MAVS NEWS:

[mvossman]

AD playing exclusive 5, and trading PJ for a real 3 would be my vote. 

If you start thinking of keeping AD long term, we don't have many long term solutions. Multiple trades need to be made to balance this thing around Flagg and AD. 

P.J. doesn't have a place. Neither does Marshall.  Then you have two extremely talented back up 5's in Gafford/Lively.  

Nembhard and even Max would seem to fit better off the bench. I think this team needs a long term starting 2 and 3.   I'm counting Kyrie as the 1 for now.

I agree with the player assessment except I would put Naji in the quality bench group.  

I just think getting the roster rebalanced as well as getting enough talent on the roster is going to be a long drawn out process that probably won't fit AD timeline.  I also think trading AD in the right deal will make it a lot easier to achieve those roster goals.

[Smitty]

I'm starting to think you might want to swap PJ and Marshall in that lineup.  PJ should be on the court every minute Flagg is off and I would not mind seeing some small ball with a frontcourt of PJ/Flagg.

   


Not perfect, I did it quickly, but easily doable to have one of Flagg/PJW on the floor at all times and still get everyone the minutes they "deserve", while also starting/closing with your best 5. Give or take a few minutes for some...

Minutes Total:
Davis 36
Flagg 32
PJW 32
Nembhard 32
Christie 26
Naji 22
Klay 20
Williams 16
Russell 12
Powell 12

[Nowitzki Way]

I agree with the player assessment except I would put Naji in the quality bench group.  

I just think getting the roster rebalanced as well as getting enough talent on the roster is going to be a long drawn out process that probably won't fit AD timeline.  I also think trading AD in the right deal will make it a lot easier to achieve those roster goals.

Agree on Naji as a bench piece for sure.

I'd much rather trade AD and go full on Flagg timeline. I just have my fears they wont see it the same once we keep stacking wins.

[Winter]

Jason Timpf - Hoopsworld Tonight (new)

Mostly regarding AD, but then discussions on both Flagg and Nembhard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u67Ea3by3MI

[KillerLeft]

I don't like Naji and Flagg on the court together either.  Ideally you have a wing to plug in there but the Mavs don't.

Honestly, Thompson fits with Flagg the best, especially now that he seems to have found his missing contact lenses.

[Smitty]

@_abigaiiiiil
BREAKING: Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, who has been sidelined due to swelling and discomfort in his right foot, is currently seeking multiple opinions on the next steps in his treatment process via Mavs PR.

[Smitty]

@TheSteinLine
The Mavericks had been fearing an extended absence for Dereck Lively II, as @TheSteinLine first reported on Nov. 25, and Lively was seen this week at a team event with his right foot in a walking boot.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Honestly, Thompson fits with Flagg the best, especially now that he seems to have found his missing contact lenses.

Yeah I posted yesterday if they should experiment with a starting lineup of:

Nembhard
Christie
Thompson
Flagg
AD

With a real PG in the starting lineup and Coop as secondary playmaker, they might be able to get away with not much creation at the wing spots. Not sure if it would work.

[Chicagojk]

@TheSteinLine
The Mavericks had been fearing an extended absence for Dereck Lively II, as @TheSteinLine first reported on Nov. 25, and Lively was seen this week at a team event with his right foot in a walking boot.

That sucks.  Feel bad for him.  Teams upside is lower without him.  Get him right though.  If that means he misses the rest of the year than so be it.

[ThisIStheYear]

Looking at the statistics, and it seems that Flagg’s recent run of quality games has nudged him just ahead of Kon. The ROY race is his to win if he keeps improving.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

@_abigaiiiiil
BREAKING: Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, who has been sidelined due to swelling and discomfort in his right foot, is currently seeking multiple opinions on the next steps in his treatment process via Mavs PR.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this but usually these tweets are worded like Dereck Lively is visiting world renowned foot Dr. XYZ to get a second opinion on his foot.

This reads more like we're trying to find someone that knows what the hell is going on.

[From Dirk to SCREW YOU Nico]

Maybe I'm reading too much into this but usually these tweets are worded like Dereck Lively is visiting world renowned foot Dr. XYZ to get a second opinion on his foot.

This reads more like we're trying to find someone that knows what the hell is going on.

I felt that way as well.  It pissed me off thinking about how great our medical staff USED TO BE and where (it seems this note might be telling us) they are now.  Nico should be boo'd out of every restaurant/bar/club in DFW FOREVER.

