MAVS NEWS:

[Chicagojk]

@ShamsCharania
BREAKING: Klay Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat after he clears waivers upon a contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN.

Not really surprising.    Found it difficult a trade was available to be made considering his salary and Dallas lacking a roster spot.  This was always the most likely end game.  Sure, you could play hardball and tell him to stick around until trade deadline, but if he was really not in their plans and no minutes available, you really don't do that to a guy like Klay.    I was thinking a Martin buyout may be an option but the additional year probably made it less likely.

The question is if this is end of summer clean up or if this leads to another move.

[mvossman]

Not really surprising.    Found it difficult a trade was available to be made considering his salary and Dallas lacking a roster spot.  This was always the most likely end game.  Sure, you could play hardball and tell him to stick around until trade deadline, but if he was really not in their plans and no minutes available, you really don't do that to a guy like Klay.    I was thinking a Martin buyout may be an option but the additional year probably made it less likely.

The question is if this is end of summer clean up or if this leads to another move.

I think this was more about doing Klay a solid than anything else. Why they did it now instead of dragging it out the entire offseason. My guess is they are done for now.

[Moviemavguy]

Not really surprising.    Found it difficult a trade was available to be made considering his salary and Dallas lacking a roster spot.  This was always the most likely end game.  Sure, you could play hardball and tell him to stick around until trade deadline, but if he was really not in their plans and no minutes available, you really don't do that to a guy like Klay.    I was thinking a Martin buyout may be an option but the additional year probably made it less likely.

The question is if this is end of summer clean up or if this leads to another move.

Knicks forcing us into a Cisse decision was the nail since we had 16 players under contract.

[Chicagojk]

I think Klay is a pretty solid get for Miami.    That Miami roster is weird though.  Sort of feels like Milwaukee with a much better coaching staff and better infrastructure.   Feels like a weird roster though.

[KillerLeft]

It is just my opinion.  Could be wrong.  I did not focus much on Johnson last year when it become apparent the Mavs were going to suck.   I have watched him more since he was drafted, but certainly not a deep dive.  I think he does some things better at Center than PF now.    I just personally feel the best case upside for his career is if he can be  a real good PF who can also play center.    Maybe it is a preference.   I have needed to step back my fondness for Lively because he has not been able to be on the floor.    Although if my vision for Lively comes to reality, I think Lively is a player who finishes important games.   If true, Morez will need to be a PF if he wants to be on the court in important minutes.  Time will tell if Lively can stay on the court though.

I don’t mean to belabor this, but I don’t understand WHY this is your preference. 

Is it born of a desire to make Johnson work WITH Lively? Do you simply think the 4 is a more important/harder to fill position on the team than the 5?

[KillerLeft]

I think this was more about doing Klay a solid than anything else. Why they did it now instead of dragging it out the entire offseason. My guess is they are done for now.

Yeah, most of us thought this was the eventual finishing move, but I don’t think they do it unless they’ve exhausted every other avenue first. I think the roster is probably the roster for a while.

[Smitty]

@MarcJSpears
Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Phil Handy is finalizing a deal to become an assistant coach with Philadelphia Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, a source said. Handy previously worked with Nurse in Toronto and with LeBron James with the Cavs and Lakers. Great addition for Nurse.

[Chicagojk]

How does the buyout work?  I assume if the Heat has money left over that minus his salary is what the buyout number would be right?  Does that help Dallas in anyway if he give 6 or 8 million back?   Or is it just cost savings?

[Winter]

"There’s no word yet on how much of his salary Thompson gave up in Dallas or how much he’ll actually receive in Miami. The Heat are currently about $10.6MM below the first apron with three roster spots to fill.

Thompson’s minimum salary is $3.9MM, so he likely surrendered at least that much, states Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Twitter link). Gozlan notes that the Mavericks were roughly $2.2M beneath the luxury tax line before the buyout."

[Mavs2021]

Mavs only get financial relief, but not actual workable cap relief, correct?

[Smitty]

Kyrie | Sergio | Sasser
Christie | Risacher | Tarik
Flagg | Naji | Martin
PJW | Aldama
Gafford | Morez | Cisse

Injured: Lively

Two-Way: Poulakidas, Howard, Lawal

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

Risascher can't dribble, he is a 3, not a 2. Naji will be a guard until someone better comes along to reinforce the guard lineup.

[Smitty]

Risascher can't dribble, he is a 3, not a 2. Naji will be a guard until someone better comes along to reinforce the guard lineup.

ZR can dribble just fine. He’s nothing like THJ or Reggie Bullock for example. He’s not a PG type ‘guard’, of course.

I agree with the Naji take. He will function as a ‘guard’ offensively when he’s on the floor. Much like Flagg, Kyrie, Sergio, & Sasser.

[mvossman]

Mavs only get financial relief, but not actual workable cap relief, correct?

I think its cap relief as well.  This gives them more room under the tax and aprons (depending on how much it is).

[Scott41theMavs]

I think its cap relief as well.  This gives them more room under the tax and aprons (depending on how much it is).

Yes. This was clarified earlier.

[Scott41theMavs]

In b4 DallasMaverick says "In b4 Scott says, 'Fire M&M,'" lol.

I regard this as a misstep/loss by Masai, but a small one. Yes, Presti would have handled this better, but he wasn't available.

I'm glad that waiving Cisse is more or less off the table. This move also allows for a one-for-one trade that doesn't need to be followed up for any other roster move. We'll see if Mathurin, or anyone else, becomes a target.

[Scott41theMavs]

So Klay signs for around $13 mil. That's about that much tax and cap relief for the Mavs. This makes a lot more sense now.

Edit: dang, over two years. Not as good. Meh.

[cow]

Thanks, Klay.  You were a good Mav under terrible circumstances.  Sorry Nico screwed you (and us) over.  Glad we did you a solid.  I'd wish you luck if you weren't going to Miami.

[KillerLeft]

@MarcJSpears
Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Phil Handy is finalizing a deal to become an assistant coach with Philadelphia Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, a source said. Handy previously worked with Nurse in Toronto and with LeBron James with the Cavs and Lakers. Great addition for Nurse.

I'm not really loving this development.

Although, I don't suppose it matter that much, given how short Kyrie's time here might be. In fact, that might be part of the thinking on Handy's part.

[Scott41theMavs]

I'm not really loving this development.

Although, I don't suppose it matter that much, given how short Kyrie's time here might be. In fact, that might be part of the thinking on Handy's part.

I saw this discussed on the Discord. What's the link between Handy and Kyrie?