MAVS NEWS:

[khaled1987]

Usually these press leaks are done to prepare the fanbase for a harsh situation/move/reality, but in this case what stops Dumont from just flat out firing Nico? It´s the most popular move.


I have this odd feeling that MacMahon and Stein went rogue here in a good way. MacMahon and Stein are Mavs homers and Stein is obviously close with Dirk. They might just f*** with Nico to help Dumont finally reach a decision and not drag it out.

Or they know the Mavs are already talking to potential replacement. There are still decisions to be made this season that are way too important to give them into the hands of Finley/Cuban/Dumont alone.

This is my thoughts exactly, they are trying to talk it into existence.

[mvossman]

About the question of a GM who can fix this roster -- I WOULD FIRE NICO YESTERDAY, NO MATTER WHAT.

But, if you get a new GM, what would we expect as a result -- is there any trade he could TRULY fashion that would be able to turn this team around THIS SEASON where they are actually competitive at the upper level? (Not just figuring an answer to "they need to have a better PG" etc ie find a fill-in who will make them less sucky so they lose by 5 rather than 15, but something to make this team great.)

I'm thinking that a GM who comes in and does a hero trade could sell off future assets for a quick fix that doesn't accomplish much -- and which could set the post-Luka rebuild back by years.

Even if Nico gets fired (yes, please, yes yes yes!!) I'm still on the bandwagon for adding a TOP draft pick via tanking. It costs no assets to get that player - you only invest games, games that are going to be ugly a lot of the time anyhow. Yes I'm beating the same horse. But to me, turning this roster into a super team this season looks like a lost cause no matter what. And if so, I'd rather see them commit the other way, ie win 10 and pick in the top 5, rather than win 30-35 and pick in the 11-14 range. Let players sit and heal for long stretches. Develop youngsters. Take one (a bad season) for the team. Just my 2c after seeing the sum of the parts.

One other point about a new GM --- I do want an expert who can evaluate the OFFERS and if there is a super-sweet one grab it. While I don't want the Mavs to chase any trade to fix this team (because I don't think one exists), the inevitable outcome of a really bad season is that teams will then look at this roster and try to grab a piece here or there if they can. Getting those buyers to grab the pieces you can best afford to lose, and pay an arm and a leg and extra picks on top, that's what an expert GM would do for you. Never in a million years would I trust Nico (or Cuban) to be able to negotiate deals and get full value and more -- but some GMs with expert negotiation skills can do that. Need that sort of guy before making more trades.

I agree that there is no miracle trade that is going to make this team a contender.  I also agree that Nico needs to go before anything gets done.  I would be open to trade guys like AD, Klay and Gafford for younger players and/or picks, and that likely means this will be a lottery team (a direction they are heading already).

That said, I am struggling with the hard core tanking that would be required to truly finish bottom 5.  I realize the value that would have in draft odds, but I think it would have a negative impact on Flagg and anybody else we might want to hold onto.

[F Gump]

That said, I am struggling with the hard core tanking that would be required to truly finish bottom 5.  I realize the value that would have in draft odds, but I think it would have a negative impact on Flagg and anybody else we might want to hold onto.

Yes that's a thing that has to be considered. I agree it's not easy, but I think a good GM can help by creating a roster that can't win as constructed, and also by promoting long return times from injuries, to try to lessen the negativity (and also open up minutes for players who can grow). Do we have that GM? No.

But I think a team can "survive" a year. And I think THIS is that sort of year, to make a commitment, grit the teeth, do what you gotta do to find 65-70 losses, and get past it.

[KillerLeft]

They are very, very, very clearly not tanking. At least not yet. They are fighting like hell to beat the bucks right now. I don’t know if they will, but they are trying as hard as they can, players and coaches both.

[F Gump]

They are very, very, very clearly not tanking. At least not yet. They are fighting like hell to beat the bucks right now. 

"They are very, very, very clearly not tanking." -- Umm not sure I can buy what we saw as any indicator either way. (And for a point of reference, they did get another L, in a home game, didn't they?)

When I think about it....

I agree 1000% the Mavs played hard vs MIL. It was good effort and fun to watch. They almost won!! I want players who want to win and work to win and think the game and do all they can. The Mavs players did that. 

However if you think closer, players are not ever tasked with in-game tanking. Throwing a game gets a player suspended, and can even get them jail time. No one is going to tell them to play to lose, miss shots on purpose, etc. Players are always going to be COACHED to play hard too, when they get minutes.

