DAL OFFSEASON: Trade & FA | Mavs "mostly done...but you never know."

[khaled1987]

Playmaking...

We’ve had a great off-season so far, but I think the need for creators is far greater than the needs for more bigs...

Luka, Brunson, Burke... who’s your next best playmaker?

Terry

[BigDirk41]

JRich is going to be the starting 2 guard. I don't know what they will do at the 4, but 1-3 will be Luka, JRich and THJ as the roster currently sits.

[omahen]

JRich is going to be the starting 2 guard. I don't know what they will do at the 4, but 1-3 will be Luka, JRich and THJ as the roster currently sits.

Exactly. Number 4 will be probably more flexible. Maxi will start against big teams as Pelicans and DFS will start agains smaller teams. Burke and Terry will compete for back up SG job (Burke has slight advantage). Green will get some minutes at SF, Johnson swiss army knife at SF, PF or C. Powell will be KP back up.

[khaled1987]

Hmmmm, not fully sure about this title to the article. Losing DH is gonna take a toll IMO. Rondo leaving will be a hit considering his playoff run. I think it's gonna take more than Harrell to make them a better team.

Harrell for Dwight and Schroeder for Rondo is a huge improvement.

Lakers identity was their defense tbh. 

Losing Howard and Rondo (and Green) hurts that.
One is 3 times DPOY, another is 4 times all defensive team and the 3rd is one time All NBA defensive team.

[sefant]

Does Marc Gasol has anything left in the tank? He isn't signed yet either. There was a Lakers rumor, and that was it so far.

UFA as well

[omahen]

What will Bulls do with all those scoring guards (White, LaVine, Valentine) and no playmakers. Bulls have now 15 players under contract, if my count is right

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status...4237747200

---

Orlando just running it back for another season.

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status...1613774850

[Mavs2019]

What will Bulls do with all those scoring guards (White, LaVine, Valentine) and no playmakers. Bulls have now 15 players under contract, if my count is right

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status...4237747200

Satoransky and Lavine are playmakers, though no classical PGs.

I agree that it´s a bit unclear where this is supposed to be headed, but they have a new FO and you can´t expect them to turn over the whole roster in a day. Everybody was freaking out over Toppin and then the Knicks just cut two of their PFs. 

Valentine is clearly not a priority and more of a cheap cover option. He took the opportunity to make himself an UFA next year. It´s only 8-9 months away. Win-Win.

OPJ and Young are the most likely trade candidates now, but I wouldn´t be shocked, if the Bulls just wanted to evaluate their whole roster for 3-4 months first.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Good Morning All.  Anything happen overnight?  

For quite a while we've talked about strategic direction.  Spend a bunch of money or hang onto cap room in 21 or something in between.  If "something in between" looked like improvement, then I termed it Plan HIBW's (Have it Both Ways).  I think this qualifies.  We moved off of the guaranteed money of Curry and Wright and now have max GA cap room in 21 if we want it.  Richardson is a good fit at starting SG and improves us.  I think many of us wanted something more than James Johnson (though he was brought up in discussions), but did you see what something-more-than-James-Johnson cost?  

I thought an average of $13mm for Wood was about right.  But $20mm per year for Grant? (who was it that said Denver would never "let" him go after paying a first rounder for him).  Plumlee?  $16 x 4 for 31 year old Marcus Morris.  No thank you.  Even $20.5 for Gallinari was a little rich for my blood (and what happens with John Collins now)?  I think Dallas had two ways to go last night.  Deal Wright/Jackson for Wood (Wright did end up in Detroit...Casey...as predicted) and sign DJJ to the MLE both of which would have tied up long term money.  OR, something along the lines of what they did creating cap room in 21.  I feel like Dallas was probably in on some of the long term ideas but either got outbid or players saw better opportunities for minutes/role elsewhere.

I'm left a little empty on Johnson, but just a little (like getting a B when I was expecting an A).  It is an excellent strategic move, don't get me wrong.  And, I think Johnson checks some boxes.  Perimeter D with size against bigger wings.  Some outside shooting.  I think you'll find he's much better above the break.  Johnson isn't good at standing in the corner and launching 3's.  Can run the PnR and more especially the Pick and Pop.  Is a better ball handler than you probably expect.  Is a good finisher and is a tough veteran enforcer.  I like all of that.  I was just hoping for it in a younger body tied up on a longer term deal.

