AROUND the NBA: ATL Jumps from #10 to #1 in Lotto| Pistons Mull Firing GM

[DanSchwartzgan]

There was talk recently of maybe Gafford (WAS) being a desirable and feasible target. But since then, he has been put into the starting lineup, with his minutes greatly increased, and the Wiz have had much better results (even though playing a string of harder opponents).

Unless this was a showcase to try to get some interest before the TDL, where someone takes his much larger contract off the Wiz' hands, he may be playing himself out of the Mavs price range now.

That’s an impressive run of wins.  Six of the seven games he’s started and against good comp.  I believe only one of those games had both KP and Beal.  The rest they were missing one or the other.  

Also, Gafford playing alongside KP seems to be working.  For the season they’ve played only 12 games together with about half of those coming in this run of starts together.

[ThisIStheYear]

Zion out. Book out. If the Mavs make a smart move or two they could challenge for a top 2 seed in the West. The time for action is now.

[SleepingHero]

Zion out. Book out. If the Mavs make a smart move or two they could challenge for a top 2 seed in the West. The time for action is now.

This team always likes to make things hard for themselves so I'm trying not to expect anything.

If they had taken the beginning of the season more serious the Mavs could've been securely in 1st place right now but alas.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Zion out. Book out. If the Mavs make a smart move or two they could challenge for a top 2 seed in the West. The time for action is now.

The smart move would have been re-signing Brunson, to go along with Wood and they maybe would have been there, but I digress.

[omahen]

So either could be available

Report: Trade prices for O.G. Anunoby and Pascal Siakam considered a 's-tload' - Ahn Fire Digital

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

An inexperienced GM negotiating with Masai from a place of desperation. What could go wrong?

[Mavs2021]

An inexperienced GM negotiating with Masai from a place of desperation. What could go wrong?

Not much, when you have no assets. I´m sure many GMs would trade our whole roster (outside of Luka) and all our available first round picks for Siakam.

What is that value wise?

Dinwiddie  --> one first round pick
DFS ---> one first round pick
Kleber + Green --> one first round pick
Wood --> one first round pick
2025 + 2027 --> two first round picks
Bertans ---> minus one first round pick
THJ + McGee --> minus one first round pick
--------------------
Total four first round picks plus massive capspace for Siakam.

The reality is that this team needs to make moves like trading for Isaiah Joe before he gets waived. If we approached Philly and gave them $2M cash, they´d have accepted a trade. He´s been a stud in SL/G-League, but never had a shot in Philly. Now he´s still only playing 13 MPG in OKC, but averaging 7 PPG and shooting 44% from three. More importantly, he played six total games this year with over 20 minutes (23 MPG), and averages 17 PPG on 10 shots in those games. He´s literally perfect next to Luka. He´d have cost nothing. Could have paid him and BolBol with the McGee money, too. There are always opportunities, but they are never 30+ years old or playing 30+ minutes. You need to read situations and make a cost benefit analysis. What would have been the harm to sign I. Joe and BolBol instead of McGee? Actual costs: virtually nothing. Opportunity costs: losing out on McGee? LOL.

[F Gump]

  Isaiah Joe

Frank Ntilikina

McKinley Wright

Tyler Dorsey

A J Lawson

Sterling Brown

If we include other positions, the list gets even longer.

The big issue is to properly identify (evaluate) which of these guys to sign, if any.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2023/01/d...-says.html

[cow]

Frank Ntilikina

McKinley Wright

Tyler Dorsey

A J Lawson

Sterling Brown

If we include other positions, the list gets even longer.

The big issue is to properly identify (evaluate) which of these guys to sign, if any.

And then finding minutes to play/develop them.

[Mavs2021]

Frank Ntilikina

McKinley Wright

Tyler Dorsey

A J Lawson

Sterling Brown

If we include other positions, the list gets even longer.

The big issue is to properly identify (evaluate) which of these guys to sign, if any.

That is true to a certain extent, but this is obviously also a numbers game.

They had to a chance to pick between Hartenstein, Bryant, Smith, BolBol and I´m sure 2-3 other young centers. I have no idea, who´ll be the best of the four, but chances are they are all in the league on merit next year and literally the only reason McGee will be in the league next year is the Mavs moronic contract.

So yeah obviously talent evaluation is a big part of it, but so is always having 3-4 main roster spots, plus the two way deals reserved for these kind of young players at all times, whether it´s the fallen types or actual fresh own draft picks.