For a tanking agenda to be seen, we have to observe actions of people at a different level.

GMs can make losses much more common by things like (disadvantageous) roster choices, by simply having a roster with much lesser talent, and by (hyper-protective) organizational injury management. "We are prioritizing younger talent that will take us to the next level." "We needed to sit Sammy Superstar for lots of games, to prevent further injury!!"  (Sometimes they may ask star players to help in tanking by NOT playing, once a season has become impossible, even though they are healthy, but we're far from that point this season. The NBA has added some awards-limiting rules to try to curtail such things, because they happen.) Coaches won't ever tell players to lose or to play badly, nor do anything to damage a player's ability or performance individually, but they can facilitate losing by the way they (oddly) allot minutes, by (weirdly stupid) choices of lineups, and by (poor) plays and defenses chosen at key points.

I agree it's far from certain the Mavs are tanking so far. But I have seen decisions this season at both the GM and coach level that fit the profile and sure do make me think the tank perhaps has already started. And there's no question that this GM-coach combo have tanked one year (without anyone noticing until the very last game when Kidd couldn't keep his mouth shut) and maybe even more. I do think that a good portion of the massive number of injuries last season could very likely have been tanking related. 

This season? Early on, I think our best read on it will be the injury list, and also the Kyrie situation and how they manage him over the season. And agendas can change - a string of losses can make them tank even if they didn't intend to, and an unexpected series of wins and good play can flip the switch from a tank to a title chase. 

Another point of reference - they are on a 22-win pace. That would have slotted them at 5 in the lottery last season and 6 the season before and tied for 2 the season before that.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Someone told me to not call him street clothes, he was right... He is street fat clothes.

This is our superstar. Kick out this soft budino from the city ASAP

[omahen]

I think Mavs need to make a GM change as fast as possible. This will give the new guy time to prepare for the TDL, as trades are very unlikely for at least one more month, unless Mavs would be paying big (or dumping at discount price) to make it happen now. Most teams want to play 20 or 30 games to see what they have before pulling the trigger on a more substantial change.

I think Mavs absolutely need to make a move to bring in fresh air and start solving the toxicity. I think the only way to do is by hiring a big name or really respected up and coming executive. I think Finley or similar interim solutions will just shift the fans ire from Nico to Dumont - not something he would wish for. Unless of course the way Mavs play and results change - but it seems unlikely this is possible without additional changes, which might not come very fast (only closer to TDL). If I put myself into Dumonts shoes, I would go for a respected name, pay big and show I do care about the team. After that he can again remove himself from basketball decisions and focus on their true goals why they came to Dallas.

After the GM change, Mavs need to reevalute their strategy (or this is already part of the hiring process). Do they still believe it is possible to win a title in a window with AD and Kyrie? I think it could be possible, but unlikely for the same reasons the strategy failed with Nico - health. I also don't think a full tank is the best way forward, as the toxicity would just not end. I would basically sell off AD, Kyrie and Klay. Mavs would probably still get a very decent return which should include a young and capable PG, possibly a shooter and other assets. Build on there around the core of Lively, PJ, Flagg, Max and new PG, with the bench of Gafford, Marshall and whatever other salaries they would get in trades. I think this kind of team should be decent enough to put on solid play and give hope for the future. The assets should be big enough to hunt for the right star to put next to Flagg when the opportunity comes. Mavs would keep plenty of tradeable salaries.

[Kidnova]

Trading for Gaff and PJ and signing Exum (when he can stay healthy) were the best moves Nico made, then he threw it all away trading Luka.

Exum?  The guy that's eating up a roster spot for 20-30 healthy games per season??

[FireNicoHarrison]

Exum?  The guy that's eating up a roster spot for 20-30 healthy games per season??

Exum with Doncic&Irving can have a lot of sense... Exum as starter or as high minutes guy is a completely no sense.

I add the Irving trade. Great move.

Before the Doncic trade his job here was good to great for me, i can't believe it was all his own doing. No way. Some parts missed for sure.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/maveri...per-flagg/


Dirk and Cuban weigh in on the Mavs' struggles.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1o...mavs_fans/


Harrison's reaction to "Fire Nico" chants.

[david75090]

This has been talked about...

