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

[FunkBoreland]

You need to build a smart reputation as a front office to be a draw an elite player. That´s why players follow around Riley, West, Morey and to a lesser extent Ainge or Ujiri.

The Mavs are just starting to rebuild that reputation amongst agents and players again. Therefore the last two off-seasons were a step in the right direction. At least there (seemingly) is a recognizable long-term project plan in place now

https://www.npr.org/2018/09/19/649615551...r-20-years

Remember, two years ago the Mavericks were caught in a sexual harassment trouble. Yes, it was mostly towards Terdema Ussey, but also on Earl Sneed, Mavs team reporter who had domestic abuses, a ticket sales employee who shared pornography "threatening outburts" and our HR guy for failing to notified Cuban (supposedly). Yes they're minor roles, but there part of the organ. Having this reported publicly definitely wasn't going to help us in players who want to part of good culture organization.

[b]Recommendations for the Mavs[/b]

Investigators made a series of recommendations for the organization including increasing the number of women on staff and in leadership positions, improving formal processes for reporting misconduct, conducting regular anonymous employee surveys, and expanding the human resources department.

Mavs had fired Ussey and hired Cynthia Marshall. A sort of complete 180 in management, "we'll hire a woman to say were 100 percent against sexual harrasment" type of change.

"It is regrettable that this problematic workplace culture was not addressed sooner," she said. "I do believe we have now addressed it and created an environment that is respectful of women and men. We will continue to take steps to support and restore employees as best we can."

The quote made me wonder what could of change had it been address sooner. Yes, this is team operations as far as promoting the Mavs but like I said they're part of the organ. After reading 4 pages of front office and organization perception, you would want everyone in the team operations to be complete professionals and respectful of one another. 

I felt that in recent years, Mavs not only wanted to change there office culture but to be perceived as a team organization that values the "human" side of NBA life. Mark Cuban has been vocal in twitter, speaking for public change, politics, sort of championing for whats right. 

Heres another example of a team with bad reputation:

https://nba.nbcsports.com/2020/11/24/kel...n-way-out/

One of the questions Oubre was asked was what it will be like playing for Joe Lacob and a Warriors ownership willing to spend (Golden State will be deep into the luxury tax this season) as opposed to playing for Robert Sarver in Phoenix, an owner with a reputation for pinching pennies and sticking his nose into basketball operations. Via Nick Friedell of ESPN:

“You just hit the nail on the head… I can play for an owner — somebody who actually cares about the organization and not just the perception of the organization on the media end of it. It’s all about the foundation for me, man. You have a beautiful foundation, can build a beautiful [future].”

Oubre likely speaks for a lot of former Suns players about Sarver — and a lot of Suns fans.

There was a rumour that Devin Booker wanted out. Not sure if it was false or true, but you definitely lean towards true if you conside Sarver's handling of the organization. Golden State won championships not by accidents but by smart strategy. They hire Steve Kerr, a player whose been around Chicago Bulls championship seasons and a genuinely great person. 

The Mavs subtly put acts of change, actions of good character, and lamenting loss (like Donnie addressing the departure of Seth and his wife Callie) to demonstrate its management is emphasizing humanely. Im all for it.