MAVS NEWS:

[mvossman]

Agree with everything here. And I'm not trying to make a point that the Mavs are somehow trying to build a roster that mimics the Knicks. Only if you squint is it even comparable. I think instead of having that "Center that can shoot and create for others, and 3&D Wings dishing out 5 assists per game", this team will be one that runs and guns. A lot less halfcourt oriented. A team that is built on getting boards and getting out in transition. A team that shares the ball. More movement and less ISO. No more spamming 1-5 high PnR. It will be different... because Flagg is not Luka.

And May is not Kidd.

[Scott41theMavs]

Watched the Risacher highlights from his rookie year and he is really good in the open floor filling the lanes and getting ahead of defenders.    I know May says he wants to play fast, but if they can defend and rebound well, they should be fun in the open court with Coop and others.    Especially if they have someone who can make a quick outlet pass.   

His shot seems a little weird to me.    I could see why he can be a little streaky.   Although being 36% is not bad from three.  I wonder if he can make a jump like Max did.   Max finished the year at 40%.   I think Max is a good shooter, not a great one.   Although defenses need to guard him out there.

At the risk of repeating myself yet again - have shot whisperer Dirk Nowitzki work with him.

[Scott41theMavs]

And May is not Kidd.

Can we get an “Amen?”

[OldMavsFan]

I believe that the front office believes Larry will be, if not the best PG drafted this year, then one of top 3. Larry showed he can pass that he can pass the ball without dribbling for 12 seconds and be very accurate in putting the ball in the hands of shooter, so that he is able to shot an open shot and not have to reach for the ball.  He made a number of lob passes from all over the court for dunks. He is so long he can see over and pass over almost any player and can make passes of  over 50 feet with no problem.  Now is it going to take sometime to learn when to take his shot or finish at the rim, well yes, but they have so many players that seem to have high BB IQ that  it won't take long.  Playing with Kyrie is going to make it so much easier to look good, since I can see them taking turns running the offense.

[michaeltex]

IMO, the biggest roster decision right now is how to fit 16 contracts into 15 slots. I hope M&M don't feel pressed to make a knee jerk roster decision.

Once that is done (barring any "Godfather" trades) I could see letting the guys get back to DAL and find some time in the gym together as a prelude to training camp. Coop's trainer last week said they are in Maine for a few weeks, then heading back to DAL to start ramping up for the new season. My hope is this is an invitation for all the new guys to show up and get a feel for each other ahead of TC opening on October 1st. That gives ~4 1/2 months before the TDL to see what's working and what isn't.

One comment on reading the posts for the last few weeks is there is very little talk about defensive capabilities. A year ago, defensive skill was felt to be as important as offensive skill. Now it's all about shooting, ball handling and passing. Not saying it's wrong, just that the focus feels like it's changed a lot over the last season.

[mvossman]

IMO, the biggest roster decision right now is how to fit 16 contracts into 15 slots. I hope M&M don't feel pressed to make a knee jerk roster decision.

Once that is done (barring any "Godfather" trades) I could see letting the guys get back to DAL and find some time in the gym together as a prelude to training camp. Coop's trainer last week said they are in Maine for a few weeks, then heading back to DAL to start ramping up for the new season. My hope is this is an invitation for all the new guys to show up and get a feel for each other ahead of TC opening on October 1st. That gives ~4 1/2 months before the TDL to see what's working and what isn't. 

One comment on reading the posts for the last few weeks is there is very little talk about defensive capabilities. A year ago, defensive skill was felt to be as important as offensive skill. Now it's all about shooting, ball handling and passing. Not saying it's wrong, just that the focus feels like it's changed a lot over the last season.

If there has been one consistent trait with Masai over his history, its that he does not make knee jerk decisions.

I agree on the defense.  I think Rez will become an elite NBA defender, and Sasser is a decent POA defender, but the rest is a mixed bag.  I think the focus on the board is on offense because it was so bad and painful to watch last season.  I think the general mindset is lets get a watchable (even fun) team and then worry about how to take the defense to the next level.

[Smitty]

If there has been one consistent trait with Masai over his history, its that he does not make knee jerk decisions.

I agree on the defense.  I think Rez will become an elite NBA defender, and Sasser is a decent POA defender, but the rest is a mixed bag.  I think the focus on the board is on offense because it was so bad and painful to watch last season.  I think the general mindset is lets get a watchable (even fun) team and then worry about how to take the defense to the next level.

