Next GM Watch

[F Gump]

There are certainly better proven Expert GM's than Connelly (see Presti, S.). If the Mavs can get one, and can't get Presti, I'm all in. 

I vote the Mavs hire Presti. 

I don't see Connelly as a "failed retread" (the results he produced in both DEN and MIN moved both of those teams to a higher plateau than they had achieved before). I don't agree that the presence of Edwards-KAT was already the answer in MINN.
.... NOTE: The deification of KAT, I am way out on that nonsense. An absurdly bad defending big. And re KAT, how soon we forget the great move by Connelly to find a taker for that albatross KAT contract, in which MINN not only got out from under the impossible contract, but also actually got real and super-helpful starter talent in return along with the cap relief. Compare to the much-lauded AD deal -- the Mavs Jr GM's were able to get out from under a big contract, but for an all-NBA player, they got no talent in return. Ugh.

No way to persuade me that Riccardi, Finley, and other newbs are a proven Expert GM. I want the guy who knows how to make Expert moves. I don't think "got his nose bloodied" or "made a less than ideal move" is a disqualifier, and I'd rather have the guy who has a mix of good and bad (that they have learned from) than one who has no experience at all and we have to guess and hope and pray that they aren't an idiot-waiting-to-be-uncovered (see Harrison, N). As with the Nico hire, this team needs a Proven Expert, not another experiment in on-the-job training.

[Mavs2021]

My biggest problem with Connelly is the asset cost. Minnesota will not give him up for free with 12 months left on his contract. I have no interest to give up the 30th pick for him and that´s the obvious asset Minnesota will ask for.

[cow]

If I pay $1K for a bag of skittles, should it matter that the guy who sold them to me wastes the money? Does that make it a prudent choice, somehow? 

It depends on how big that bag of skittles was.

[KillerLeft]

It depends on how big that bag of skittles was.

Touche'

[F Gump]

My biggest problem with Connelly is the asset cost. Minnesota will not give him up for free with 12 months left on his contract. I have no interest to give up the 30th pick for him and that´s the obvious asset Minnesota will ask for.

I don't assume that we know the cost of Connelly (or anyone in particular). 

The cost to acquire is certainly part of the equation. At the same time, the cheapest route may be the worst hire. See Harrison, N.

[Smitty]

STORY UPDATE: As the week progressed, even before Minnesota's Game 6 win, sources tell @TheSteinLine there has been a growing resignation in Dallas that permission to speak with the Wolves' Tim Connelly in search of a new head of basketball operations is unlikely to be granted.

[Chicagojk]

STORY UPDATE: As the week progressed, even before Minnesota's Game 6 win, sources tell @TheSteinLine there has been a growing resignation in Dallas that permission to speak with the Wolves' Tim Connelly in search of a new head of basketball operations is unlikely to be granted.

Who knows what is accurate or what they mavs had done.  Although, it will be very disappointing if Connelly was high up on your list and two weeks into your supposed GM search that it looks like he may not even get permission to speak to you.    Did the Mavs do anything before the end of the season?   Please don't tell me the are rule followers to the max degree.   

Maybe they have a plan.  Maybe they are executing that plan.   So I don't want to be too rash.  It would just be disappointing that the only news we have of any action two weeks in is the guy they are interested may not even be available for an interview.   Even the Bulls have talked to people.

[Chicagojk]

Who knows what is accurate or what they mavs had done.  Although, it will be very disappointing if Connelly was high up on your list and two weeks into your supposed GM search that it looks like he may not even get permission to speak to you.    Did the Mavs do anything before the end of the season?   Please don't tell me the are rule followers to the max degree.   

Maybe they have a plan.  Maybe they are executing that plan.   So I don't want to be too rash.  It would just be disappointing that the only news we have of any action two weeks in is the guy they are interested may not even be available for an interview.   Even the Bulls have talked to people.

Also of note the Mavs do not have a director of Health currently.  This should be hired after the GM is hired.    Although with such an important draft, you would want your medical team be present at the combine coming up.

[SkenfromLMF]

We gonna draft a Sam Bowie

[Smitty]

Who knows what is accurate or what they mavs had done.  Although, it will be very disappointing if Connelly was high up on your list and two weeks into your supposed GM search that it looks like he may not even get permission to speak to you.    Did the Mavs do anything before the end of the season?   Please don't tell me the are rule followers to the max degree.   

Maybe they have a plan.  Maybe they are executing that plan.   So I don't want to be too rash.  It would just be disappointing that the only news we have of any action two weeks in is the guy they are interested may not even be available for an interview.   Even the Bulls have talked to people.

It feels more and more likely that Riccardi will be the guy. I don't think they have to have someone in place by the draft lottery necessarily, but shortly after feels like a must. The latest Stein report on Connelly, and Presti always being a pipe dream, it just feels inevitable that Riccardi will be given a shot. I believe his work on the AD trade was well liked by Dumont, if I remember the reporting correctly. His eye for talent has also been talked about a lot in NBA circles.

