MAVS NEWS:

[Dahlsim]

Well we finally have an update

https://x.com/bannedmacmahon/status/2102...55047?s=46

Joel Embiid missed his entire first two NBA seasons (2014–15 and 2015–16) while recovering from a stress fracture of the navicular bone in his right foot.  
The good news is after the recover he's had no issues with the foot although he's had plenty of other injury issues.

[F Gump]

Lively is tricky.  Do we even really know much about his surgery?   It feels like not a lot has gotten out.  Foot injuries for bigs are concerning but I feel like this should not be a career threatening thing.   He hasn't been able to play basketball hardly at all for a year though.   From all the pictures from the Mavs, he is in plenty lifting weights but I have not seen him on the court yet playing basketball.   That is a tad concerning.    Also, his style of play of contesting a lot of shots at the rim in a crowded lane is also dangerous.

I have been preaching for MONTHS that Lively is way farther away from a return than anyone wants to admit. Every time the question is asked about his future availability, the answer never has any sort of schedule or date, and always deflects to comments about how good he looks and how hard he works and him being in the training room and the like.

As much as we wish otherwise, he can't be in their plans this season. And the talk from time to time of a new contract is ludicrous.

At this point, Lively is just an idea. A wish. A memory of a short-lived stretch of promising play. But he's not a plan, and that idea is not real.

[Mavs2021]

Finley just took Dwight Powell´s job.

When is the opening day/scrimmage of training camp? Friday? Saturday? I need some basketball.

[Chicagojk]

Bill Simmons mentioning Dallas a few times recently

https://x.com/NickVanExit/status/2103114475809186084

https://x.com/KirkSeriousFace/status/210...0444999105

[OBX Maverick]

Joel Embiid missed his entire first two NBA seasons (2014–15 and 2015–16) while recovering from a stress fracture of the navicular bone in his right foot.  
The good news is after the recover he's had no issues with the foot although he's had plenty of other injury issues.

I agree, and Lively is lighter and much more fit than JE, which should play in his favor.  Hopefully the foot will be in his rear view……What doesn’t play in Lively’s favor is that he is very much an above the rim player who will leave himself susceptible to lower body injuries as long as he continues to play that way. I don’t think anyone’s ever confused JE as an above the rim guy….he’s very much a plodder at this point.

[myconsumerclub]

I would be much happier if Lively were shooting a lot more threes and imitating Wemby more.

We got a banger in the middle with Gafford so I think we need Lively to develop into a stretch big so he can open up the middle for Cooper or are we just waiting on Santi and Morez to do their best and forget how well Lively could hit the 3 last time we caught a peek of him trying to do that.

[Chicagojk]

Mavs sign Powell

https://x.com/MavsPR/status/2103499394779910351

[michaeltex]

Staffing announcements for DAL:

Michael Finley is now the franchise's Senior Director of Player, Community and Alumni Engagement, where he will provide support to the front office and focus on strengthening relationships among Mavericks players, alumni and the North Texas community.

Director of Basketball Operations: Tim Chung, who spent the past three seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies as the Senior Manager of Basketball Logistics and Operations and the eight years prior to that with the Toronto Raptors organization.

Vice President of Global Talent Identification & International Affairs: Patrick Engelbrecht, who has more than 13 years of experience with the Toronto Raptors. Most recently, he served as director of global scouting & international affairs in Toronto.

Mavericks' Manager of Scouting, Texas Legends' Assistant General Manager: Ijeoma Ofomata will begin a dual role after spending the past three years with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Assistant General Manager: Matt Redfield, who spent the past five seasons (2021-26) as Senior Director of Strategy and Analytics with the Toronto Raptors. Before his time with the Raptors, Redfield served as the director of AI products at Second Spectrum in Los Angeles.

Senior Director, Basketball Salary Cap & Strategy: Blaise Ross joins Dallas after spending the last five years at the NBA league office. There, he served as associate vice president and senior associate counsel, Player Matters.

Director of Global Player Strategy: Joseph Tipton, who brings a background spanning professional sports, investment and entertainment. Tipton most recently was an investor at Helios (London), where he helped grow sports leagues, music IPs and entertainment infrastructure.

Director of Africa/Player Development & Scouting: Joe Touomou, who brings more than 25 years of international basketball and sports development experience. Most recently, he served as the technical director of NBA Academy Africa, where he identified and developed elite talent while helping grow the game across the continent.

Director of Mind Health: Ally Wade, a licensed psychologist for Dallas Mental Health and Performance for the past three years.