Another thing we agree on except "the rest is a mixed bag". I don't think that Lively, Flagg, Martin, or PJ belong in the mixed bag category. All are very good - to elite defenders.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I'm hopeful it will be similar to the Dirk vs Paul Pierce debate and we end up with the better of the two players.

Dude.  I remember completely losing my shit when we passed on Paul Pierce in that draft.  I am so old.

[windjc]

Oh, they’re probably wrong. But Rez will still be a great, impactful player. He’ll never be the guard-level creator that Burries is and will be, but I do see him as having a ceiling as a poor man’s Cooper Flagg who can create off the dribble from the elbow as a forward, which, if he gets there and with all the other stuff he brings to the table, he’ll be a multi year all-star. 

Burries is indeed like Paul Pierce in that he will go waaaaay higher in a five years from now redraft, but there are some differences. Pierce was, for whatever reason, way underrated by the time of the ‘98 draft in spite of being very highly rated among those players going into the college season. Burries is different - stock rising going into the draft, but it didn’t rise nearly high enough. GMs should have seen that he deserved to be drafted fifth or sixth, and they didn’t. Pierce ended up being the second-best player (or at least having the second-best career) in that draft. Burries may end up better than one of the top four in this draft, but he’s not going to surpass all of them. 

I’m hoping that, wherever Morez lands in the 2031 redraft of 2026, he’s no more than one slot below Burries. I do believe he’ll be top seven or eight. I’m not losing my poop about it because 1) I trust in whatever vision M&M have and where Rez fits into it, and 2) I know they’ll make up for it in other areas of team-building.

I do believe that they’re underrating the importance of creation at this point, but believe that ship will be righted by the time the team is ready to contend.

Pleeeeeaaaassseeee. Statistical odds are very much in the favor of Burries NEVER being anywhere close to a star.

[Scott41theMavs]

Pleeeeeaaaassseeee. Statistical odds are very much in the favor of Burries NEVER being anywhere close to a star.

??? Based on…?

[windjc]

You bring up a good point. A team like the Knicks only played 2 "PG's" in their playoff rotation. They had a traditional starting 5:

(USG%)

PG Brunson (30.4%)
SG Hart (16.7%)
SF Bridges (17.3%)
PF OG (19.7%)
C KAT (25.9)

And the bench, in order of total minutes played in the playoffs:

SG McBride (18.2%)
SG/SF Shamet (15.7%)
C Robinson (10.7%) 
SF/SG Clarkson (21.1%)
PG Alvarado (18.9%)


Brunson (Guard) and Kat (Big) were the offensive engines and then everyone else shared the load. The Knicks ran with 1 Guard - 3 Wings - 1 Big. The biggest difference between the Knicks roster construction and the Mavs upcoming one is they had a true stretch Big / All-Star at C.

Of course, this isn't meant as some 1 for 1 comparison between the Mavs roster and the Champs. I'm just adding to your point that there's more than one way to build a roster. A lot has to go right. When it doesn't (for 29 other teams) you may have to start over from scratch, or you might just be one move away.

I think the Mavs want to see what they have with Sergio and Sasser. We (me) might not think they're good enough to handle the non-Kyrie minutes. We (me) would instead prefer a proven ball-handler/playmaker/creator/initiator... But I think we're about to see if those guys will sink or swim early on -- and live with the growing pains. For better or worse.

Thank you. Someone finally gets it. Winning isn’t so formulaic as so many in here want to make it sound like it is. 

Creation spleation.

[windjc]

The Nicks model was shooting and playmaking up and down the roster.  Even their center could shoot and create for others, and their 3&D wing was dishing out 5 assists per game.  Mavs have taken some steps in that direction (Larry, Aldama, Sasser) but they have a long way to go.  I feel like Burries was the perfect player for that model, but we will see what we get from Rez.

OMG. Those 5 assist per game was because of ball movement and rotation and PASSING. Not individual creation. 

You are so fixated on some model that you can’t see reality my man.

[windjc]

??? Based on…?

The average player drafted at his position.

[mvossman]

Another thing we agree on except "the rest is a mixed bag". I don't think that Lively, Flagg, Martin, or PJ belong in the mixed bag category. All are very good - to elite defenders.

By the rest, I meant the players we added this offseason. I guess I forgot Seva (who looked good defensively) but not sure if he is going to make the roster.

[Scott41theMavs]

The average player drafted at his position.

