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

[jesusshuttlesworth82]

I still like the Clippers right behind the Lakers.

Just getting rid of Doc Rivers might have been the biggest upgrade among contenders.  If they can land a legit PG somehow before the playoffs, I might even have them as my favorite.  That and fix any potential problems in the locker room (Harrell is now gone).

[omahen]

That and fix any potential problems in the locker room (Harrell is now gone).

As far as we could get from media, the locker room problem was PG, which neither of guys from season before (Lou, Harrell, Bev,...) liked.

[cjeter24]

I still like the Clippers right behind the Lakers.

Just getting rid of Doc Rivers might have been the biggest upgrade among contenders.  If they can land a legit PG somehow before the playoffs, I might even have them as my favorite.  That and fix any potential problems in the locker room (Harrell is now gone).

Are we sure Ty Lue is any better? 

The issue with the Clippers offseason is I'm not sure they really improved any of their roster flaws. I do like their replacements tho.

[jesusshuttlesworth82]

That and fix any potential problems in the locker room (Harrell is now gone).

As far as we could get from media, the locker room problem was PG, which neither of guys from season before (Lou, Harrell, Bev,...) liked.

From the reports, one (or multiple) of the holdovers from the year before didnt like PG at all and also didn't like the special treatment Kawhi was getting.

So it's possible Harrell was the primary voice of discontent.  Bev maybe also.  Lou I doubt it.  He's one of the most chill dudes in the league.

[Branduil]

Baynes would have been a way better pickup for LA than Harrell IMO.

[jesusshuttlesworth82]

Baynes can't give them 16ppg off the bench.

AD is going to play center in closing lineups anyway.

[KillerLeft]

Baynes can't give them 16ppg off the bench.

AD is going to play center in closing lineups anyway.

Yep. I'm sure other teams had interest in Baynes, but it seems like his play was to sit and wait for a starting job (a REAL one, where you finish games, too). Incidentally, I don't think he could've gotten that HERE, either.

[SleepingHero]

I get that we're supposed to hate the Lakers but 90% of this board thought they had no shot last year because of their lack of depth.  Now they get legit depth and people think they got worse.

To be fair, I did not see Rajon Rondo shooting over 40% from 3 and Anthony Davis never getting an injury. 

Everything fell in place for the Lakers. I do think on paper they've improved, but the Lakers are a wonky team. Maybe losing Rondo/Howard/Bradley might actually set them back.

Schroder isn't as good on defense, but is certainly better on offense. It remains to be seen what Harrell can do without another 6MOY on the court and  has never been known for his defense, but he's now playing with Lebron so... 

Overall I think the Lakers do take a step back. Just natural after winning a title and the average age of that team. But how much of a step back remains to be seen and even if they do take a step back they're probably still right there to win the title.

[jesusshuttlesworth82]

Baynes can't give them 16ppg off the bench.

AD is going to play center in closing lineups anyway.

Yep. I'm sure other teams had interest in Baynes, but it seems like his play was to sit and wait for a starting job (a REAL one, where you finish games, too). Incidentally, I don't think he could've gotten that HERE, either.

Yes, I've been reading the Suns forums when all that #18 trade rumors happened.  They all said Baynes wanted out because he wanted a bigger role than backing up Ayton.

[Jason Terry]

That and fix any potential problems in the locker room (Harrell is now gone).

As far as we could get from media, the locker room problem was PG, which neither of guys from season before (Lou, Harrell, Bev,...) liked.

From the reports, one (or multiple) of the holdovers from the year before didnt like PG at all and also didn't like the special treatment Kawhi was getting.

So it's possible Harrell was the primary voice of discontent.  Bev maybe also.  Lou I doubt it.  He's one of the most chill dudes in the league.

Hopefully it’s still a recipe for locker room disaster again. We are better than them with what we have today. We are definitely more improved. Better team

[Branduil]

I get that we're supposed to hate the Lakers but 90% of this board thought they had no shot last year because of their lack of depth.  Now they get legit depth and people think they got worse.

To be fair, I did not see Rajon Rondo shooting over 40% from 3 and Anthony Davis never getting an injury. 

Everything fell in place for the Lakers. I do think on paper they've improved, but the Lakers are a wonky team. Maybe losing Rondo/Howard/Bradley might actually set them back.

Schroder isn't as good on defense, but is certainly better on offense. It remains to be seen what Harrell can do without another 6MOY on the court and  has never been known for his defense, but he's now playing with Lebron so... 

Overall I think the Lakers do take a step back. Just natural after winning a title and the average age of that team. But how much of a step back remains to be seen and even if they do take a step back they're probably still right there to win the title.

Yeah the Lakers are favorites for sure but I also wouldn't be shocked if age finally caught up with them, especially with the compressed season.

[cow]

Yeah the Lakers are favorites for sure but I also wouldn't be shocked if age finally caught up with them, especially with the compressed season.

Got to be fearful of Day-to-Davis too.

[Playmaker]

Johnson deal still not announced publicly.

[KillerLeft]

Johnson deal still not announced publicly.

Interesting.

[Tyler]

Johnson deal still not announced publicly.

I assume it's simply because the league has to process several Ariza trades before they can finalize the last one involving Dallas. But we'll see.

[KillerLeft]

because the league has to process several Ariza trades

Word. Good call.

[LukasBestFriendForeverTonyT]

A little late to the Lake-show here, but I want to put in my .02.

First off that team starts and ends w Lebron and AD. They were the most loaded team in the bubble and I won’t say they easily won bc the Nuggets had a chance to beat them and they never faced the Clippers.

But c’mon, they lost Howard and McGee and got Gasol and Harrell. They are fine.

Lose Rondo and gain Schroeder. Screw you Lakers. I won’t try and pretend they are moving backwards with this move, but secretly I would love that to happen.

Rationally I can’t say they aren’t the favorites.

Clippers will run it back and should be a top 4 seed.

Nuggets the same. Another top 4 seed.

My only ask of the Mavs is to earn a top 4 seed. I think they can do it. Defense is going to be our calling card and defense you can rely on. We should take a major leap from last year in terms of record as we just barely learned how to close games in the final 8 before the bubble.

If we can get that top 4 seed we can possible get to the WCF and then it’s a toss up from there. I thought we were on par with the Nuggets all last year. They had more playoff experience and clearly have become a better team than us, but we should be noticeably better by next years playoffs.

Which is why I have us leap frogging the Rockets, Warriors(bc Klay is out but they can still probably challenge us), Jazz and Portland are good but we will be better.

The ultimate question: Can we beat the Lakers to get to the finals?

I say Yes. We are the ultimate difficult match up for them. We are going to be a rough rider group next year and I believe we will put fear into our opponent. Mavs are nice guys but won’t be on the court. Luka’s personality is straight killer instinct and that’s going to be our personality as a team.

Can’t wait.

[cjeter24]

Just to be clear. I'm not saying Lakers aren't the favorites. They are currently my pick to repeat if I'm a betting man. But losing defenders matters. Losing shooters matters. They will be a different team. And I'm skeptical of if that team is better. 

Of course when you are a title contender you seem to get a few buyout guys to come play for you that can make a huge difference. Plus they still got Kuzma to dangle. So even if I'm right... They'll probably have a few options on how to fix.

[cow]

I know losing Rondo is tough but he played out of his mind. I can't imagine he'd ever be able to replicate that shooting performance.

[cjeter24]

Saw dlord talking about Buddy on twitter. 
I can't help but wonder if the Kings decide to go ahead and match it and hang onto to both with the idea they move buddy by the start of next season? Shoot you can match and keep both and move one in the offseason.