Carlisle now has TREMENDOUS lineup flexibility.  As I've said before, the fourth starter looks like it will be "by committee".  KP, THJ, Richardson and Luka seem like locks to me.  The fourth could be Powell, Maxi, DFS or Johnson depending on the opponent.  All of Maxi, Powell and Johnson are good in the PnR, but have other ways of taking advantage of the attention paid to Luka and KP when they are the focus of the play (especially Johnson and Maxi).  We can go heavy on D with KP/Johnson/DFS/Richardson and Luka.  We can go small with Johnson/DFS/THJ or Richardson/Burke and Luka.  The flexibility will come in handy in the playoffs.  BTW, who do you play off of if you are defending the primary action between Luka and KP?

From here, I'd probably just bring back WCS for most of the rest of the MLE for one year (maybe team option for the second).  I'd also probably bring back Lee.  If everyone is healthy, we might not need another center.  But, everyone isn't healthy.  One thing to point out...we can turn around and trade Johnson for someone making $21mm right now.  I need to look up the aggregation date under this new arrangement.  I think it more likely we keep what we have and roll into 21 with max space.  We worked too hard and it is too exactly on the money for GA's number to give up now.  Obviously, 21 doesn't have to be just about Giannis.  I think much will depend on how Richardson looks here and how successful we are in the playoffs.

[dirkfansince1998]

I would love to know if the just paid Burke more than the vet min because they thought he earned it or because they had to outbid another team.
The Mavs have a tendency to hand out big contracts to "loyal boys in blue". That´s how Dwight Powell ended up with his big contract.

The Burke deal indicates that they never considered the guys that most of us considered to be in the full MLE range (Crowder, DJJ or Millsap). That´s probably the most confusing part.

[Drew]

Yeah I’d like another smart trade for a starting piece or key rotation player.

But if they just brought in WCS at this point to help give 4/5 rotation until KP/Powell are both back and in shape I’d consider this a pretty successful offseason.

They obviously improved. I don’t think it’s a stretch to think, if healthy(as they weren’t in the playoffs) with natural progression of some players and Richardson/Johnson/rookies they’re quite but better and should be challenging for a home court seed in the playoffs.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I would love to know if the just paid Burke more than the vet min because they thought he earned it or because they had to outbid another team.
The Mavs have a tendency to hand out big contracts to "loyal boys in blue". That´s how Dwight Powell ended up with his big contract.

The Burke deal indicates that they never considered the guys that most of us considered to be in the full MLE range (Crowder, DJJ or Millsap). That´s probably the most confusing part.

Or, once it became clear they weren't going to get a good multi-year starter through trade, their fallback plan was Johnson.  Once you go there, there isn't any point spending the entire MLE on a multi-year guy.  Burke makes just about the right amount on his multi-year to preserve space for GA.  So, you could be right or he could have been Plan B when Plan A didn't work.  It's not like Burke signed at 5:01.

[dirkfansince1998]

Yeah I’d like another smart trade for a starting piece or key rotation player.

But if they just brought in WCS at this point to help give 4/5 rotation until KP/Powell are both back and in shape I’d consider this a pretty successful offseason.

They obviously improved. I don’t think it’s a stretch to think, if healthy(as they weren’t in the playoffs) with natural progression of some players and Richardson/Johnson/rookies they’re quite but better and should be challenging for a home court seed in the playoffs.

KP is out for at least the first month. Powell is coming back from an achilles injury. Not to mention that other teams improved just as much or even more.
Portland finally added the wing defender they missed in the last few years. Suns added CP3. Obviously the Rockets and Thunder are out of the playoff picture. Timberwolves added the 1st overall  pick Edwards and Rubio. Not really sure what the Warriors can do.
Right now I think the Mavs will be in the fight for the 6th-8th seed.

---

I would love to know if the just paid Burke more than the vet min because they thought he earned it or because they had to outbid another team.
The Mavs have a tendency to hand out big contracts to "loyal boys in blue". That´s how Dwight Powell ended up with his big contract.

The Burke deal indicates that they never considered the guys that most of us considered to be in the full MLE range (Crowder, DJJ or Millsap). That´s probably the most confusing part.

Or, once it became clear they weren't going to get a good multi-year starter through trade, their fallback plan was Johnson.  Once you go there, there isn't any point spending the entire MLE on a multi-year guy.  Burke makes just about the right amount on his multi-year to preserve space for GA.  So, you could be right or he could have been Plan B when Plan A didn't work.  It's not like Burke signed at 5:01.