[dirkfansince1998]

Combine is less than 10 days away. Feels like whoever takes over will only have limited influence on the entire draft process and that's a bad thing. Mavs need a GM right now. To conduct interviews. To schedule private workouts. To bring in new scouts/analysts.
I guess Finley and Riccardi will be in charge. Hate it...

[michaeltex]

It feels more and more likely that Riccardi will be the guy. I don't think they have to have someone in place by the draft lottery necessarily, but shortly after feels like a must. The latest Stein report on Connelly, and Presti always being a pipe dream, it just feels inevitable that Riccardi will be given a shot. I believe his work on the AD trade was well liked by Dumont, if I remember the reporting correctly. His eye for talent has also been talked about a lot in NBA circles.

Regardless of what is said, Riccardi/Finley have been adequate caretakers post-Nico. They unlocked a huge cap problem by getting rid of AD's massive number and may have actually gotten some return for it in Bagley while also unloading a couple of useless contracts. Haven't made any flashy moves, but haven't made any real WTF moves either.

[mvossman]

Regardless of what is said, Riccardi/Finley have been adequate caretakers post-Nico. They unlocked a huge cap problem by getting rid of AD's massive number and may have actually gotten some return for it in Bagley while also unloading a couple of useless contracts. Haven't made any flashy moves, but haven't made any real WTF moves either.

That's a low bar to say they have not made any WTF moves yet.

I liked the AD trade because it got them out of the tax for this season and created a ton of room for next.  But I don't really consider Bagley a significant part of the return.  I would not sign him to more than vet min (maybe you could convince me of BAE).

I think trading for Middleton, not trading Klay and giving them both significant minutes was a mistake.  It probably cost them one or two spots in the draft order.

I would have liked them to be more aggressive in trading players for assets, but maybe they were and the value just wasn't there.

I have already resigned myself to status quo being the most likely case.  I'm sure there could be worse options, but I am skeptical these guys will have the balls to do what needs to be done to properly reset the roster.

[Scott41theMavs]

Oh, for crying out loud, Dumont. Put aside your anti-Cuban bias and at least get Lindsay.

[KillerLeft]

STORY UPDATE: As the week progressed, even before Minnesota's Game 6 win, sources tell @TheSteinLine there has been a growing resignation in Dallas that permission to speak with the Wolves' Tim Connelly in search of a new head of basketball operations is unlikely to be granted.

Wow, I missed this until just now!

Good news - I hope it's true.

[mvossman]

Wow, I missed this until just now!

Good news - I hope it's true.

I'm not a big fan of Connelly, but it's looking more and more like they are going to fail to meet their own standards and settle for the current guys.  Not sure that's a better outcome.

[KillerLeft]

I'm not a big fan of Connelly, but it's looking more and more like they are going to fail to meet their own standards and settle for the current guys.  Not sure that's a better outcome.

It's not a GOOD outcome, for sure. 

However, playing Devil's advocate, "settling for the current guys" could be a more temporary thing than missing huge on a big, expensive name like Connelly. I'd much rather get the RIGHT big, expensive guy with experience, but in my opinion Connelly isn't that, and I'd hate to be stuck with him if it turns out I'm right about him. 

I'd have probably hired Lindsey a while ago if it was up to me, but I'm open to them attracting a bigger fish. I just don't have interest in Connelly, specifically.

[F Gump]

The GM issue ...
1 In the hire of a GM, I would hope the Mavs are committed to getting THE BEST ....rather than working within the limits of who is easy to get in mid-May. If the best is only available on a diff timeline, change your timeline.
2 I have always thought a hire by mid-May was almost impossible anyhow, since the season doesn't really end until early June, unless you are willing to settle for 2nd-rate solutions.
3 And imo, in what way is a May hire vital? What's so earth-shaking in May? There are no decisions in the lottery. Few in the combine - just observations. Presumably the Mavs have scouts and personnel already set to do the pre-draft grunt work. (And any GM worth his salt probably has a good fix on the draft - he won't have to start over in June.)
4 I don't know if Dumont has the skills, but I would like to think the suggestions that they are targeting mid-May, and aren't making headway, is all smokescreen stuff. It should be, even if it isn't.

[cow]

Touche'

I bought a family size bag of Skittles today for $6.99 and it's all your fault.

[Winter]

Mavericks hire Blazers' Mike Schmitz as GM under Masai Ujiri

In his new role as the Mavericks general manager, Schmitz will help in "all areas of basketball operations including scouting, player personnel, strategic planning and organizational collaboration across departments." The hire is one of the first by Ujiri, who officially joined Dallas as team president and alternative governor last week.