TRADE: Davis, Hardy, DLO, Exum to WAS | Middleton, filler, 2 FRPs, 3 SRPs to DAL

[SkenfromLMF]

Free AJJ!

That didn't take long!

[hakeemfaan]

Not a fan of this trade. Yes if we hit one of those low picks or sign someone young who fits in Flagg’ timeline with the money saved , I will be wrong but it is such a low probability. I would rather we sucked, get as high a draft pick as possible. So AD missing more time was not a concern. Even one victory we get this year because some of these guys who we got back are decent, is a step back. The picks are so low that it doesn’t matter.

I get apron and salary dumps, but usually dumps happen for players who are grossly overpaid wrt their talent. AD when he is on the court is still one of the best players. If a 37 year old KD could have got back so much, the Mavs should have waited and sold higher. There was no need to rush.

Btw AJ Johnson doesn’t excite me at all looking at his numbers and highlights. Just another uber athletic guard who can’t shoot. Branham looks like he can contribute if given the chance.

[mvossman]

Not a fan of this trade. Yes if we hit one of those low picks or sign someone young who fits in Flagg’ timeline with the money saved , I will be wrong but it is such a low probability. I would rather we sucked, get as high a draft pick as possible. So AD missing more time was not a concern. Even one victory we get this year because some of these guys who we got back are decent, is a step back.  The picks are so low that it doesn’t matter.

I get apron and salary dumps, but usually dumps happen for players who are grossly overpaid wrt their talent. AD when he is on the court is still one of the best players. If a 37 year old KD could have got back so much, the Mavs should have waited and sold higher.  There was no need to rush.

Btw AJ Johnson doesn’t excite me at all looking at his numbers and highlights. Just another uber athletic guard who can’t shoot. Branham looks like he can contribute if given the chance.

I don't think this trade in any way adds wins.  If anything, it makes it easier for Mavs to go full tank.  There is much less chance of them bringing Kyrie back this season now.  If we had kept AD there was a possibility they would run Kyrie and AD late season and potentially cost losses.  Middleton probably doesn't play a game for the Mavs and the more minutes they give the new kids the less likely they win.  

This mindset that there was no need to rush ignores the fact that they were going to get out of the repeater tax some way (this trade makes it clear that was a priority).  If they waited until the offseason, it would have been significantly more expensive.  With today's CBA, clearing 70 mil in cap is insanely valuable.

[vfromlmf]

I have the opposite view. Love the trade given the circumstances. Don’t want to see AD in a Mavs uniform. Financial flexibility is a game changer. AJ is a high upside project. We need those. Cisse is a undrafted project. Nemby is a undrafted project. And we like those guys. I can root for AJ. I can’t root for Exum or Hardy or AD. I’ve moved on. Unfortunately Branham is a proven bust and will not be retained. Pop cut his losses which is enough evidence for me. Bagley can play. Which is more than I can say for Lively. Middleton can play if he resigns a minimum deal. He’d be a great vet to take the mantle from Powell if he moves on.

[hakeemfaan]

I don't think this trade in any way adds wins.  If anything, it makes it easier for Mavs to go full tank.  There is much less chance of them bringing Kyrie back this season now.  If we had kept AD there was a possibility they would run Kyrie and AD late season and potentially cost losses.  Middleton probably doesn't play a game for the Mavs and the more minutes they give the new kids the less likely they win.  

This mindset that there was no need to rush ignores the fact that they were going to get out of the repeater tax some way (this trade makes it clear that was a priority).  If they waited until the offseason, it would have been significantly more expensive.  With today's CBA, clearing 70 mil in cap is insanely valuable.

It’s not my money and I won’t begrudge any owner , no matter how insanely wealthy, for not having to fork up that much money.  I am just saying any money saved is only as good as mgmt making smart decisions that pan out. Percentages of hitting on someone young and good is much higher if we get a pick in the middle of the draft or even a Risacher even without the NO pick attached.  

I was ready to move on from AD for the first decent deal they got. I just don’t think this was a good deal other than we can wait and see if anything pans out with the money saved.

[F Gump]

I think AJ is a player I probably won't like.   More show, than substance.   More look for my great play, than the smart play.   We will see. Might as well take a test drive.

I am very skeptical whether he (and the others) get minutes at all, to any degree. Do they REALLY want to detour from the CF Learning Process to a clown show, featuring players who won't be here for long as a carnival to sell a few extra tickets? I just don't see that happening AT ALL.

In addition, as it stands now, don't we expect that 2 of these players will be waived by the end of the month, to open up roster spots for Nemby and Cisse? I don't know which 2 - KM is probably one, just as a courtesy, even though he's probably the best player of the 4.

One final point. I don't think ANY of these other 3 will have anything of value to offer. These other 3 were WAS's dregs, and that is a really bad team. If they had any talent, someone else would have been to DAL instead.

