MAVS NEWS:

[mvossman]

See...I think THAT trio is problematic offensively. At least until Johnson becomes a much, much more lethal shooter from the outside. I think he will, to be clear, but not right away. 

Defensively, I agree that's a great trio, but I don't think ALL THREE of them need to be plus defenders, especially given that this offense has been so incredibly sad.

While I agree with this, I don't think the guy playing center should be the weak link defensively.  We will see how this plays out.  I'm surprised you are not more concerned.  This entire offseason so far is leading me to believe they plan on playing Flagg at the point.

[KillerLeft]

While I agree with this, I don't think the guy playing center should be the weak link defensively.  We will see how this plays out.  I'm surprised you are not more concerned.  This entire offseason so far is leading me to believe they plan on playing Flagg at the point.

I don't think we can glean much, if anything, about where they're planning to play Flagg based on these moves...YET!

What I DO think the addition of so much shooting (Sasser, Aldama, Rez's future, De Larrea maybe, new Euro guy from today's rumor maybe, Simmons interest rumored) tells us is: they seem to understand that Flagg wants to and is best operating from the midrange IN.

For me, this is an awesome development. Somehow, someway, they seem to be on a mission to clear out space for Flagg, and it should help Kyrie in the short term, too. 

I don't love the roster balance right now - totally agree with that. And, in two weeks I might hate all this more than anyone. I just think I'm starting to see what they're going for.

[mvossman]

I don't think we can glean much, if anything, about where they're planning to play Flagg based on these moves...YET!

What I DO think the addition of so much shooting (Sasser, Aldama, Rez's future, De Larrea maybe, new Euro guy from today's rumor maybe, Simmons interest rumored) tells us is: they seem to understand that Flagg wants to and is best operating from the midrange IN.

For me, this is an awesome development. Somehow, someway, they seem to be on a mission to clear out space for Flagg, and it should help Kyrie in the short term, too. 

I don't love the roster balance right now - totally agree with that. And, in two weeks I might hate all this more than anyone. I just think I'm starting to see what they're going for.

He is going to need that space when he is running point

[KillerLeft]

He is going to need that space when he is running point

Hey, if they want to run their offense through Flagg a high portion of the time, I can get behind trying it. I think we're heading for a world in which he touches the ball a ton, especially late in games, during half-court offense situations. 

...but if so, let him START his part of the possession closer to the rim, because that's where he's special. What I hate is getting him to 3 feet above the line, above the break with a live dribble...nothing but clogged space between he and the rim, because of idiots cutting for no reason or Gafford standing in the dunkers with his hand up like he's prime Shaq and then saying "do something, kid!" I can't watch another season of that - I just can't. 

Flagg wants to get downhill, and seems to be special as an inside finisher. The handle is getting better and the outside shooting touch and footwork will and SHOULD improve, only it needs to be motivated by the need to add counters to how HE'S being defended, not born out of necessity because all of his teammates want to occupy the space between him and the basket. I'm using hyperbole to make this point, but there were times last year when I actually felt that way.

[mvossman]

Hey, if they want to run their offense through Flagg a high portion of the time, I can get behind trying it. I think we're heading for a world in which he touches the ball a ton, especially late in games, during half-court offense situations. 

...but if so, let him START his part of the possession closer to the rim, because that's where he's special. What I hate is getting him to 3 feet above the line, above the break with a live dribble...nothing but clogged space between he and the rim, because of idiots cutting for no reason or Gafford standing in the dunkers with his hand up like he's prime Shaq and then saying "do something, kid!" I can't watch another season of that - I just can't. 

Flagg wants to get downhill, and seems to be special as an inside finisher. The handle is getting better and the outside shooting touch and footwork will and SHOULD improve, only it needs to be motivated by added counters to how HE'S being defended, not born out of necessity because all of his teammates what to occupy the space between him and the basket. I'm using hyperbole to make this point, but there were times last year when I actually felt that way.

So now imagine Flagg 3 feet above the line with Kyrie, Max and Aldama spacing the floor and Rez setting a bone crushing screen giving him free reign into the paint.  Maybe that is the new vision.  That has never been my vision, but maybe it's theirs.  That really would explain a lot regarding the offseason moves to this point.

[KillerLeft]

So now imagine Flagg 3 feet above the line with Kyrie, Max and Aldama spacing the floor and Rez setting a bone crushing screen giving him free reign into the paint.  Maybe that is the new vision.  That has never been my vision, but maybe it's theirs.  That really would explain a lot regarding the offseason moves to this point.

