colossally terrible ability to evaluate players and negotiate values for trades. But to the degree that it enters into anyone's thinking of the road ahead, imo it seems quite relevant and very important to understand that Nico does NOT have any intention of leaving this job as long as he can keep it. Our failure to pick up on what he was saying doesn't make it something that it was never intended to be.

[F Gump]

RWBS - As for your desire to trade AD and strip the roster, no thanks. IMO that makes no sense. Talent is too hard to acquire, and having extra draft picks is NOT the easy sure path to acquire a team that can win. It's an endless cycle of futility to trade very good talent for picks that you hope one day, maybe, can turn into very good talent if all goes right. And it takes forever to turn the corner again. See Mavs, 1990's.

This team already has a TON of talent. Getting "a TON of talent" is a mountain that is hard to scale.

HOWEVER. Would I trade AD to get DIFFERENT talent, and lottery picks to also supplement things? Perhaps. In my book, it would depend solely on the offer.

My issue is less about his age, and more about the bang for the buck and the impact on the roster/payroll in general. His contract is massive (avg 58.5M over 3 seasons) and his ability to live up to it is not (since he only plays about 1/2 to 2/3 of the games). If he was making 30-35M, say, you could live with the missed games in favor of the upside, but at 60Mish he's gotta be able to put the team on his back and carry the load on a daily basis to be worth THAT sort of pay.

The weird thing about Nico's Luka trade is that Nico ran from the potential of Luka turning into that sort of situation, and yet traded him for AD who embodies the very thing Nico feared. What an idiot move on every level.

I share Nico's reluctance to be stuck with that huge contract that isn't contributing. So yes I'd trade AD (if I got the right value from someone with the rose-colored glasses and some top talent and picks to offer). But with talent this close, I'm looking for paths to the top that flow from trading AD, not the bottom.

[KillerLeft]

No, KL, I disagree that AD has limited trade appeal. I think, at a minimum, he would get the Mavs back to neutral from the lack of 1sts dealt to build around Luka. In fact, I can think of a number of teams who would pay handsomely to return AD to his valuable Tier One "Robin" role. 

In terms of what you are inferring from the apathy regarding Nico Harrison, I would say that our situation is in some ways no different than it was with Donnie Nelson, or Cuban, or for that matter, no different than that of any fans of other team. Lack of trust in your favorite team’s general manager is not new or unique, and none of us have any power over what happens next. We can either choose to follow the team or not. So ends our agency.

In terms of the quoted portion above, I agree that AD has value, but I don’t think you realize the depth of the hole you’re trying to fill. Yes, you could get some first round draft capital in exchange for him, but it would be from a good team, so those picks would not be worth very much. Meanwhile, your own picks, worth quite a bit since you are bottoming out and starting over, will be going to other teams. It’s the dumbest possible thing they could do. To do what you are suggesting, your team’s own draft picks need to be part of the war chest.

[ballsrchr]

I have no apathy concerning Nico Harrison--I really, really dislike him--and don't think the Mavs will go any where under his...banner. If Nico is fired yesterday it can't be too soon for me. I also dislike Nico Harrison far more than I disliked Donnie Nelson...or Cuban (who I did dislike).

As for RWBS's question of A or B...A is not going to happen under Nico Harrison's tutelage. B...that AD is injured...is far more likely. I like AD! If he didn't get injured I think he could help win a championship, but he does and will get injured.

Due to a miracle we MAY have a chance to rebuild the Mavs. There have been a lot of fine comments by many posters here. I agree with parts of most of them. I don't advocate a Flagg to wall rebuild. I do agree that the chaff needs to be winnowed and we go with quality, younger players as much as possible. We do have a pretty good core that will suffice for now--with a few improvements. An AD trade can help bring that. A few other judicious moves can help. Building through the draft--assuming we had any that hadn't been traded for a bag of chips--is generally the way to go. Trades?...sure, but not if we get raped and pillaged every time we make a trade.

Cooper Flagg is not going to jump straight from college ranks to the NBA generational all stars. And this is assuming Nico Harrison doesn't screw up the draft. I have no confidence in that at all. It's going to take some time for Flagg to get acclimated. We need to take this time so we can field the best team possible when the "team" is ready.

I was having trouble finding something within the Mavs organization to root for. Cooper Flagg may be the start of that something...

[loki]

In terms of the quoted portion above, I agree that AD has value, but I don’t think you realize the depth of the hole you’re trying to fill. Yes, you could get some first round draft capital in exchange for him, but it would be from a good team, so those picks would not be worth very much. Meanwhile, your own picks, worth quite a bit since you are bottoming out and starting over, will be going to other teams. It’s the dumbest possible thing they could do. To do what you are suggesting, your team’s own draft picks need to be part of the war chest.

Would they really have to bottom out in an AD trade? I wonder if there's a scenario where they pivot at the deadline and deal him for a younger established starter. The Mavs could tank the 2nd half of the year to maximize their 2026 1st while Kyrie continues to rehab. Then try to compete again next year with a Kyrie/(AD trade-maybe a Desmond Bane level player?)/Flagg/PJ/Lively core.