Dallas Mavericks 2023 offseason thread

[Darren]

I think the twin towers lineup works. All of a sudden, the Mavs is elite in shot blocking and rebounding. I'm concerned about the spacing, though.

C - Lively / Holmes / McGee
PF - Ayton / Omax / Powell
SF - Doncic / Watanabe
SG - Green / Hardy / Jordan Walker
PG - Irving / Seth Curry / Ntilikina

[Dmavs12]

He is the big wing player that we are looking for

Cuban: “I think we need a center that can protect the rim. I think we need to improve our rebounding and offensive rebounding from the wings and the power forward position. I think that’s where our biggest needs are.”

Harris addresses non of this.

As far as I heard, the Mavs is serving as facilitator to land Ayton. I am actually fine without a lottery first.

Ayton, Okogie to Mavs
Harris, lottery protected 1st via Mavs to PHX
Combination of TH, Maxi, McGee, Bullock

This rumor I believe. We know they need a starting center until lively is ready. Would not be surprised if the Mavs make this happen, and still find a way to get a brown/Williams at the PF.

I’m not an Ayton fan, but I could definitely see Cuban rolling the dice here. He’s always had an eye for players with low value high upside. Especially at a position of need.

[BeiBeau]

I think the twin towers lineup works. All of a sudden, the Mavs is elite in shot blocking and rebounding. I'm concerned about the spacing, though.

C - Lively / Holmes / McGee
PF - Ayton / Omax / Powell
SF - Doncic / Watanabe
SG - Green / Hardy / Jordan Walker
PG - Irving / Seth Curry / Ntilikina

Twin tower line ups are dead and don't work in the modern NBA. Especially if neither of them can switch onto smaller players and if neither can stretch the floor all the way to the 3 pt line.

[arkuo]

I think the twin towers lineup works. All of a sudden, the Mavs is elite in shot blocking and rebounding. I'm concerned about the spacing, though.

C - Lively / Holmes / McGee
PF - Ayton / Omax / Powell
SF - Doncic / Watanabe
SG - Green / Hardy / Jordan Walker
PG - Irving / Seth Curry / Ntilikina

Spacing is a myth IMO. Miami reached the finals with big men who dont even shoot threes or space any floor. I'd like for the rookies to have Jimmy Butler's confidence entering the playoffs.

[DJ_3_Ball]

I'm warming up to the idea of Draymond Green as a Mav. It's like having a defensive coach on the floor. Someone who won't tolerate b.s. and taking plays off. I don't think the Mavs would have had a freefall in the 2nd half of last season if Draymond was in the locker room. I think he'd be great for Lively's development too. Josh Green, O-Max, and Hardy's development too.

There are other FA targets I prefer more, but if the Mavs had an off season haul of Draymond Green, Jakob Poeltl, DFS and Yuta Watanabe while subtracting THJ, Dwight Powell & JaVale McGee, I'd be very happy.

[BeiBeau]

I think the twin towers lineup works. All of a sudden, the Mavs is elite in shot blocking and rebounding. I'm concerned about the spacing, though.

C - Lively / Holmes / McGee
PF - Ayton / Omax / Powell
SF - Doncic / Watanabe
SG - Green / Hardy / Jordan Walker
PG - Irving / Seth Curry / Ntilikina

Spacing is a myth IMO. Miami reached the finals with big men who dont even shoot threes or space any floor. I'd like for the rookies to have Jimmy Butler's confidence entering the playoffs.

You have to have 4 players on the floor at all times who can hit an open 3. Miami had that. Look at what happened to Cleveland when they valued "shot blocking and rebounding" over spacing. They looked like complete trash the second they ran into a team with talent that was on par with them. So unless prime Shaq and Kareem are our starting 4 and 5 spacing absolutely matters more than just about anything in the modern NBA.

[arkuo]

I'm warming up to the idea of Draymond Green as a Mav. It's like having a defensive coach on the floor. Someone who won't tolerate b.s. and taking plays off. I don't think the Mavs would have had a freefall in the 2nd half of last season if Draymond was in the locker room. I think he'd be great for Lively's development too. Josh Green, O-Max, and Hardy's development too.

There are other FA targets I prefer more, but if the Mavs had an off season haul of Draymond Green, Jakob Poeltl, DFS and Yuta Watanabe while subtracting THJ, Dwight Powell & JaVale McGee, I'd be very happy.

Draymond and Luka complaining to the ref in the backcourt while there is a 5 on 3 fastbreak on the other side

[arkuo]

Someone on Mavs twitter did the math on the Celtics. They are currenly over the 1st tax apron with only 11 players signed. Big chance they dont match an MLE offer for Grant Williams. Especially with a massive $275M contract coming up for Jalen Brown next season.

