I still don't know what to do this summer: Dallas Mavericks

[JamesConway]

About DAL's being so tentative in regards to touching 2021 caproom:

DAL signed all of Maxi Kleber, Seth Curry, Dwight Powell, Dorian Finney-Smith and Delon Wright to long-term contracts in the summer of 2019. Delon is the sole guy where we have a team option before the big FA-summer of 2021. So I would not rule out us handing out another full MLE-sized contract. If the player is worth his money we can always move him later on.

[Mike lorenzo]

With the Mavs watching their 2021 capspace so carefully, there probably isn't a lot going to happen (unless they find a perfect-fitting star, or course, but there's not much a path to get there).

A FA I'd love to see there is Aron Baynes, but if the focus is a big defensive forward or wing, I agree that Crowder is a good choice. He played well in Dallas before, and Miami is guarding their 2021 capspace even more, so a multiyear deal could pry him away. Kyle O'Quinn seems to feel underappreciated in Philadelphia and could make a useful bench big in Dallas, and for cheap.

I've been toying with a 3-way deal that moves out Delon Wright for Tony Snell, thus adding another wing and clearing future salary to offset what Crowder (or whoever gets paid), but don't know if I can balance the value:
Dallas trades Delon for Snell
Detroit trades Snell for Joseph+
Sacramento trades Joseph for Wright+

Mavs do what I just said. Detroit gets some kind of payment for taking on Joseph's $2.4M guaranteed in 2020-21. Kings get (IMHO) a small upgrade in Wright, a big guard who can defend but also shoot a bit. He's owed about $19M over two years, which I think is still an improvement over paying CoJo either $25.2M for two years or $15M for one. Not sure if I can sort out the sweeteners though...Detroit will demand something but I can see the Mavs and Kings fighting over who should give it up.

I would love to see D.Favors' skills on the track with KP, it seems that they could complement each other very well ... the negative side I see is that with the limited resources available, it would be to throw your most important trick for a profile similar to Powell .... Harkless, Craig, ..... Benzemore, surely they are necessary and I recognize that I am an NBA rookie but I am not thrilled, I would prefer Lance Stephenson, at least it would be fun hahaha

[Captain_Obvious]

About DAL's being so tentative in regards to touching 2021 caproom:

DAL signed all of Maxi Kleber, Seth Curry, Dwight Powell, Dorian Finney-Smith and Delon Wright to long-term contracts in the summer of 2019. Delon is the sole guy where we have a team option before the big FA-summer of 2021. So I would not rule out us handing out another full MLE-sized contract. If the player is worth his money we can always move him later on.

First time I hear of the team option. No page I checked is listing that, only decreasing amount of guaranteed money.

[daoneandonly]

About DAL's being so tentative in regards to touching 2021 caproom:

DAL signed all of Maxi Kleber, Seth Curry, Dwight Powell, Dorian Finney-Smith and Delon Wright to long-term contracts in the summer of 2019. Delon is the sole guy where we have a team option before the big FA-summer of 2021. So I would not rule out us handing out another full MLE-sized contract. If the player is worth his money we can always move him later on.

First time I hear of the team option. No page I checked is listing that, only decreasing amount of guaranteed money.

Yeah where did you see that James, I see no mention of it either, anywhere

[JamesConway]

About DAL's being so tentative in regards to touching 2021 caproom:

DAL signed all of Maxi Kleber, Seth Curry, Dwight Powell, Dorian Finney-Smith and Delon Wright to long-term contracts in the summer of 2019. Delon is the sole guy where we have a team option before the big FA-summer of 2021. So I would not rule out us handing out another full MLE-sized contract. If the player is worth his money we can always move him later on.

First time I hear of the team option. No page I checked is listing that, only decreasing amount of guaranteed money.

Yeah where did you see that James, I see no mention of it either, anywhere

Sry guys, I got that mixed up. Must have been a different player.

Edit: it was Kleber. And not a team option but he has a unguaranteed salary in 22-23.

[daoneandonly]

First time I hear of the team option. No page I checked is listing that, only decreasing amount of guaranteed money.

Yeah where did you see that James, I see no mention of it either, anywhere

Sry guys, I got that mixed up. Must have been a different player.

Edit: it was Kleber. And not a team option but he has a unguaranteed salary in 22-23.

