NBA Summer League | July 9th-16th

[F Gump]

 I’m not down on Sergio but really thought the Mavs would be taking Maleek with that late 1st pick.

How quickly we forget the incredible hole the Mavs desperately needed to fill at PG/creator (which Sergio obviously was drafted to address and Maleek would not). Sergio - who was both a solution to an area of major need,, and also a huge value at that place in the draft - was clearly the right pick.

[Winter]

The Sergio vs Maleek debate I think will be more relevant for Mavs fans than Rez vs Burries. I’m not down on Sergio but really thought the Mavs would be taking Maleek with that late 1st pick.

That's reasonable too, but I'm guessing Schmitz had put a lot of effort into following Sergio and likely thought there would be more potential upside.

[cow]

How quickly we forget the incredible hole the Mavs desperately needed to fill at PG/creator (which Sergio obviously was drafted to address and Maleek would not). Sergio - who was both a solution to an area of major need,, and also a huge value at that place in the draft - was clearly the right pick.

We still have 2-3 shovelfuls left to fill said hole.  Keep filling, MBT.

[hakeemfaan]

It's too early for the jury to be out on Acuff. Small guards have a tough time adjusting to the speed of the game and dealing with better defensive players at the next level. I admit he has struggled with his shot because of this.

It is not about his offense. He has shown zero interest in moving without the ball and in defending.  That’s where the red flags are starting to pop up.

[hakeemfaan]

How quickly we forget the incredible hole the Mavs desperately needed to fill at PG/creator (which Sergio obviously was drafted to address and Maleek would not). Sergio - who was both a solution to an area of major need,, and also a huge value at that place in the draft - was clearly the right pick.

At this point none of us know who will pan out or not.  Just from a selfish pov, I am a sucker for great passers.  

One of my major complaints with Luka was that he wanted to be a Harden when he had  all the gifts to be a Magic.  I kept hoping it would click at some point here but it never did and one dark night he was gone forever.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Josh Robbins: The Washington Wizards have decided to shut down AJ Dybantsa, Tre Johnson and Will Riley for the team’s final three NBA Summer League games, Wizards summer-league coach T.J. Sorrentine told @TheAthleticNBA.

x.com

[F Gump]

It is not about his offense. He has shown zero interest in moving without the ball and in defending.  That’s where the red flags are starting to pop up.

Those should not be surprising. That's exactly who he was in college (no interest unless he has the ball) which caused some of us to hope he would get drafted elsewhere (by a team with a higher pick than DAL). The fact that SAC was totally obsessed with him, and drafted him, it sure has felt like a King thing.

[F Gump]

At this point none of us know who will pan out or not.  

Of course we don't. 

I was just pointing out that, when the Mavs got to their 2nd pick, it was almost a total lock they would be picking the best PG/creator possibility still on their board, and not another better-stocked position (such as a wing like Maleek). And DeLarrea was not a surprise at all to me in that pick-30 range (I had been talking about him regularly since May as a possible target for the Mavs 2nd pick) and it was just a question to me as to whether the Mavs could get him before he went elsewhere.

[SleepingHero]

All of us said that he has the rare combination of jump shot AND ability to finish difficult shots at the rim. Those two in conjunction are not common. 

It would suck if he turns out to be a Booker type. His shot is pure. 

Two of the highest floor guys in the draft from where we picked  were Burries and Rez. At least we got one. I am already reading a lot of buyer’ remorse with Acuff.

Hoping this becomes a Dirk Nowitzki/Paul Pierce debate.


The fact I am not that bummed that we passed up on Burries for Morez is such a compliment to how good Morez has looked early on. Both look like great players thus far. Burries would've fit perfectly.

[myconsumerclub]

I am so glad that the mavericks read this website and took my advice to draft Sergio.

https://www.mavsboard.com/showthread.php?tid=4022&pid=270850#pid270850

[ThisIStheYear]

How quickly we forget the incredible hole the Mavs desperately needed to fill at PG/creator (which Sergio obviously was drafted to address and Maleek would not). Sergio - who was both a solution to an area of major need,, and also a huge value at that place in the draft - was clearly the right pick.

We could use some depth behind Kyrie at the point. But there’s not a single quality shooting guard on the roster right now. Burries would have been a classic, all around 2 guard, though I’m not reallly second guessing Rez (I probably would have taken them 6/7 (behind Acuff). I’m good with Sergio (Carr was probably the last player before getting into crapshoot territory, so there’s no real cause to second guess.)

