Porzingis + 2nd round pick for Dinwiddie, Bertans

[nate33]

Cursed since 1979.

Dinwiddie attacking the paint and running like a Gazelle on the court in San Francisco last night. Incredible.

Watch on YouTube

So Wizards.

He looked so quick in some of those blow-by moves he made in the 2nd half. Look at 1:38 and 2:02. Where was that guy here?

Honestly, I didn't see anything particularly quick or athletic about any of the drives. He made nice moves, and there wasn't anyone playing legit help D near the hoop on GS - usually a very good defensive team. And he made some shots he'd normally miss.

I thought that about most of his points. A few of his first half drives, where he got a small step on the defender and then leaned in to make contact, were vintage Dinwiddie. But I really do think the moves he made at 1:38 and 2:02 looked a bit quicker that what we've seen from him for most of this year.

[smoothSeph]

Cursed since 1979.

Dinwiddie attacking the paint and running like a Gazelle on the court in San Francisco last night. Incredible.

Watch on YouTube

So Wizards.

He looked so quick in some of those blow-by moves he made in the 2nd half. Look at 1:38 and 2:02. Where was that guy here?

Honestly, I didn't see anything particularly quick or athletic about any of the drives. He made nice moves, and there wasn't anyone playing legit help D near the hoop on GS - usually a very good defensive team. And he made some shots he'd normally miss.

He definitely had an extra burst. I noticed it live and had to look twice at who was playing. Which is weird because he wasn't particularly doing anything different than he did here. Confidence is a mofo I guess.

[Ruzious]

Watch on YouTube

So Wizards.

He looked so quick in some of those blow-by moves he made in the 2nd half. Look at 1:38 and 2:02. Where was that guy here?

Honestly, I didn't see anything particularly quick or athletic about any of the drives. He made nice moves, and there wasn't anyone playing legit help D near the hoop on GS - usually a very good defensive team. And he made some shots he'd normally miss.

I thought that about most of his points. A few of his first half drives, where he got a small step on the defender and then leaned in to make contact, were vintage Dinwiddie. But I really do think the moves he made at 1:38 and 2:02 looked a bit quicker that what we've seen from him for most of this year.

Fair enough on the 2:02 one - even though he was being guarded out on the perimeter by Looney - their center. I can't give you the 1:38 one because Bjelica was an absurd matador on that one. I could have gotten a layup on that one.

[queridiculo]

Sigh.

We really going to play the small sample size theatre game?

Dinwiddie has had a quarter season of looking more than just another guy over his career and now we're going to declare winners and losers of this trade based on 3 games of Dinwiddie not embarrassing himself out there?

If he was dogging it out there, good riddance, more reason for him to be traded, but there's more than enough evidence out there that he never earned a contract approaching the numbers he's being compensated at.

[Frichuela]

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

They mostly sucked when they were in DC. But, if they play well in Dallas, that’s a good thing for them and the Mavs…and this Zards fan doesn’t have a problem with that.

From the drastic difference it seems obvious that after whatever locker room issues were going on here, Dinwiddie decided to mail it in. The NBA really needs to come up with some type of consequence for all this unprofessionalism. These guys are getting paid millions to play and just decide not to because someone hurt their feelings. That’s some bull

Perhaps. I also get the sense that Beal feels immune to criticism in DC, and the chemistry issue was chiefly between those two -- who each need the ball to do what they do. We saw Spencer play better in games when Beal was out. Or when BB was off the floor. I dunno. Personally, I think toadie 'reporter' Quinton Mayo has turned it for me, he is antimatter-PR for Beal, makes me want some kind of change. Re-set button.

Bertans man, I feel personally betrayed by him, LOL.

Washington could have put Aaron Wiggins in Beal’s spot as far as I’m concerned.

[Dark Faze]

Bertans hasn't been good for Dallas.

Dinwiddie was already performing well for the Wiz when Beal was off the court. He's a backup and is getting healthier and is in that role for Dallas, so I expect him to play well, although overpaid.

I wouldn't be surprised if Porzingis declines his player option. Re-upping for 23 or so a season over 4 years might be better for him than collecting 36 million in the final year.