Pshaw. Much the same could be said for Morez at 9. All I will say is 1) this was an historically deep draft even by the prior standards of historically deep drafts, and 2) we are comparing Morez-vs.-Burries to Dirk-vs.-Pierce - a major counter-example to your point. And here I thought you had something substantial to contribute about the issue.

[windjc]

Pshaw. Much the same could be said for Morez at 9. All I will say is 1) this was an historically deep draft even by the prior standards of historically deep drafts, and 2) we are comparing Morez-vs.-Burries to Dirk-vs.-Pierce - a major counter-example to your point. And here I thought you had something substantial to contribute about the issue.

Dirk vs Pierce was once in a lifetime. I guess you are confident in twice in a lifetime. I am not.

[Scott41theMavs]

Dirk vs Pierce was once in a lifetime. I guess you are confident in twice in a lifetime. I am not.

Dirk and Pierce were the best players in their class. I am making no such claim about either Burries or Morez. I think this is a ridiculously deep draft that will produce a disproportionate number of stars. I believe Burries and Morez will be two of the best aside from the top four picked.

[Smitty]

https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/3424/2...e-notebook  "Dallas Mavericks
On a busy offseason: “This was something. Masai (Ujiri) hit the ground running and we did a lot of stuff. I think you can see some of the impact having Mike (Schmitz) on staff has had. He knows everyone who can play in the world. We’re excited about the group we’ve put together,” a Mavericks front office executive said.

“Cooper Flagg was pretty good as a rookie without a lot of help around him. Now, imagine how good he’ll be with a year of experience and better players around him?” a Mavericks front office executive said.

“He keeps getting put in all kinds of rumors, but we’re not looking to move Kyrie (Irving) and Kyrie isn’t looking to be moved either,” a Dallas front office executive said. “We didn’t get to see him with Cooper (Flagg) last year, but we’re very excited to see that pairing this year.”

On the draft: “We went in with a plan, but you always end up having to deviate some based on the board. The good news is that we feel like Morez (Johnson Jr.) is going to be an awesome frontcourt partner for Cooper (Flagg) and Dereck (Lively II),” a Mavs front office executive said. “And getting Sergio (De Larrea) late in the first (round) is huge. He can really, really play. And don’t sleep on Seva (Vsevolod Ishchenko). It might be a year or so, but he’s a player too.”

(This was a follow-up after the Zaccharie Risacher addition): “We’re thrilled to add him to our mix. Big lineups with Dereck (Lively II), Morez (Johnson Jr.), Cooper (Flagg), (Zaccharie) Risacher and some like Sergio (De Larrea) could be a real thing for us,” a Mavs assistant coach said. “It’s also really exciting to have Risacher to work with. There’s a ton of talent there and we didn’t give up much to get him.”

On the Mavericks overseas additions: “Not surprise with (Mike) Schmitz there that they had an overseas flavor this summer,” a rival team’s lead overseas scout said. “Santi (Aldama) is going to help them. Sergio De Larrea could have been drafted higher. Tarik Biberovic was a straight-up steal. He was the best volume shooter in Europe the last few years. They got (Zaccharie) Risacher basically for free and he’s good too. And (Vsevolod) Ishchenko might end up being a really good player too.”

The Mavericks draftees looked really good in Summer League. There’s a good chance both Johnson and De Larrea are helpful rotation players by the end of the season.

Echoing the scout’s opinion: Tarik Biberovic was a great get for Dallas. He’s an outstanding shooter and that should translate to the NBA right away...."

[windjc]

https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/3424/2...e-notebook  "Dallas Mavericks
On a busy offseason: “This was something. Masai (Ujiri) hit the ground running and we did a lot of stuff. I think you can see some of the impact having Mike (Schmitz) on staff has had. He knows everyone who can play in the world. We’re excited about the group we’ve put together,” a Mavericks front office executive said.

“Cooper Flagg was pretty good as a rookie without a lot of help around him. Now, imagine how good he’ll be with a year of experience and better players around him?” a Mavericks front office executive said.

“He keeps getting put in all kinds of rumors, but we’re not looking to move Kyrie (Irving) and Kyrie isn’t looking to be moved either,” a Dallas front office executive said. “We didn’t get to see him with Cooper (Flagg) last year, but we’re very excited to see that pairing this year.”