I don´t think guys like Crowder, Millsap or Ibaka signed with any team as of now. I think they prefered the easy way to max capspace and with Johnson they also added a piece that is basically the poor man´s version of Millsap.

[SamStetz]

I’m still holding out hope for Crowder, and honestly I think there’s still a decent chance he considers Dallas. Otherwise, I’d like WCS back and maybe even Cousins? I feel like the board goes back and forth on him, so what’s the current feeling on adding Cousins?

[DanSchwartzgan]

---

 
The Burke deal indicates that they never considered the guys that most of us considered to be in the full MLE range (Crowder, DJJ or Millsap). That´s probably the most confusing part.

Or, once it became clear they weren't going to get a good multi-year starter through trade, their fallback plan was Johnson.  Once you go there, there isn't any point spending the entire MLE on a multi-year guy.  Burke makes just about the right amount on his multi-year to preserve space for GA.  So, you could be right or he could have been Plan B when Plan A didn't work.  It's not like Burke signed at 5:01.

I don´t think guys like Crowder, Millsap or Ibaka signed with any team as of now. I think they prefered the easy way to max capspace and with Johnson they also added a piece that is basically the poor man´s version of Millsap.

Maybe I wasn't clear.  I think those guys and maybe DJJ were considered.  But only if they landed someone on a multi-year basis using trade assets.  They reportedly tried for Covington and very likely tried for Gallinari and Wood.  If they could have landed one of those guys, why not go all in with the MLE.  But, once that didn't happen, why not go all in on 21.  There was no point in combining expiring Johnson with multi-year Crowder.  It would have just meant there was no strategic plan.

[omahen]

Right now I think the Mavs will be in the fight for the 6th-8th seed.

At this point
1. Lakers are better imho
2. Clippers are worse and locker room issues perhaps remaining. 2 guys basically ran away
3. Denver is worse
4. Utah is same, same
5. Houston is worse, might implode with all main players unhappy
6. Portland is much better
7. Phoenix had a nice start (CP3) but very meh draft and start of FA. A little better, not really affraid of them
8. Memphis is same same
9. SA is same same
10. Minny got better on paper, but I think they will be total crap. 4 out of 5 starters don't play defense. Total guard logjam with no wings
11. GSW will be better, but I doubt they can be a top contender after Thompson injury - can they really sustain that tax bill?
12. Pelicans look bad. Reddick is the only shooter. Ingram is ok, the rest of main players are not (Bledsoe, Adams, Zion, I don't trust Ball). I expect more moves here, but that Adams, Zion frontcourt will clogg the lane badly.
13. Sacramento will be same as last year at best, probably worse
14. OKC is a G-league team

I think Mavs are better and their work will be easier

---

So Hill and Miles to OKC. Hill will be traded 100 %. Miller also probably.

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1330163360403484681

[vfromlmf]

They reportedly tried for Covington and very likely tried for Gallinari and Wood.

No need to speculate, they reportedly (Pincus) tried for Gallo too.

I heard that the structure of a Wood deal was actually put in place on draft night, so there was no real drama with him. I had hoped the Mavs let Saddiq Bey slide to the Pistons as part of a Wood deal; but it turns out the draft night agreement on Wood was about the Arriza / no 16 transaction, which wasn't made official until the Wood deal was announced. Last night was mostly about making the contract work with HOU.

[ClutchDirk]

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1330169612886044672

---

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1330167095984869378

[Mavs2019]

I’m still holding out hope for Crowder, and honestly I think there’s still a decent chance he considers Dallas. Otherwise, I’d like WCS back and maybe even Cousins? I feel like the board goes back and forth on him, so what’s the current feeling on adding Cousins?

I don´t think we´ll sign a PG/SG/SF with the remaining MLE. That would have to happen via trade.

PF/C are generally cheaper and that´s where they´ll put that MLE money to round out the roster.  Of course some will get more than our available $6M, but the majority (~70%) won´t. Pretty confident you could split the money between WCS and Giles for example.

Ibaka
Gasol
Whiteside
Cousins
Noah
WCS
Baynes
Noel
Biyombo
W. Hernangomez
Henson
Gibson
Ilyasova
Kaminsky
Giles
Portis
Vonleh
Mahinmi
Len
Maker
Quinn
T. Zeller

[dirkfansince1998]

Heat signing Harkless. Is Crowder gone?

[$aulgman]

Wish list ... Cousins & Crowder

I think both guys help us match up better with LA.

Crowder and JJ to throw at LBJ and Cousins to bully AD offensively. We would be totally transformed into one of the more physical teams in the league.