That's one way they could play, for sure. And, while it wouldn't be my preference as the main way to play and I don't think we can even think about 5-man groups yet (still think more moves are coming), I'll say that it's a huge improvement over last year's approach, which is the same as the above only without clear lanes to the basket.

[Chicagojk]

Well this is interesting

https://x.com/All_Things_Mavs/status/207...4877885581

[KillerLeft]

Well this is interesting

https://x.com/All_Things_Mavs/status/207...4877885581

Dude...this guy is FIRE from the outside.

[Chicagojk]

Dude...this guy is FIRE from the outside.

was just watching the highlights and former Mavs Melli played with his team last year. 

The team he played on is good with several fringe NBA guys.  Melli, Horton-Tucker, Brandon Boston, Nando De Colo, wade baldwin, Khem Birch, Bacot Jr, Chris Silva.   Either guys who played in the NBA or were close.   That is a deep team.

[Winter]

Dude...this guy is FIRE from the outside.

Someone needs to find a podcast where they talk about this guy. I mean he hits tough 3s and a lot of them. He's also built like tailback and has a Klay Thompson jump shot.

I need to hear if he can find his way over here for Summer League

[KillerLeft]

Someone needs to find a podcast where they talk about this guy. I mean he hits tough 3s and a lot of them. He's also built like tailback and has a Klay Thompson jump shot.

I need to hear if he can find his way over here for Summer League

Honestly, this might be the hopium talking, but I kinda think this dude has reached a level above having to participate in summer league. This seems to be a very well thought of, established professional basketball player.

[Mavs2021]

was just watching the highlights and former Mavs Melli played with his team last year. 

The team he played on is good with several fringe NBA guys.  Melli, Horton-Tucker, Brandon Boston, Nando De Colo, wade baldwin, Khem Birch, Bacot Jr, Chris Silva.   Either guys who played in the NBA or were close.   That is a deep team.

He´s basically Bosnian-Turkish version of Sasha Vezenkov. Vezenkov got 20/3 from the Kings. Could see the Mavs offering something similar here.

[Chicagojk]

Honestly, this might be the hopium talking, but I kinda think this dude has reached a level above having to participate in summer league. This seems to be a very well thought of, established professional basketball player.

Looks like he played in the summer league in 2023 with Memphis after he was drafted.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmrKaAZCwy8

[Smitty]

He's the obvious Klay replacement, right?

[KillerLeft]

Looks like he played in the summer league in 2023 with Memphis after he was drafted.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmrKaAZCwy8

Right. And now, it's 2026! He has been playing professionally, and apparently quite successfully, even since. 

I could be way off, but my sense is that this is more of a "pay the man more than what he's making and entice him with NBA-level treatment to convince him to come over" situation than "let's see if the kid has anything."

[KillerLeft]

He's the obvious Klay replacement, right?

Man...yes? 

But in a more general sense, I don't even think they're thinking that way yet. I think they're just trying to add as many players who can shoot at as high a variety of sizes and positional fits as they possibly can. Seriously.

[Chicagojk]

Right. And now, it's 2026! He has been playing professionally, and apparently quite successfully, even since. 

I could be way off, but my sense is that this is more of a "pay the man more than what he's making and entice him with NBA-level treatment to convince him to come over" situation than "let's see if the kid has anything."

Just read he turned down a contract offer from Memphis last year (not sure if guaranteed, two way, camp invite, etc) and signed a 3 year extension with his Europe team.  So there may be a buyout needed too.

[Smitty]

@CurseMuse
Kyrie Irving- Australian
Santi Aldama/Sergio De Larrea- Spain
Ryan Nembhard/Dwight Powell- Canada
Tobi Lawal- United Kingdom
Vsevold Ischenko- Russia
Tarik Biberovic- Turkey

The Worldwide Mavericks are back

[Scott41theMavs]

Just read he turned down a contract offer from Memphis last year (not sure if guaranteed, two way, camp invite, etc) and signed a 3 year extension with his Europe team.  So there may be a buyout needed too.

Good, because Dumont and the Adelsons still haven’t suffered enough. Pony up, folks.

[Scott41theMavs]

@CurseMuse
Kyrie Irving- Australian
Santi Aldama/Sergio De Larrea- Spain
Ryan Nembhard/Dwight Powell- Canada
Tobi Lawal- United Kingdom
Vsevold Ischenko- Russia
Tarik Biberovic- Turkey

The Worldwide Mavericks are back

“Dwight Powell” - lol