[Mavrelous]

I don't think.Celtics extend qualifying offer to Williams, out of courtsey to him and his agent.

[arkuo]

If all else fails for Kyle Kuzma (who is looking for a big pay day) he can sign with the Mavs for a 1 year full MLE deal and try the market again next summer. Kuzma immediately starts at PF. No question about it.

[41Dirk41]

If all else fails for Kyle Kuzma (who is looking for a big pay day) he can sign with the Mavs for a 1 year full MLE deal and try the market again next summer. Kuzma immediately starts at PF. No question about it.

Kuzma has a lot of offensive talent (he beated us alone last year) but i prefer a defensive guy... Williams or Brown are perfect.

Find a way to sign boths would be awesome.

[Absinthe]

The modern NBA can’t support a two big line up. The only team in the past decade who had two bigs playing at the same time was Milwaukee and that is a bad example because Giannis is one of the most unique players in the NBA. He’s a modern center with the skill set of a SF and guard.

You want to contend? The blueprint has already been written. Teams have to be built with knockdown shooters who can swarm teams on defense. Think of Miami (Lebron years), San Antonio, Denver, and Golden State. Denver is a cheat code because not only can their role players shoot, but they play great team defense and they also can create their own offense.

[arkuo]

The modern NBA can’t support a two big line up. The only team in the past decade who had two bigs playing at the same time was Milwaukee and that is a bad example because Giannis is one of the most unique players in the NBA. He’s a modern center with the skill set of a SF and guard.

You want to contend? The blueprint has already been written. Teams have to be built with knockdown shooters who can swarm teams on defense. Think of Miami (Lebron years), San Antonio, Denver, and Golden State. Denver is a cheat code because not only can their role players shoot, but they play great team defense and they also can create their own offense.

If Kyrie re-signs, 40% of the starting 5 dont play D. The other 3 guys have to work double time on everything.

[BeiBeau]

The modern NBA can’t support a two big line up. The only team in the past decade who had two bigs playing at the same time was Milwaukee and that is a bad example because Giannis is one of the most unique players in the NBA. He’s a modern center with the skill set of a SF and guard.

You want to contend? The blueprint has already been written. Teams have to be built with knockdown shooters who can swarm teams on defense. Think of Miami (Lebron years), San Antonio, Denver, and Golden State. Denver is a cheat code because not only can their role players shoot, but they play great team defense and they also can create their own offense.

If Kyrie re-signs, 40% of the starting 5 dont play D. The other 3 guys have to work double time on everything.

Dallas had a top 10 defense 2 years ago with a rotation of,

Luka, Brunson, Bullock, DFS, Powell
Dinwiddie, Kleber

Kyrie is a better defender than Jalen. Powell knows how to play defense but none of the physical tools. And Luka is the same Luka

Dallas was the worst defensive team last year for a few reasons.

1. They lost their defensive captain in DFS. By mid season last year Maxi and Josh, at times, had shown to be on par as on ball defenders with DFS but DFS made the defensive calls and losing him hurt.

2. Bullock regressed defensively. After the Kyrie trade he was being asked to guard bigger wings when he’s best against guards. And to cap it off when DFS was here DFS guarded the opposing teams best player afterwards Bullock had that role.

3. Josh Green missed 2 months. Maxi missed half the season. DFS missed a month and was then traded.

4. Our rebounding was abysmal again. We were 30th. We got almost 2 rebounds less per game then 29th.

5. Not to mention that we haven’t had rim protection this whole time.

6. For a significant portion of the season we started Luka, Dinwiddie, THJ, DFS, Wood or Powell. 2 net negative defenders are bad enough. We can’t handle 3.

So to get back to a top 10 defense we need:
1. To get a new primary on ball defender. Bruce Brown and Grant Williams both fill that role. Trading for DFS is also not out of the question.

2. Improve our rebounding and rim protection. Holmes/Lively will be better than Powell/Woods at rebound. And Lively is a great rim protector as long as he can see the floor.

3. Josh Green needs to be more consistent. There were stretches last season where he was better defensively than Maxi and DFS. But there was also times when he was worse than Bullock. If he improves again and keeps getting more consistent he cause be a big part of the solution.

[Mr B]

Stretch and waiving Bullock open both MLE and BAE with Kyrie max, and even keeps the 4 mil TPE usable, Bullock makes 10.5 and has 5.5 gauarnteed, S&W puts him at less than 2 mils, so even if you max Kyrie, you'd have 20M under the Apron, 12.4 MLE, BAE 4.5, and TPE 4M.
One major problem with this, decision has to be made by June 28th, before start of FA, so it'd be a gamble.
I think it's bad business, Bullock is a positive value IMO, but it's a possibility.