Guys like Pinson, McGee, Burke are just a waste of time and a roster spot. Mavs could have signed Hartenstein, signed WCS instead. Mavs could have signed Hartenstein again, signed Boban instead. Mavs could have signed Hartenstein again, signed McGee instead. And please not the technicality of the contract size again. A starting spot next to Luka is a license to print money for a center. Maybe he does not take the small paycut. I think he would have. Certainly BolBol and Jalen Smith would have jumped at this opportunity. More current money, better situation and better projected future earnings. BolBol had to sign in Orlando, who have WCJ, Bamba, Isaac and Mo Wagner.

I applaud them for taking a chance on Frank, but where is this year´s Frank? You Frank six times in two years, you might hit once. You Frank once in two years, odds are against you.

[F Gump]

All of what you say simply reinforces my point. When it comes to end of the bench openings, you pick a player and you roll the dice. And then it either works out or it doesn't.

You can't say that the Mavs didn't sign someone(s) (and haven't tried over and over) - only that they have often picked poorly.

The answer isn't "sign someone" -- they are already doing that!! Instead, the answer is "get someone in the GM's chair besides Cuban, because you need a person who knows how to expertly evaluate talent."

[mvossman]

They had to a chance to pick between Hartenstein, Bryant, Smith, BolBol and I´m sure 2-3 other young centers. 

I wish you would stop adding erroneous things to lists that we could/should have done.  Hartenstein signed a contract over 30% greater AAV than what we could have offered.  There was no reasonable route to signing him.

[ThisIStheYear]

The smart move would have been re-signing Brunson, to go along with Wood and they maybe would have been there, but I digress.

Of course I completely agree. The continuity from bringing back a quality player like JB and adding Wood’s versatile scoring, particularly in the paint, would have this team on track for the top seed. I’m not certain how it would work in the playoffs.  It might, but a first place regular season would be an excellent building block. 

The thing is, so much has gone wrong for everyone else in the West, just like it has for the Mavs that, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, the Mavs have a legit chance to get as high as first in the West. In many years, teams make deadline deals good enough to put this team over the top in a diminished conference. The CJ/Nance deal the Pelicans pulled off last year for example… if the Mavs could do something remotely close to that, they’d be in a great spot. I remember the year after Kyrie left the Cavs when they made a late season trade to  get some decent but not great players around Lebron.  They made the finals. The Mavs could do that. This is not the year for plan powder. Luka is in incredible form. The West blows.  Something is out there, Nico just has to find it.

[F Gump]

The West blows..

I find it interesting to observe PHX. On paper, they should be as good as the last few years.

But they have lost the "it" factor. I truly think DAL/Luka broke them, and their swagger has been destroyed. You'd think the top-level young talent of Booker-Ayton-Bridges with CP3's leadership and skill would still be great, but I'm seriously doubting they have the potential to win it all anymore.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I find it interesting to observe PHX. On paper, they should be as good as the last few years.

But they have lost the "it" factor. I truly think DAL/Luka broke them, and their swagger has been destroyed. You'd think the top-level young talent of Booker-Ayton-Bridges with CP3's leadership and skill would still be great, but I'm seriously doubting they have the potential to win it all anymore.

Not mention the fallout with the Jae Crowder, Ayton and Sarver situations. Crowder asking to be traded and not reporting to camp got it started, then Phoenix reluctantly matched the Pacers FA  offer for Ayton, and Sarver over seeing a toxic work environment, along with Cam Johnson's torn ACL. All those things have kinda torpedoed their season so far. The window is closing.

[Mavs2021]

 Hartenstein.  There was reasonable route to signing him.

That´s what I´m saying. Thanks for agreeing with me.

[omahen]

I find it interesting to observe PHX. On paper, they should be as good as the last few years.

But they have lost the "it" factor.

I agree, Phoenix are just not winners, imho. They lost badly against Mavs last season. Ok, things, happen. But winners would come in guns blazing every time they meet Mavs. Yet an outside observer watching Mavs - Phoenix games this season would think Mavs are a team with a chip on their shoulders in those games, not Phoenix.

[Mapka]

All of what you say simply reinforces my point. When it comes to end of the bench openings, you pick a player and you roll the dice. And then it either works out or it doesn't.

You can't say that the Mavs didn't sign someone(s) (and haven't tried over and over) - only that they have often picked poorly.

The answer isn't "sign someone" -- they are already doing that!! Instead, the answer is "get someone in the GM's chair besides Cuban, because you need a person who knows how to expertly evaluate talent."

As it goes to the deeper bench, I would always prefer lockerroom fit over minor differences in production. As long as every slot is covered.

[SleepingHero]

What is that value wise?

Based on this a DFS+Bullock+Hardy+2027+2029 package is fair value for Siakam

And I'm not sure if thats true.