AROUND the NBA:

[dirkfansince1998]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7270363...poll-2026/

No one wants to play in Memphis. Mavs did not receive a single no-trade vote.

[Chicagojk]

Good analysis. I have to think though if Cleveland had lost that game, the conversation we'd be having now about them would be much worse.

Yeah I agree.  A clev loss would have been a different discussion.    Detroit has a lot of work to do but their best player isn't going anywhere.   That puts it in a much different place to Clev.

Clev would have to have the discussion if Mitchell did not extend.  The yearly Jarett Allen conversation would come up.    You would hear some Mobley trade talk.   Things can change quickly but as of now that conversation is muted.   I really like some of their bench pieces.   It feels like they are missing a wing.   I think they made a good gamble with Hunter last trade deadline.  He just was not the guy.  

As of now, I think whatever happens they would probably like to bring back the same nucleus next season with a tweak or two.   A loss to Detroit would have put this all into question imo.

[michaeltex]

https://x.com/the_det_times/status/2055845814858084426

I can't believe UTA will trade Lauri, 28 y/o, former All Star, former MIP, after 3 years of tankathons. He's only played in 144 of 246 games over the last 3 seasons, mostly due to tanking considerations.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I hope this OKC, San Antonio series lives up to the hype. First time I’ve been excited to watch basketball this season.

[Knutsen]

Yeah I agree.  A clev loss would have been a different discussion.    Detroit has a lot of work to do but their best player isn't going anywhere.   That puts it in a much different place to Clev.

Clev would have to have the discussion if Mitchell did not extend.  The yearly Jarett Allen conversation would come up.    You would hear some Mobley trade talk.   Things can change quickly but as of now that conversation is muted.   I really like some of their bench pieces.   It feels like they are missing a wing.   I think they made a good gamble with Hunter last trade deadline.  He just was not the guy.  

As of now, I think whatever happens they would probably like to bring back the same nucleus next season with a tweak or two.   A loss to Detroit would have put this all into question imo.

I‘m by the way still wondering if the Pistons would have traded Cunningham for Doncic one and a half years ago… 

Will never find out, but he would be the perfect partner to Flagg, wouldn’t he?

[F Gump]

They need to move on from Harris. He played well and was the secondary scorer they needed for about 3 or 4 games, then fell off a cliff the last 3. His deal comes off the books, so they need a younger, more consistent scorer and another shot creator to take pressure off Cade, who was clearly worn down at the end. 

I do recognize Harris has been overpaid for years. So it may be a plus to lower the overall payroll, and move forward from there without him. But .... 

"Moving on" from Harris may not be a practical answer, because if they do so, they don't get cap room (to add the "better replacement") in exchange. So if they don't re-sign him, they merely take him out of the equation. 

I think this is one of those roster challenges that GM's get paid the big bucks to handle, because I don't think it's as easy as saying 'We will get rid of him because we want what he does, but better.' From where?

Yes, tossing him away may make them better - the very same roster, except no Harris - but when they do so, they won't be gifted a "younger, more consistent scorer" or "another shot creator" by doing so. They will have to find that player internally, or perhaps with an MLE. Or have an even worse solution than Harris.

[F Gump]

I can't believe UTA will trade Lauri, 28 y/o, former All Star, former MIP, after 3 years of tankathons. He's only played in 144 of 246 games over the last 3 seasons, mostly due to tanking considerations.

I don't think this has any real basis - it's just Shams making up his own uninformed guesses. He does that.

However, LM would certainly be a great solution for DET, but getting him would be super expensive. Probably would require really good young talent PLUS draft capital.

[OBX Maverick]

I hope this OKC, San Antonio series lives up to the hype. First time I’ve been excited to watch basketball this season.

I’m looking forward to it as well. Should be fun. I’ll be rooting for SAS. Every spot we can move up for that second FRP helps!

[DallasMaverick]

I do recognize Harris has been overpaid for years. So it may be a plus to lower the overall payroll, and move forward from there without him. But .... 

"Moving on" from Harris may not be a practical answer, because if they do so, they don't get cap room (to add the "better replacement") in exchange. So if they don't re-sign him, they merely take him out of the equation. 