What if they stretch and waive THJ?

[BeiBeau]

Stretch and waiving Bullock open both MLE and BAE with Kyrie max, and even keeps the 4 mil TPE usable, Bullock makes 10.5 and has 5.5 gauarnteed, S&W puts him at less than 2 mils, so even if you max Kyrie, you'd have 20M under the Apron, 12.4 MLE, BAE 4.5, and TPE 4M.
One major problem with this, decision has to be made by June 28th, before start of FA, so it'd be a gamble.
I think it's bad business, Bullock is a positive value IMO, but it's a possibility.

What if they stretch and waive THJ?

6.8 million in dead cap would hurt an insane amount and is really not worth it. Until we have seen Jaden Hardy make the improvements he’s capable of, THJ’s volume shooting remains really valuable to us.

[arkuo]

Would you guys do a Lonzo Ball trade if Alex Caruso is attached to it? Somehow I feel Chicago needs to shed his salary with the new CBA coming in and with them not in contention for anything.

Bullock + Holmes + Mcgee + THJ

for Caruso + Ball + Vucevic (re-signed to THJ amount).

Then use that MLE for Bruce Brown. Call it a summer.

C - Lively / Vucevic / Powell?
PF - Prosper / Kleber
SF - Brown / Green
SG - Doncic / Caruso
PG - Kyrie / Hardy

Just keep Ball's contact. That will be a very nice expiring contract in 2 years when teams in the 2nd apron are panicking looking for cap relief.

[BliscoSantos]

Would you guys do a Lonzo Ball trade if Alex Caruso is attached to it? Somehow I feel Chicago needs to shed his salary with the new CBA coming in and with them not in contention for anything.

Bullock + Holmes + Mcgee + THJ

for Caruso + Ball + Vucevic (re-signed to THJ amount).

Then use that MLE for Bruce Brown. Call it a summer.

C - Lively / Vucevic / Powell?
PF - Prosper / Kleber
SF - Brown / Green
SG - Doncic / Caruso
PG - Kyrie / Hardy

Just keep Ball's contact. That will be a very nice expiring contract in 2 years when teams in the 2nd apron are panicking looking for cap relief.

Yeah,I wouldn't touch Lonzo,looks like he's done...Mavs are better of keeping their players untill they're in the last year od their contract and can be traded for something they actually need

[BeiBeau]

Would you guys do a Lonzo Ball trade if Alex Caruso is attached to it? Somehow I feel Chicago needs to shed his salary with the new CBA coming in and with them not in contention for anything.

Bullock + Holmes + Mcgee + THJ

for Caruso + Ball + Vucevic (re-signed to THJ amount).

Then use that MLE for Bruce Brown. Call it a summer.

C - Lively / Vucevic / Powell?
PF - Prosper / Kleber
SF - Brown / Green
SG - Doncic / Caruso
PG - Kyrie / Hardy

Just keep Ball's contact. That will be a very nice expiring contract in 2 years when teams in the 2nd apron are panicking looking for cap relief.

I think Holmes is much better for the Mavs system. And will be cheaper. I also think come trade deadline Holmes will be an asset after he gets to show his talent with Luka and Kyrie(just look what he did with Haliburton) who can be sent for a player and a pick.

I love Caruso but I’d rather send a pick to get him instead of eating 20 million in dead contract.

[arkuo]

Would you guys do a Lonzo Ball trade if Alex Caruso is attached to it? Somehow I feel Chicago needs to shed his salary with the new CBA coming in and with them not in contention for anything.

Bullock + Holmes + Mcgee + THJ

for Caruso + Ball + Vucevic (re-signed to THJ amount).

Then use that MLE for Bruce Brown. Call it a summer.

C - Lively / Vucevic / Powell?
PF - Prosper / Kleber
SF - Brown / Green
SG - Doncic / Caruso
PG - Kyrie / Hardy

Just keep Ball's contact. That will be a very nice expiring contract in 2 years when teams in the 2nd apron are panicking looking for cap relief.

I think Holmes is much better for the Mavs system. And will be cheaper. I also think come trade deadline Holmes will be an asset after he gets to show his talent with Luka and Kyrie(just look what he did with Haliburton) who can be sent for a player and a pick.

I love Caruso but I’d rather send a pick to get him instead of eating 20 million in dead contract.

Yeah. Agreed. Just playing with Holmes trade ideas. David Lord threw some ideas but Im wondering if he's deep with his sources like Stein is.