[Scott41theMavs]

I am very skeptical whether he (and the others) get minutes at all, to any degree. Do they REALLY want to detour from the CF Learning Process to a clown show, featuring players who won't be here for long as a carnival to sell a few extra tickets? I just don't see that happening AT ALL.

In addition, as it stands now, don't we expect that 2 of these players will be waived by the end of the month, to open up roster spots for Nemby and Cisse? I don't know which 2 - KM is probably one, just as a courtesy, even though he's probably the best player of the 4.

One final point. I don't think ANY of these other 3 will have anything of value to offer. These other 3 were WAS's dregs, and that is a really bad team. If they had any talent, someone else would have been to DAL instead.

I would strongly disagree with the bolded. A real "CF Learning Process" would include learning how to win, which would produce wins. Every single win, without exception, in the 32 remaining games this season will be a hatchet to the trunk of the team's future which will make us all hold our breath and hope it doesn't kill it. This upcoming lottery is the most important moment in Cooper Flagg's Dallas Mavericks future to a simply colossal degree. They aren't going to prioritize a win-producing CF learning curve over that. Damn straight that two of Bagley, Branham, and AJ will play big minutes. Unless there's another trade today for the Mavs in the next 2.5 hours.

[F Gump]

I would strongly disagree with the bolded. A real "CF Learning Process" would include learning how to win, which would produce wins. Every single win, without exception, in the 32 remaining games this season will be a hatchet to the trunk of the team's future which will make us all hold our breath and hope it doesn't kill it. This upcoming lottery is the most important moment in Cooper Flagg's Dallas Mavericks future to a simply colossal degree. They aren't going to prioritize a win-producing CF learning curve over that. Damn straight that two of Bagley, Branham, and AJ will play big minutes. Unless there's another trade today for the Mavs in the next 2.5 hours.

I don't disagree that losing-losing-losing is the best thing they can do. But I think the players they expect to keep around longer will get the minutes, and that's NOT going to be these guys from WAS. Only AJJ has a contract beyond the end of the year, and I don't see anything in his videos or numbers that's playable. I think they will give Nemby, Cisse, Williams, and Christie a lot of run these last 2 months, and try to find out if they can help the CF team or not.

I bet it will be a faster pace. Lots of running, faster shots, trying to see who can play that game.

I also believe we will see a whole string of "injuries" to players like Gaff, PJW, Klay, and maybe Naji (however, they have been working on Naji creating offense, and that might be a higher priority). 

I also expect to see them do whatever they can to accelerate CF's skills growth. And his numbers. Some nimrod hogging the ball and trying to show out - where they lose possessions and CF doesn't get the ball - isn't going to cut it (even though that certainly kills chances to win). I do think learning to win will be a big part of his growth at some point, but they can do other things for now. They have to get skilled players to make that happen.

[KillerLeft]

I get apron and salary dumps, but usually dumps happen for players who are grossly overpaid wrt their talent. AD when he is on the court is still one of the best players.

I see this angle, but I also see validity in feeling (with near certainty) that AD will literally never again be on the court for long enough stretches, consecutively, for his talent to matter in a tangible sense. I think this trade goes quite a long way towards telling us that the Mavs don't have much faith in his "availability" moving forward. Tough to blame them, when the opposing view is so dependent on if's, but's and hopes. 

Believe me, I want(ed) to see the debate in the light you do. I LOVED watching him at the 5 and Flagg at the 4 while it lasted. I think he was vastly underrated here...when he played. 

The good news (for all of us, no matter where we fall in that argument) is that the uncertainty is in the rear-view mirror. I reluctantly admit that the odds Dallas will regret this deal seem pretty low to me. This is a reversal of my take over the past few months, in a sense, but I can't deny noticing a waive of relief pass through my body yesterday when this news came down.

[michaeltex]

Not a fan of this trade. Yes if we hit one of those low picks or sign someone young who fits in Flagg’ timeline with the money saved , I will be wrong but it is such a low probability. I would rather we sucked, get as high a draft pick as possible. So AD missing more time was not a concern. Even one victory we get this year because some of these guys who we got back are decent, is a step back.  The picks are so low that it doesn’t matter.

I get apron and salary dumps, but usually dumps happen for players who are grossly overpaid wrt their talent. AD when he is on the court is still one of the best players. If a 37 year old KD could have got back so much, the Mavs should have waited and sold higher.  There was no need to rush.

Btw AJ Johnson doesn’t excite me at all looking at his numbers and highlights. Just another uber athletic guard who can’t shoot. Branham looks like he can contribute if given the chance.

IMO, getting clear of roster clutter from Exum, DLo and Hardy was as important as unloading AD's massive contract. They were deadwood clogging up any development efforts for younger players. I don't really have any hope for the incoming players and wouldn't be surprised if most, or all, don't even suit up.

Still feels like the door has been opened for moving forward.

[F Gump]

On the AD deal, I was surprised that the Mavs decided salary removal - just get AD off the books - was their priority. I thought WRONGLY they would be holding out for something of value in return, with the potential to be really good at some point, and they got none of that. The picks were mostly for show, imo, to make it look like they made a good deal, and frankly have very little potential to be very good players (based on their track record with such picks).