On the draft: “We went in with a plan, but you always end up having to deviate some based on the board. The good news is that we feel like Morez (Johnson Jr.) is going to be an awesome frontcourt partner for Cooper (Flagg) and Dereck (Lively II),” a Mavs front office executive said. “And getting Sergio (De Larrea) late in the first (round) is huge. He can really, really play. And don’t sleep on Seva (Vsevolod Ishchenko). It might be a year or so, but he’s a player too.”

(This was a follow-up after the Zaccharie Risacher addition): “We’re thrilled to add him to our mix. Big lineups with Dereck (Lively II), Morez (Johnson Jr.), Cooper (Flagg), (Zaccharie) Risacher and some like Sergio (De Larrea) could be a real thing for us,” a Mavs assistant coach said. “It’s also really exciting to have Risacher to work with. There’s a ton of talent there and we didn’t give up much to get him.”

On the Mavericks overseas additions: “Not surprise with (Mike) Schmitz there that they had an overseas flavor this summer,” a rival team’s lead overseas scout said. “Santi (Aldama) is going to help them. Sergio De Larrea could have been drafted higher. Tarik Biberovic was a straight-up steal. He was the best volume shooter in Europe the last few years. They got (Zaccharie) Risacher basically for free and he’s good too. And (Vsevolod) Ishchenko might end up being a really good player too.”

The Mavericks draftees looked really good in Summer League. There’s a good chance both Johnson and De Larrea are helpful rotation players by the end of the season.

Echoing the scout’s opinion: Tarik Biberovic was a great get for Dallas. He’s an outstanding shooter and that should translate to the NBA right away...."

Too much positivity…cannot compute. I keep being told the opposite…cannot compute.

[Chicagojk]

https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/3424/2...e-notebook  "Dallas Mavericks
On a busy offseason: “This was something. Masai (Ujiri) hit the ground running and we did a lot of stuff. I think you can see some of the impact having Mike (Schmitz) on staff has had. He knows everyone who can play in the world. We’re excited about the group we’ve put together,” a Mavericks front office executive said.

“Cooper Flagg was pretty good as a rookie without a lot of help around him. Now, imagine how good he’ll be with a year of experience and better players around him?” a Mavericks front office executive said.

“He keeps getting put in all kinds of rumors, but we’re not looking to move Kyrie (Irving) and Kyrie isn’t looking to be moved either,” a Dallas front office executive said. “We didn’t get to see him with Cooper (Flagg) last year, but we’re very excited to see that pairing this year.”

On the draft: “We went in with a plan, but you always end up having to deviate some based on the board. The good news is that we feel like Morez (Johnson Jr.) is going to be an awesome frontcourt partner for Cooper (Flagg) and Dereck (Lively II),” a Mavs front office executive said. “And getting Sergio (De Larrea) late in the first (round) is huge. He can really, really play. And don’t sleep on Seva (Vsevolod Ishchenko). It might be a year or so, but he’s a player too.”

(This was a follow-up after the Zaccharie Risacher addition): “We’re thrilled to add him to our mix. Big lineups with Dereck (Lively II), Morez (Johnson Jr.), Cooper (Flagg), (Zaccharie) Risacher and some like Sergio (De Larrea) could be a real thing for us,” a Mavs assistant coach said. “It’s also really exciting to have Risacher to work with. There’s a ton of talent there and we didn’t give up much to get him.”

On the Mavericks overseas additions: “Not surprise with (Mike) Schmitz there that they had an overseas flavor this summer,” a rival team’s lead overseas scout said. “Santi (Aldama) is going to help them. Sergio De Larrea could have been drafted higher. Tarik Biberovic was a straight-up steal. He was the best volume shooter in Europe the last few years. They got (Zaccharie) Risacher basically for free and he’s good too. And (Vsevolod) Ishchenko might end up being a really good player too.”

The Mavericks draftees looked really good in Summer League. There’s a good chance both Johnson and De Larrea are helpful rotation players by the end of the season.

Echoing the scout’s opinion: Tarik Biberovic was a great get for Dallas. He’s an outstanding shooter and that should translate to the NBA right away...."

No PJ, Marshall or Gafford mentions.   

I have been thinking how I would rank the importance of the new guys brought to this team.

I think I would have the following
1) Morez-  This is sort of obvious
2) Risacher-  This is debateable but because he is older we may get an answer to him sooner than #3.
3) Sergio- could be #2, but we will see
4) Aldama
5)Sasser
6) Tarek
7) second round guys