2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[StepBackJay]

Is Devonte Graham a good defender? This Hornets blog doesn't seem to think so but that was for last season.

https://www.atthehive.com/2020/6/26/2130...nte-graham

I think his defensive rating was the same this year, around 116 which isn't very good.

[StepBackJay]

Not a positive article.   Not a good look.  Fix it Mark!

"It was Voulgaris who initiated the team’s acquisitions of Seth Curry and Delon Wright, with multiple sources telling The Athletic that Voulgaris believed Wright should start next to Doncic. “He was the only person that believed that,” one team source says."

Well he was half-right on these I guess. I wonder if we have been blaming Donnie this whole time but Voulgaris is the guy actually pulling the strings in the MBT.

Multiple league and team sources point to the 2020 draft as a particularly egregious example of Voulgaris’ power, an evening one source described as “embarrassing.” Most members of the scouting department joined the team’s war room remotely through Zoom and were surprised when Voulgaris, attending in person, didn’t consult them for either of the team’s first two selections (Josh Green and Tyrell Terry) despite disagreements they held with at least one of the players he picked.

Ya this guy has to go.

[StepBackJay]

Another quote:

"Doncic noticed Voulgaris’ early departure. In the locker room after the game, multiple league and team sources say he told teammates he viewed Voulgaris leaving before the game’s conclusion as him quitting on them. Voulgaris would not attend another game the rest of the year."

Mavs need to not F this up. Some analytics guy is someone Doncic should not even know exist. If this guy is "in the way" so to speak and also making terrible decisions he has to go. There are analytics guys all over the place and none of them should even occupy one thought in your star player's mind. Doncic is only going to care about whether or not the team gets better every year while he's here.

[Mavs2021]

So we need half to play Voulgaris, half to play Donnie. In the end we agree on nothing and send the Magic two second round picks for T. Ross.

Well that actually sounds pretty accurate.

[StepBackJay]

But this is a huge offseason.   I have difficulty believing the Mavs re-sign Hardaway, use the MLE, find a spare trade for Richardson (if he opts in) and try it again.   They are feeling the heat now.   I expect something bigger....but will they deliver?

My working theory is that this Collins deal is the Mavs attempt at a big move. I don't doubt that they will have KP trade discussions but it remains to be seen whether there is a market for him. What the Mavs (probably?) don't want to do is dump KP only to get worse as a basketball team. He doesn't seem like a cancer player to me even if his chemistry isn't great (or exists at all?) with Luka.

[StepBackJay]

"Those concerns mostly center on Cuban and the decisions he makes regarding who he trusts and imbues with power. Sometimes, it’s examples like Voulgaris, a sports gambler with no league experience being given near total control of the team’s roster. Other times, it’s the relationships he doesn’t sever: The Mavericks’ front office has come to be known around the league for its long-existing power structure that, Voulgaris aside, has barely changed."

Time to panic. I didn't even know this guy existed until I heard ab him on the MMB podcast a week ago...

[SwisherPrice]

Yeah me too but seems like Voulgaris has a lot of supporters, especially in the analytics community that Cuban loves. I'm seeing a lot of people defend this guy. However, if Luka hates him though then we will see what happens. Cuban might have to finally choose between Donnie or Voulgaris

[StepBackJay]

Yeah me too but seems like Voulgaris has a lot of supporters, especially in the analytics community that Cuban loves. I'm seeing a lot of people defend this guy. However, if Luka hates him though then we will see what happens. Cuban might have to finally choose between Donnie or Voulgaris

Anybody Luka hates has to go, I don't care if its Cuban's mom.

[Scott41theMavs]

Anybody Luka hates has to go, I don't care if its Cuban.

FIFY

[Mavs2021]

Anybody Luka hates has to go, I don't care if its Cuban's mom.

LOOOOOOOOOOL. Hey let´s be honest. She´s at the start of all our Mavs problems, not Luka´s mom. And Luka´s mom is hotter, too. Case closed.

[mvossman]

I am really having trouble really liking any move/plan that factors both KP and Hardaway back next year.  I am just not thrilled with the options.  I want Hardaway back.   And at this stage, I want KP back just as an asset more than anything else.  I think Hardaway is a good fit, but my mantra is to upgrade your starting unit this offseason, and I am really questioning how this is possible if Hardaway is resigned.  This leaves the Mavs trying to improve around the edges....the exact spot I don't want to be in.   

Therefore, I am really questioning if letting Hardaway go and signing Derozen and a 3 and D wing like Danny Green or Batum would be the better direction.    Derozen may not be as good as a fit as Hardaway, but he is the better player and then Green/Batum/someone similar would be signed a little over MLE.  This  would give you better odds and would also give you a defender/shooter to add to your bench.  

It really scares me when you look at the MLE guys from last offseason.   Most of them didn't really help their teams that much.  More than likely they are good rotation pieces.   