[F Gump]

We could use some depth behind Kyrie at the point. But there’s not a single quality shooting guard on the roster right now. Burries would have been a classic, all around 2 guard, though I’m not reallly second guessing Rez (I probably would have taken them 6/7 (behind Acuff). I’m good with Sergio (Carr was probably the last player before getting into crapshoot territory, so there’s no real cause to second guess.)

I can't say you're wrong. But I'm hopeful that some of the players will show way more quality than we have seen, once there's solid PG play (Kyrie) to run the show.

[Knutsen]

I can't say you're wrong. But I'm hopeful that some of the players will show way more quality than we have seen, once there's solid PG play (Kyrie) to run the show.

The question is, if Kyrie actually offers solid point guard play. 

Next to Luka he was always the second creator and more of the shooting guard in a point guards body. Same when he excelled next to LeBron or Harden, even though they didn’t play much together. 

So I’m really interested how he will interpret his role here now, if it’s a 1A and 1B with Flagg or if he does turn into a floor general.

[meistermatze]

The question is, if Kyrie actually offers solid point guard play. 

Next to Luka he was always the second creator and more of the shooting guard in a point guards body. Same when he excelled next to LeBron or Harden, even though they didn’t play much together. 

So I’m really interested how he will interpret his role here now, if it’s a 1A and 1B with Flagg or if he does turn into a floor general.

I don't think Kyrie has to turn into a traditional floor general for this to work.
The league has moved away from needing one player to orchestrate everything. If Kyrie gives you his usual 5–6 assists and Flagg becomes a legitimate secondary creator, that's enough playmaking in my opinion. The bigger challenge is making sure the rest of the lineup can keep the ball moving instead of relying on one primary initiator every possession.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I don't think Kyrie has to turn into a traditional floor general for this to work.
The league has moved away from needing one player to orchestrate everything. If Kyrie gives you his usual 5–6 assists and Flagg becomes a legitimate secondary creator, that's enough playmaking in my opinion. The bigger challenge is making sure the rest of the lineup can keep the ball moving instead of relying on one primary initiator every possession.

I disagree... Kyrie and Flagg are not enough if the other starters are Christie, PJ and a center not named Jokic or Sengun.

We need another decent ballhandler.

[windjc]

Our 2nd unit might help us win a lot of games this year.

Sergio and Gafford are going to pick and roll opponents backups to death for 10-15 minutes per game with Sasser and one of Biber, Klay or Santi knocking down threes.

Our starting 5 might not be quite contenders yet, but we are going to win some games with our depth.

The two way guys aren’t going to matter in a non-tank league.

[meistermatze]

I disagree... Kyrie and Flagg are not enough if the other starters are Christie, PJ and a center not named Jokic or Sengun.

We need another decent ballhandler.

You aren't really disagreeing, that's exactly what I said. Kyrie and Coop are enough IF the other guys can move the ball and play within the offense.
Another ballhandler doesn't really solve the problem because he probably wouldn't start. PJ and Christie are basically locked into the starting lineup since there's no real positional competition.

So it comes down to them and the center: a) knock down enough threes to keep the floor spaced, and b) make quick decisions and play within what will hopefully be a good offensive system under Dusty May. If they can do that, Kyrie and Coop are enough. If not, they aren't.

Sure, in a perfect world you'd replace Christie with a third creator who's also an elite three-point shooter. But who exactly is that player?

[FireNicoHarrison]

You aren't really disagreeing, that's exactly what I said. Kyrie and Coop are enough IF the other guys can move the ball and play within the offense.
Another ballhandler doesn't really solve the problem because he probably wouldn't start. PJ and Christie are basically locked into the starting lineup since there's no real positional competition.

So it comes down to them and the center: a) knock down enough threes to keep the floor spaced, and b) make quick decisions and play within what will hopefully be a good offensive system under Dusty May. If they can do that, Kyrie and Coop are enough. If not, they aren't.

Sure, in a perfect world you'd replace Christie with a third creator who's also an elite three-point shooter. But who exactly is that player?

I like a Derrick White or Jrue Holiday kind of player in that spot...

[Chicagojk]

A ton of rookies (even some second rounders) are putting up amazing numbers in summer league. I would just urge caution on Mavs rookies and other teams rookies. We see this every year and then most are bit players their rookie year. This year may be a little different but outside of the top picks and bad teams, most guys who earn minutes will be the ones who can fit in as a role player. At least early on.

[meistermatze]

I like a Derrick White or Jrue Holiday kind of player in that spot...

Me too, but how would you get them? Also,and probably mroe important, Jrue does not really fit our timeline at all. Not sure we should give up assets NOW. Kyrie won't be here for much longer, so we should think in terms of long-term-running mates for Coop. Even White is a little too old for that.