Of the guys that got their deals, he should have of been the last one with an unguarenteed year(s). Powell si the obvious one that should not have full guarentees, even prior to injury

[Sactowndog]

Some specifics in my ideal but realistic summer:

Jackson
Rights to Dallas 1st

for

Bjelica
Rights to Detroit 2nd

Deal agreed to at draft, completed in new NBA year for matching purposes.

I'd do it without the Detroit pick, but figured most see the 1st as an overpay for Bjelica

draft BPA with GSW pick, try and trade the Detroit pick for a future 2nd.

Sign Jae Crowder 1 year/full MLE. If he won't take it and Ariza isn't picked up as I expect try him for the Room Exception and offer Dragic 1/MLE.

Bring back Barea for 1 more year. He won't play much but he's great for the room or for a spark--particularly at home where the crowd feeds off him.
Sign WCS or JaVale or Biyombo or Mahinmi for the min or Room Exception

Go into next year like this:

KP/Powell/FA center/Bobi
Bjelica/Kleber/DFS
DFS/Crowder or Ariza
THJ/Curry/Wright
Luka/Brunson/Barea

With a draft pick getting the 15th roster spot.

And next year being the major change year. Obviously if something opens up this year you jump at the right guy, but I think uncertainty with the cap may temper movement.

I would be okay with that Sac trade but I’m curious on it from the Mavs side. With KP, Bjelicia, DFS, THJ and Luka who do you see guarding whom defensively? You seem a bit short on perimeter defenders at the 1,2,3 spots. Do you strictly play zone?

[Texas Chuck]

With KP, Bjelicia, DFS, THJ and Luka who do you see guarding whom defensively? You seem a bit short on perimeter defenders at the 1,2,3 spots. Do you strictly play zone?

Some zone as Dallas long has under Carlisle, but no doubt the defense would continue to be the weak link. I just don't see a realistic path to solving it this summer. But obviously DFS guards the best perimeter guy, THJ takes the 2nd best, and you try and find the safest matchup for Luka.

[Sactowndog]

Some specifics in my ideal but realistic summer:

Jackson
Rights to Dallas 1st

for

Bjelica
Rights to Detroit 2nd

Deal agreed to at draft, completed in new NBA year for matching purposes.

I'd do it without the Detroit pick, but figured most see the 1st as an overpay for Bjelica

draft BPA with GSW pick, try and trade the Detroit pick for a future 2nd.

Sign Jae Crowder 1 year/full MLE. If he won't take it and Ariza isn't picked up as I expect try him for the Room Exception and offer Dragic 1/MLE.

Bring back Barea for 1 more year. He won't play much but he's great for the room or for a spark--particularly at home where the crowd feeds off him.
Sign WCS or JaVale or Biyombo or Mahinmi for the min or Room Exception

Go into next year like this:

KP/Powell/FA center/Bobi
Bjelica/Kleber/DFS
DFS/Crowder or Ariza
THJ/Curry/Wright
Luka/Brunson/Barea

With a draft pick getting the 15th roster spot.

And next year being the major change year. Obviously if something opens up this year you jump at the right guy, but I think uncertainty with the cap may temper movement.

Oh man Chuck, I know you've admittedly mentioned you dont value picks as much as others, but Bjelly is nowhere near worth a first or a pick swap to move back to the 2nd round. I think you've mentioned as well how good he offense already was, and defense is where we need help, Jelly doesnt help us out on iota there.

He isn’t horrible on defense as he is very aware and gets his hands on lots of balls but he isn’t a great perimeter 1 on 1 defender.

[Sactowndog]

With the Mavs watching their 2021 capspace so carefully, there probably isn't a lot going to happen (unless they find a perfect-fitting star, or course, but there's not much of a path to get there).

A FA I'd love to see there is Aron Baynes, but if the focus is a big defensive forward or wing, I agree that Crowder is a good choice. He played well in Dallas before, and Miami is guarding their 2021 capspace even more, so a multiyear deal could pry him away. Kyle O'Quinn seems to feel underappreciated in Philadelphia and could make a useful bench big in Dallas, and for cheap.