[SleepingHero]

@MavsFilmRoom
Marc Stein reports that the Mavs have already committed to converting Ryan Nembhard to a standard NBA contract as soon as they can.

They do however, need to clear enough money to be able to give him a multi-year deal so he doesn’t hit restricted free agency this summer.

[F Gump]

@MavsFilmRoom
Marc Stein reports that the Mavs have already committed to converting Ryan Nembhard to a standard NBA contract as soon as they can.

They do however, need to clear enough money to be able to give him a multi-year deal so he doesn’t hit restricted free agency this summer.

This ^ is CBA-nonsense. AFAIK it doesn't align with what Stein said (and Stein is very good on CBA stuff) or with what I am hearing elsewhere about Stein's comments on this. So I think MFR is doing sloppy clickbait reporting in what he says.

1 Teams cannot ever "commit" to a future contract. It's forbidden by CBA rules. There can be no commitment until you actually do the deal and send to the NBA. Because, things change. (For example, what if Nemby gets a season-ending injury? That changes things.) I'm sure the Mavs have discussed and plan to do this, but the claim they have made a commitment is not true (and not possible). 

2 As I have explained before, there is no reason to convert Nembhard "as soon as they can" (early Jan) and huge incentive to let it play out until Nembhard is out of games he can play as a 2-Way player (he won't get there any sooner than late Feb). 

3 "Clearing enough money" for a multi-year isn't a thing. It's going to be minimum salary, and the Min Sal Exception always allows up to 2 years (they can do as many of those as they like, provided they stay under apron 2 this season because they are hard-capped). 

In addition, they won't be "clearing money" at all to make it happen. They already have the money to pay a partial season deal. Nothing to clear. They just have to wait until the rest of the season is small enough for their funds to pay for minimum salary.

They will be waiting until they have money for THIS season to be able to pay a rest-of-season minimum, and that minimum salary deal can be (and should be) for 2 seasons.

SIDE NOTE - It's possible for the Mavs to make a trade and clear some salary to open up room for an earlier rest-of-season minimum. But they would gain nothing by doing it any earlier. Same player, same pay, and in fact more luxury tax the earlier they put his salary on the 15-man. So unless idiots are still running things, they are purely in a waiting mode, biding their time until late Feb (or even later, if Nemby sits out a game here or there between now and then).

[Winter]

And as if on cue....

Stein's "The inside story on how Ryan Nembhard became a Dallas Maverick"

https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-ins...mail-title&publication_id=392205&post_id=180821331&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=o687e&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[Smitty]

@NickVanExit
Last 3 Rookies Since 1997 to Average

17+ Points, 6+ Rebounds, 3+ Assists 1+ Steal

Cooper Flagg
Victor Wembanyama
Luka Doncic

[SleepingHero]

@NickVanExit
Last 3 Rookies Since 1997 to Average

17+ Points, 6+ Rebounds, 3+ Assists 1+ Steal

Cooper Flagg
Victor Wembanyama
Luka Doncic

That's actually pretty crazy. But what a very specific statline lol.

Luka and Wemby both averaged over 20ppg.

[mvossman]

That's actually pretty crazy. But what a very specific statline lol.

Luka and Wemby both averaged over 20ppg.

Yeah, it was obviously tailored to his stats.  Its also not legit until he finishes the season, but my guess is most of those numbers will be higher by then.  He is at .7 blocks right now.  Get that up to 1 and you can add it to the list and Luka drops off.

[Smitty]

Yeah, it was obviously tailored to his stats.  Its also not legit until he finishes the season, but my guess is most of those numbers will be higher by then.  He is at .7 blocks right now.  Get that up to 1 and you can add it to the list and Luka drops off.

All true. Still, for someone that was labeled as a 'work in progress' on the offensive side of the ball, very impressive.

[mvossman]

All true. Still, for someone that was labeled as a 'work in progress' on the offensive side of the ball, very impressive.

Especially considering he is still only 18.  Looks like he is 9 days older than Lebron in his rookie season.  The per 36 numbers are surprisingly similar.  Points, steals and blocks are roughly same.  LeBron had a few more assists and Flagg had a few more rebounds.  The biggest differences are that LeBron played almost 40 minutes a game (Flagg is 6 less) and shot less than 50% TS (Flagg is at 55).