The Mavericks also announced the hires of Katie Babcock (Massage Therapist/Athletic Trainer), Chef John Bauer (Director of Culinary Operations), Kevin Clerkley (Assistant Athletic Trainer), Erica French (Mavericks Performance Kitchen General Manager), Matt McGann (Video Scouting Manager), Ron Meikle (pro scout), Justin Serresse (global scout) and Dame Wall (player development).

[Chicagojk]

6'11 Flagg?

https://x.com/TheSteinLine/status/2103516409892397413

[Knutsen]

6'11 Flagg?

https://x.com/TheSteinLine/status/2103516409892397413

No, 6’10!

So he indeed was growing another inch since last year - makes him an even tougher matchup.

[KillerLeft]

Mavs sign Powell

https://x.com/MavsPR/status/2103499394779910351

I'm sure this will induce eye rolls on a massive scale but I don't hate it. 

I kind of doubt this results in a roster spot. It feels more like "camp body with experience who breaks camp as a player development coach" to me, but we'll see. No matter what happens, I kind of like that Powell and the Mavs have so much loyalty for each other, and it's cool that this phenomenon transcends turnover in coaching staffs, ownership, etc.

[F Gump]

I would be much happier if Lively were shooting a lot more threes and imitating Wemby more.

We got a banger in the middle with Gafford so I think we need Lively to develop into a stretch big so he can open up the middle for Cooper or are we just waiting on Santi and Morez to do their best and forget how well Lively could hit the 3 last time we caught a peek of him trying to do that.

What we need from Lively isn't some new skill to magically appear from nowhere - we just need him to get in the game on a regular basis.  

I don't know how the idea that Lively is a potential stretch 3 came into being, but it's absurd. He has made ZERO 3's in his career. He has attempted 2. In total in his NBA career, he has attempted 11 shots beyond 10 feet (and only made 3 shots, total). Where he has shown perimeter-playing skills (when he has played) is on defense, not offense.

[Chicagojk]

No, 6’10!

So he indeed was growing another inch since last year - makes him an even tougher matchup.

I count that as 6'11 though because with shoes you add an inch.  I believe they are measured with shoes now at the combine......or they should.

[Winter]

Full breakdown from Media Day.

https://www.nba.com/news/live-updates-20...-media-day

[cow]

I'm sure this will induce eye rolls on a massive scale but I don't hate it. 

I kind of doubt this results in a roster spot. It feels more like "camp body with experience who breaks camp as a player development coach" to me, but we'll see. No matter what happens, I kind of like that Powell and the Mavs have so much loyalty for each other, and it's cool that this phenomenon transcends turnover in coaching staffs, ownership, etc.

Could just be a million dollar thank you before putting him on staff.

[Dahlsim]

No, 6’10!

So he indeed was growing another inch since last year - makes him an even tougher matchup.

Potentially very impactful combined with the reports of Flagg being bigger stronger build wise.

We don't know if they also measured for any updates to his wingspan, but that would matter, maybe even more than the height.

[Chicagojk]

So I thought it was strange, Dallas didn’t have a few camp invites filled. They are unlikely to make the team with a filled roster but you never stop looking. Plus Dallas is starting early and has a trip to China. Always good to have as many bodies as possible.

Well it looks like they announced they are bringing Seth Lundy to camp.
Former second round pick who has missed time with an ankle injury the last two years.

I believe they could bring one more person to camp.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

No, 6’10!

So he indeed was growing another inch since last year - makes him an even tougher matchup.

Growing an inch taller doesn't make him any tougher matchup than if he were 6'9.  Nothing changes.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Mavs sign Powell

https://x.com/MavsPR/status/2103499394779910351

It is a strange thing to pay someone $1.0mm for 3 weeks of work...even a long term locker room leader like Powell.  It gets my spidey sences thinking through possibilities.  Maybe they feel they need more than just the current cast of centers for the portion of the season Lively will miss.  It might be that they just don't feel comfortable with Gafford/Rookie/Cisse - especially is someone gets hurt.

So, what would be a possible solution and why hasn't it happened already?

My thoughts go to Martin.  Detroit has Robinson at $16mm this season, but only $2.0mm is guaranteed right now.  They are still working with Duren on a deal.  Would Martin at $10mm be more valuable to them than Robinson at $16mm?  Maybe.  It would give them a bit more room under the tax for the eventual Duren signing (which could be why it isn't done already).

Can you bump Robinson's guaranteed up a little and move him for Martin.  Dallas cuts him and is back to 15 spots.  Both teams are helped and Dallas is still way under the tax with flexibility for later deals.

[Scott41theMavs]

Growing an inch taller doesn't make him any tougher matchup than if he were 6'9.  Nothing changes.