This is going to be a weird offseason.  I am already checking instagram accounts and wonder if Luka will like KP's offseason post (he didn't).   I am also seeing if Cuban likes Jalen's posts as I think he is a sneaky guy the front office uses in a trade (I would like to see Jalen back).   I am also bracing for the probably false reports throwing Mavs in every possible trade.    I will try to not let a probably false report frustrate me.    But this is a huge offseason.   I have difficulty believing the Mavs re-sign Hardaway, use the MLE, find a spare trade for Richardson (if he opts in) and try it again.   They are feeling the heat now.   I expect something bigger....but will they deliver?

I am not a DeRozan fan, especially next to Luka.  He can't space the floor, needs the ball to be effective, and is somebody you have to hide on defense even more so than Luka.  I would much rather go after Ball or Collins before him.  Those guys fit the timeline much better and are guys you could trade for, keep KP and still sign THJ (which I think this FO wants to do).

However, if they do go this route I think you are going to want to start that 3&D acquisition to help offset DeRozan's defensive deficiencies.  You would be looking at KP/DeRozan/DFS/Luka/Green.  You could stagger Luka and DeRozan so that he can run the second unit, which is something we really need.  He would also be very helpful when the defense is over focusing on Luka.  But I just don't see that team being good enough defensively to truly compete, nor an easy path to significantly improve the defense (maybe the KP for Turner and Lamb through Wizards trade mentioned earlier?).

[Mavs2021]

I am not a DeRozan fan, especially next to Luka.  He can't space the floor, needs the ball to be effective, and is somebody you have to hide on defense even more so than Luka.  I would much rather go after Ball or Collins before him.  Those guys fit the timeline much better and are guys you could trade for, keep KP and still sign THJ (which I think this FO wants to do).

However, if they do go this route I think you are going to want to start that 3&D acquisition to help offset DeRozan's defensive deficiencies.  You would be looking at KP/DeRozan/DFS/Luka/Green.  You could stagger Luka and DeRozan so that he can run the second unit, which is something we really need.  He would also be very helpful when the defense is over focusing on Luka.  But I just don't see that team being good enough defensively to truly compete, nor an easy path to significantly improve the defense (maybe the KP for Turner and Lamb through Wizards trade mentioned earlier?).

If Voulgaris makes the decisions, DeRozan ain´t coming here. Given his fragile mental health, he probably doesn´t want to be here either.

I just can´t decide whether Voulgaris would like Lavine for his amazing shooting or hate him for his bad defense, though he´s pretty high on the DRPM rating this season.

Anybody want to change their answers whether Luka/Duffy should act as interim-GMs of the Mavs?

Lavine or BUST.

[omahen]

A very interesting piece. A bunch of theories are possible who is behind it. Luka camp (Luka irritated), Donnie (point a finger at someone else), Cuban (picking a scapegoat for general failure of the front office), agent (scaring Mavs to not be cheap with their guy who is necessary for Mavs). 

https://theathletic.com/2649806/2021/06/...ka-doncic/

[Scott41theMavs]

A very interesting piece. A bunch of theories are possible who is behind it. Luka camp (Luka irritated), Donnie (point a finger at someone else), Cuban (picking a scapegoat for general failure of the front office), agent (scaring Mavs to not be cheap with their guy who is necessary for Mavs). 

https://theathletic.com/2649806/2021/06/...ka-doncic/

Welcome to the board, Mr. Omahen!!

[omahen]

Cuban response

https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/140448...wcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F10005677-mark-cuban-calls-report-of-luka-doncic-friction-with-mavericks-exec-total-bulls--t

[StepBackJay]

Cuban response

https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/140448...wcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F10005677-mark-cuban-calls-report-of-luka-doncic-friction-with-mavericks-exec-total-bulls--t

Doth protest too much? I knew we were going to get something like this.

[Scott41theMavs]

Cuban response

https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/140448...wcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F10005677-mark-cuban-calls-report-of-luka-doncic-friction-with-mavericks-exec-total-bulls--t

Once again, we hope you like it here, Omahen!

[omahen]

Once again, we hope you like it here, Omahen!

I'm so sorry, I started reading the board at the top and didn't see there is a whole separate thread dedicated to it. I hope you will be able to forgive me for posting...

[StepBackJay]

For the Athletic article we can route that convo here: https://www.mavsboard.com/showthread.php?tid=1041

[fifteenth]

I'm so sorry, I started reading the board at the top and didn't see there is a whole separate thread dedicated to it. I hope you will be able to forgive me for posting...

I could be wrong, but I think you're misunderstanding Scott. "Welcome, hope you like it here" is Scott's way of saying, "look at this disfunctional family (Mavs) that you've joined! Hope you like it!"

Am I wrong on that, Scott?