I've been toying with a 3-way deal that moves out Delon Wright for Tony Snell, thus adding another wing and clearing future salary to offset what Crowder (or whoever) gets paid, but don't know if I can balance the value:
Dallas trades Delon for Snell
Detroit trades Snell for Joseph+
Sacramento trades Joseph for Wright+

Mavs do what I just said. Detroit gets some kind of payment for taking on Joseph's $2.4M guaranteed in 2020-21. Kings get (IMHO) a small upgrade in Wright, a big guard who can defend but also shoot a bit. He's owed about $19M over two years, which I think is still an improvement over paying CoJo either $25.2M for two years or $15M for one. Not sure if I can sort out the sweeteners though...Detroit will demand something but I can see the Mavs and Kings fighting over who should give it up.

Interesting trade. I think teams under estimate CoJo’s defensive value to Sac. He often took the other teams best player (Harden, Lillard). He’s just tough as nails and shoots okay in spot up situations. Wright is also a good defender so not quite sure how to value the trade.

In fact, I wonder about CoJo’s fit on Dallas. He would not be a horrible player to have around Doncic.

[daoneandonly]

Some specifics in my ideal but realistic summer:

Jackson
Rights to Dallas 1st

for

Bjelica
Rights to Detroit 2nd

Deal agreed to at draft, completed in new NBA year for matching purposes.

I'd do it without the Detroit pick, but figured most see the 1st as an overpay for Bjelica

draft BPA with GSW pick, try and trade the Detroit pick for a future 2nd.

Sign Jae Crowder 1 year/full MLE. If he won't take it and Ariza isn't picked up as I expect try him for the Room Exception and offer Dragic 1/MLE.

Bring back Barea for 1 more year. He won't play much but he's great for the room or for a spark--particularly at home where the crowd feeds off him.
Sign WCS or JaVale or Biyombo or Mahinmi for the min or Room Exception

Go into next year like this:

KP/Powell/FA center/Bobi
Bjelica/Kleber/DFS
DFS/Crowder or Ariza
THJ/Curry/Wright
Luka/Brunson/Barea

With a draft pick getting the 15th roster spot.

And next year being the major change year. Obviously if something opens up this year you jump at the right guy, but I think uncertainty with the cap may temper movement.

Oh man Chuck, I know you've admittedly mentioned you dont value picks as much as others, but Bjelly is nowhere near worth a first or a pick swap to move back to the 2nd round. I think you've mentioned as well how good he offense already was, and defense is where we need help, Jelly doesnt help us out on iota there.

He isn’t horrible on defense as he is very aware and gets his hands on lots of balls but he isn’t a great perimeter 1 on 1 defender.

But that's our biggest need. Our offense was already rolling with or without him, so giving up a pick for someone who isnt going to move any needle nor help us in any way with cap space just doesnt sound fruitful to me

[Sactowndog]

Oh man Chuck, I know you've admittedly mentioned you dont value picks as much as others, but Bjelly is nowhere near worth a first or a pick swap to move back to the 2nd round. I think you've mentioned as well how good he offense already was, and defense is where we need help, Jelly doesnt help us out on iota there.

He isn’t horrible on defense as he is very aware and gets his hands on lots of balls but he isn’t a great perimeter 1 on 1 defender.

But that's our biggest need. Our offense was already rolling with or without him, so giving up a pick for someone who isnt going to move any needle nor help us in any way with cap space just doesnt sound fruitful to me

Yeah quite frankly the player on the Kings outside of Fox who might best help the Mavs is CoJo as he would stop opposing point guards from collapsing your defense.

[WargamesX]

Who are they targeting in 2021?

[daoneandonly]

Who are they targeting in 2021?

Well Giannis isnt coming, so though I'm sure the FO feels they have a shot, it's as small as it gets. If it were up to me, my #1 realistic target would be Josh Richardson

[jayjaysee]

Who are they targeting in 2021?

Check out next year’s free agency class.. Giannis..Rudy...Dipo..Jrue..Richardson. Any of those five would be a dream obviously.

Then you have Adams, Hayward, Lowry..do I throw in Conley? Probably should not but still...

Some unrealistic, some not ideal.. But talent is talent

(And Leonard and PG have played options if we want to go entirely unrealistic)

[omahen]

Who are they targeting in 2021?

Check out next year’s free agency class.. Giannis..Rudy...Dipo..Jrue..Richardson. Any of those five would be a dream obviously.

Then you have Adams, Hayward, Lowry..do I throw in Conley? Probably should not but still...