It's obvious why they did this - to turn the page and have room to navigate the future with some degree of what they are working from. Personally I think they would have been better off building around the AD-Kyrie-Flagg core, but that depended on whether AD can begin to suit up on a regular basis, and I can see the argument that he never will. (I have guessed he will turn out to be way more dependable going forward than he has over the last weird year here, but it would have been a gamble and only time will tell.) I was very glad to see they made sure to clear out much of the Nico-idiocy junk as they moved AD, rather than just move AD as the salary reduction. It's still hard to fathom how bad Nico was as a GM, with one terrible decision after another. Ugh.

I will add that I do feel a sense of relief that we can move forward and can put this "what do we do with AD" stuff in the rear view. And Nico's reign of terror is over and we can turn the page on that IDIOT. I appreciate all the opinions aired, even the ones I didn't agree with (and of course there were many!), but I am eager to discuss what can be ahead now.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Don't understimate the picks... With a good scout we can find gems.

Scouting>>>>>>>>high pick.

[Chicagojk]

So is Bagley an offensive center now?  Is that his role?  Does he play backup minutes?   When I heard he may be routed, I thought maybe a good team would use him off the bench.   I knew his defense was bad when he entered the league, but I thought he would be a 20 and 10 guy early and often.

[Chicagojk]

Sucks Klay was not traded.  I really thought he could help a team off the bench.   Man, teams are running away from salaries for bench players.

[mvossman]

Sucks Klay was not traded.  I really thought he could help a team off the bench.   Man, teams are running away from salaries for bench players.

It really doesn't seem like he is that unhappy here.  Most likely he gets moved next TDL to a contender.

[Chicagojk]

Crazy, how Bagley is only 26.   


Also, early in the Luka days we were all hoping for a wing like Middleton.   How time and age changes.

[vfromlmf]

Taking stock ... Mavs deal four players who never play and got five picks plus:

AD --> Bagley is a solid backup center who played with and previously complimented Gafford. A "change of pace back" who could resign for the minimum

DLO --> T Jones is one of the best floor-general, ball security, backup PGs in the league, who could resign for $6-7 mil

Hardy --> AJJ is higher upside flyer who only turned 21 two months ago

Exum --> Middleton is a better veteran wing, strong culture guy, who has won a title and could resign for the minimum

All things considered, Mavs had a great deadline. They're not a playoff team but they'll be very watchable and some of these guys should stick. Predict Bagley will be a fan favorite. He's better than you think.

[BigDirk41]

Taking stock ... Mavs deal four players who never play and got five picks plus:

AD --> Bagley is a solid backup center who played with and previously complimented Gafford. A "change of pace back" who could resign for the minimum

DLO --> T Jones is one of the best floor-general, ball security, backup PGs in the league, who could resign for $6-7 mil

Hardy --> AJJ is higher upside flyer who only turned 21 two months ago

Exum --> Middleton is a better veteran wing, strong culture guy, who has won a title and could resign for the minimum

If T Jones gets 6-7 million, I'll be sick. He's a league minimum or barely above now. He's been trash this year.

[hakeemfaan]

I see this angle, but I also see validity in feeling (with near certainty) that AD will literally never again be on the court for long enough stretches, consecutively, for his talent to matter in a tangible sense. I think this trade goes quite a long way towards telling us that the Mavs don't have much faith in his "availability" moving forward. Tough to blame them, when the opposing view is so dependent on if's, but's and hopes. 

Believe me, I want(ed) to see the debate in the light you do. I LOVED watching him at the 5 and Flagg at the 4 while it lasted. I think he was vastly underrated here...when he played. 

The good news (for all of us, no matter where we fall in that argument) is that the uncertainty is in the rear-view mirror. I reluctantly admit that the odds Dallas will regret this deal seem pretty low to me. This is a reversal of my take over the past few months, in a sense, but I can't deny noticing a waive of relief pass through my body yesterday when this news came down.

KL I was ready to move on from AD and was overjoyed when I just heard the trade and picks. 

Then reality set in when the details came out that we got a pile of crap and cap space that historically has not meant much for this franchise.  I fully understand that AD has not even been able to keep himself healthy for a month to up his value. I understand the money saved. I would have punted to one more offseason, since we are not trying to win anyway, given that the returns we got back are terrible and some vague hope with cap space. Meanwhile there is a good possibility that the Wiz GM most likely will trade AD next year and end up with more than we did.

[vfromlmf]

If T Jones gets 6-7 million, I'll be sick. He's a league minimum or barely above now. He's been trash this year.

Good player bad situation. It's not like Jones is suddenly going to turn this thing into a .500 club but he's very efficient and will drive the bus between the lines. Huge upgrade over the other PGs. I love BWill as a player but he's not a point guard and Nembhardt may not stick in the NBA.