I think this is one of those roster challenges that GM's get paid the big bucks to handle, because I don't think it's as easy as saying 'We will get rid of him because we want what he does, but better.' From where?

Yes, tossing him away may make them better - the very same roster, except no Harris - but when they do so, they won't be gifted a "younger, more consistent scorer" or "another shot creator" by doing so. They will have to find that player internally, or perhaps with an MLE. Or have an even worse solution than Harris.

In the "old days", it would have been easy.  Just sign him to a slight overpay, and expect that, if needed, you can trade him away for another underperforming player on a shorter deal, or maybe add some draft capital to grease the deal.

But in today's NBA economy, it's tougher.  Nobody wants underperforming payroll - it's a roster-killer.  Look what Dallas had to do in order to clear out their bad payroll: Trade a top-25 player (albeit expensive and injured) in AD for mostly air.

I think I'd offer Tobias Harris the MLE, or maybe less, and let him walk.  And take my chances with draft and free agency.

[F Gump]

I’m looking forward to it as well. Should be fun. I’ll be rooting for SAS. Every spot we can move up for that second FRP helps!

The playoffs themselves do not alter the order of draft picks. Barring a trade, Mavs are locked in at 30.

[F Gump]

In the "old days", it would have been easy.  Just sign him to a slight overpay, and expect that, if needed, you can trade him away for another underperforming player on a shorter deal, or maybe add some draft capital to grease the deal.

But in today's NBA economy, it's tougher.  Nobody wants underperforming payroll - it's a roster-killer.  Look what Dallas had to do in order to clear out their bad payroll: Trade a top-25 player (albeit expensive and injured) in AD for mostly air.

I think I'd offer Tobias Harris the MLE, or maybe less, and let him walk.  And take my chances with draft and free agency.

That's a reasonable solution. I'm a big proponent of efficient payroll planning. 

But they just became a serious EC team, and if you slice off a starter, you have no assurance you can replace him with same-or-better. I've never understood the appeal of Harris, but gotta recognize teams seem to value him.

I'd probably do the same - offer MLE, and be prepared to (try to) replace him with a bargain-priced player who might be a scoring F. But it's really risky.

It's not an easy call. That's why GM's get big money.

[OBX Maverick]

The playoffs themselves do not alter the order of draft picks. Barring a trade, Mavs are locked in at 30.

Oops, my bad. I thought they did! I guess I was mixing it up with the NFL where the playoff results DO affect draft position

[mvossman]

That's a reasonable solution. I'm a big proponent of efficient payroll planning. 

But they just became a serious EC team, and if you slice off a starter, you have no assurance you can replace him with same-or-better. I've never understood the appeal of Harris, but gotta recognize teams seem to value him.

I'd probably do the same - offer MLE, and be prepared to (try to) replace him with a bargain-priced player who might be a scoring F. But it's really risky.

It's not an easy call. That's why GM's get big money.

I would be surprised if anybody pays more than MLE for Harris in free agency.  He will be 34 and has already shown moderate decline.  That can turn into falling off a cliff in your mid 30s.

[CooPerFan]

Fox is out. Good opportunity for harper to show what he got.

[dirkfansince1998]

Spurs need to figure out how to survive the non Wemby minutes. With Kornet on the floor OKC is scoring at will. OKC is missing 3s that they have to make if they want to beat the Spurs.

[dirkfansince1998]

Had high expectations for this series. So far it's delivering. One of the best games in what feels like forever.

[Smitty]

If Wemby stays healthy….

[Deebo]

What a disaster as a Mavericks fan we have no chance against these teams and they’re both young and will be here for probably 7 to 8 years at minimum. The NBA owed us top four pick but they screwed us with number nine

[mvossman]

What a disaster as a Mavericks fan we have no chance against these teams and they’re both young and will be here for probably 7 to 8 years at minimum.  The NBA owed us top four pick but they screwed us with number nine

Why does the NBA owe Mavs anything?  Not their fault the Mavs hired the most incompetent GM in history.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

That was an awesome playoff game! Wemby is unguardable. I don't see any team coming out the East beating any one of these teams.