Some unrealistic, some not ideal.. But talent is talent

(And Leonard and PG have played options if we want to go entirely unrealistic)

Gobert and Adams are bad fits. Lowry will be 35 and Conley played as back up PG last season. Jrue has a player option and will stay with Pels or a team he is traded to. Dipo is always an injury risk and will most likely stay in Indiana. Hayward is far from max player, although he would be a nice fit in Dallas. Same can be said about Richardson.

We can only get significant cap space if we let THJ go. So yeah, lets bet everything on 2021 free agency...

[Texas Chuck]

yeah jay why are you all in on 21 FA which clearly you must be by simply laying out the free agents available?

Seriously though I don't know any Mavs fan who is all-in on 21 free agency and is convinced they are coming away with a star. I think what most are about is having the flexibility to be a player for anyone--that Luka represents the kind of free agent draw the team has never been able to pair with cap space.

A smaller group of us, led mostly by me, is willing to make an aggressive move right now should one materialize, but its hard to see that path with no valuable assets to bargain with.

And finally, while THJ was surprisingly effective once made a full-time starter, he's not someone I would be concerned about having to let walk if we needed cap space for a star. I for one want to see him do that again and would not be on board with an extension this summer. Track records matter.

[omahen]

"A smaller group of us, led mostly by me, is willing to make an aggressive move right now should one materialize, but its hard to see that path with no valuable assets to bargain with."

Count me in the group

"And finally, while THJ was surprisingly effective once made a full-time starter, he's not someone I would be concerned about having to let walk if we needed cap space for a star."

A star, yes. But realistically, there will be no star available. So does losing THJ (assuming he plays similar as last season) for someone like Richardson/Hayward/Fournier really make us much better? I don't think so.

[Texas Chuck]

A star, yes. But realistically, there will be no star available. So does losing THJ (assuming he plays similar as last season) for someone like Richardson/Hayward/Fournier really make us much better? I don't think so.

Richardson I think yes, because he would immediately be the best wing defender on the team. I think Jrue would also be a meaningful add for similar reasons. Those guys wouldn't make us immediate contenders, but that depends on further growth from Luka and KP regardless.

Hayward is a better player who could absolutely do what THJ does--maybe a notch below him as a shooter though more than reliable enough, while also providing additional playmaking, and a guy who you actually like creating his own shot at times unlike THJ so I think he's enough of an upgrade where I would sign Hayward instead of THJ.

Fournier feels more lateral, but also probably a player whose track record I trust slightly more. That's the toughest call for me.

[LukstapsDzingic]

I was on board with the 2021 cap space plan for most of the year, but I've changed my mind due to the impending salary cap drop. I'm skeptical that it will bounce back completely by 2021. This doesn't seem like a great time to give away assets to move salary when it may not even open up the cap room we were hoping for.

Of course, I've wanted to trade Powell from the day he signed that extension, so I'm still okay with moving him for an expiring (while keeping our picks) if a team wants to do Dallas a favor.

I would start by extending THJ. Maybe $50M/3yrs tacked onto his $19M player option. Although he's not a perfect fit with Luka on D, I feel it's better to lock him down on a reasonable deal rather than risk letting him walk. We can always look for a better fit in the trade market down the road if needed. He could even be the centerpiece of a sign and trade in 2021 if FA's are interested in Dallas. His play potentially dropping off could be a concern, but I'm not too worried about that now that he's a #3 option and doesn't have to create his own shot. That's the perfect role for him.

Next look for a couple of athletic forwards in the draft. Guys who can cover multiple positions and at least grow into a 3 point shot. I like Tyler Bey and Paul Reed at the moment.

The trade market likely won't produce anything, but if a team gift wraps a starting quality forward for Wright and a pick we should jump on it. Just to annoy Chuck, I should mention here that I would keep pestering Orlando about Aaron Gordon

Depending on who we draft/trade for, look at someone like DJJ or Joe Harris with the MLE. I'd go for DJJ if we added a shooter like OPJ/Nesmith, or Harris if we added a Gordon/Richardson/Bey type player. Harris may be out of MLE price range unless the cap dropping forces players like him to lower expectations. There are also some veteran PF's like Ibaka and Millsap that might be interesting, but it's hard to get too excited about stopgaps.