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mave...ays-it-all

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6796931...nba-trade/



Sources say Nico Harrison's firing is inevitable.

[mvossman]

Stein saying Nico could be fired as soon as today.

https://x.com/TheSteinLine/status/198826...wcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mavsmoneyball.com%2Fpost%2F9LiOfFniKufW

[mvossman]

Looks like done deal.

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1988267087953895426

[ThisIStheYear]

Rejoice. Who’s next? I don’t want to waste any more thoughts on that guy. Are the Mavs landing Myers?

Doesn’t sound like Myers is available. Lindsey would be great.

[Kidnova]

Rejoice. Who’s next? I don’t want to waste any more thoughts on that guy. Are the Mavs landing Myers?

Doesn’t sound like Myers is available. Lindsey would be great.

I would assume an internal candidate will be named interim for the rest of the season.  Full replacement after the season.

[KillerLeft]

"They are very, very, very clearly not tanking." -- Umm not sure I can buy what we saw as any indicator either way. (And for a point of reference, they did get another L, in a home game, didn't they?)

When I think about it....

I agree 1000% the Mavs played hard vs MIL. It was good effort and fun to watch. They almost won!! I want players who want to win and work to win and think the game and do all they can. The Mavs players did that. 

However if you think closer, players are not ever tasked with in-game tanking. Throwing a game gets a player suspended, and can even get them jail time. No one is going to tell them to play to lose, miss shots on purpose, etc. Players are always going to be COACHED to play hard too, when they get minutes.

For a tanking agenda to be seen, we have to observe actions of people at a different level.

GMs can make losses much more common by things like (disadvantageous) roster choices, by simply having a roster with much lesser talent, and by (hyper-protective) organizational injury management. "We are prioritizing younger talent that will take us to the next level." "We needed to sit Sammy Superstar for lots of games, to prevent further injury!!"  (Sometimes they may ask star players to help in tanking by NOT playing, once a season has become impossible, even though they are healthy, but we're far from that point this season. The NBA has added some awards-limiting rules to try to curtail such things, because they happen.) Coaches won't ever tell players to lose or to play badly, nor do anything to damage a player's ability or performance individually, but they can facilitate losing by the way they (oddly) allot minutes, by (weirdly stupid) choices of lineups, and by (poor) plays and defenses chosen at key points.

I agree it's far from certain the Mavs are tanking so far. But I have seen decisions this season at both the GM and coach level that fit the profile and sure do make me think the tank perhaps has already started. And there's no question that this GM-coach combo have tanked one year (without anyone noticing until the very last game when Kidd couldn't keep his mouth shut) and maybe even more. I do think that a good portion of the massive number of injuries last season could very likely have been tanking related. 

This season? Early on, I think our best read on it will be the injury list, and also the Kyrie situation and how they manage him over the season. And agendas can change - a string of losses can make them tank even if they didn't intend to, and an unexpected series of wins and good play can flip the switch from a tank to a title chase. 

Another point of reference - they are on a 22-win pace. That would have slotted them at 5 in the lottery last season and 6 the season before and tied for 2 the season before that.

I respect your contributions to this board to an insane level. You're one of my favorites. 

But, I think any speculation that what we saw last night or at any point this season (so far) can be viewed as a stealth, hidden tank job as wanting for credibility to the extent I don't see much point in engaging. I think the organization is SHELL SHOCKED by this poor start, and the GM is being fired right now, at this very moment, specifically because they all expected the team would be in contention this season (as did you, if I'm not mistaken). 

Will they tank NOW? Possibly, but I doubt that, too. For a while. We'll see, and at THIS POINT, I think it's prudent to start watching for signs. 

Last night, they were trying to win with everything they had, and I don't just mean the players on the court. They didn't win, and it was a winnable game. Today, Harrison is being fired. I really don't think there's some hidden agenda at work.

[Winter]

Right now I think the Front Office will do what's in the best interest of Cooper Flagg. My guess would be a trade for more play-making at the TD, getting Kyrie back, and playing hard to win. I don't know what will happen to AD, but he still feels sightly out-of-place.

But Flagg's development should be the ultimate priority now. Get players around him who make him better. This team should not get in a habit of losing. I don't think that's good for anyone. The fans need this too. They don't need an excuse to quit coming to games.

[Jym]

A play-in spot is there for the taking if Cooper keeps playing like he did last night
Memphis is in 10th with 7 losses. We have 8