[FAH1223]

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[dirkdiggler4177]

Spencer has been superb and is clearly now the second-best player on the team. Last game the Mavs closed with Spencer and not Jalen Brunson. KP is not missed, to be honest.

[badinage]

Nor is Dinwiddie missed here, to be honest.

He was a sour dude, making passive-aggressive remarks in post-game pressers, bitching about his role, bitching about his coach, looking vague, aloof, sullen.

Good to be rid of him.

Good to see him do well in Dallas.

And it will be good to see The Zinger do well outside of a guard-dominant system, and with multiple scorers.

[payitforward]

He really has been superb! He's been the guy some of us were thinking we might get here. At the same time, for sure it wasn't working out.

Here's hoping KP plays well. Not sure where your confidence in that comes from, badinage, but I hope you turn out to be correct. However unlikely that is....

[badinage]

He really has been superb! He's been the guy some of us were thinking we might get here. At the same time, for sure it wasn't working out.

Here's hoping KP plays well. Not sure where your confidence in that comes from, badinage, but I hope you turn out to be correct. However unlikely that is....

Where it comes from? It comes from irrational optimism. The same irrational optimism that I feel with every acquisition — could this possibly be …? have we just gotten a steal …? are we looking at a potential star …? The same irrational optimism that has enabled me to be a fan of this benighted franchise for all these many decades.

Without it, I’m done; I throw in the towel; I stop watching the games; I stop reading all of you.

…

I really would like to know how so many of you do it. I ask in all seriousness, with the hope of learning something: How do you do it? How do you keep coming back on here — keep investing in this team — keep thinking about a future with this franchise — while maintaining what seems to me to be a very cold, flint-eyed perspective. Maybe at bottom you’re all irrationally optimistic, like me, but you just don’t ever permit yourselves to show it in public? Because it’s unseemly to be too high when they win or too low when they lose? Too unseemly to get giddy at times? Better to be even-keeled and hyper-realistic? Again, I don’t have the answers. I don’t know. I’m asking. I don’t know how you can be a fan, and care, and come to a forum like this, day in and day out — and be so shorn of optimism, or fanaticism, or willful naïveté, or whatever you want to call it. Or, to put it another way: to be so clear-eyed — siphoned of all illusion, of all delusion.

Truly: is it fun? Because it doesn’t strike me as fun. Now, I’ll grant you: I’m sure it’s better for your mental health, to not allow yourself to be seduced or tempted; to never be lured too high; to never let yourself fall too low. But that doesn’t strike me as an escape from reality; it strikes me as reality — as using the same survival skills necessary to get by in this life of ours; as taking the same approach to opportunities and problems as we do in our workaday lives, our personal lives.

[FAH1223]

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[Ruzious]

He really has been superb! He's been the guy some of us were thinking we might get here. At the same time, for sure it wasn't working out.

Here's hoping KP plays well. Not sure where your confidence in that comes from, badinage, but I hope you turn out to be correct. However unlikely that is....

Where it comes from? It comes from irrational optimism. The same irrational optimism that I feel with every acquisition — could this possibly be …? have we just gotten a steal …? are we looking at a potential star …? The same irrational optimism that has enabled me to be a fan of this benighted franchise for all these many decades.

Without it, I’m done; I throw in the towel; I stop watching the games; I stop reading all of you.

…

I really would like to know how so many of you do it. I ask in all seriousness, with the hope of learning something: How do you do it? How do you keep coming back on here — keep investing in this team — keep thinking about a future with this franchise — while maintaining what seems to me to be a very cold, flint-eyed perspective. Maybe at bottom you’re all irrationally optimistic, like me, but you just don’t ever permit yourselves to show it in public? Because it’s unseemly to be too high when they win or too low when they lose? Too unseemly to get giddy at times? Better to be even-keeled and hyper-realistic? Again, I don’t have the answers. I don’t know. I’m asking. I don’t know how you can be a fan, and care, and come to a forum like this, day in and day out — and be so shorn of optimism, or fanaticism, or willful naïveté, or whatever you want to call it. Or, to put it another way: to be so clear-eyed — siphoned of all illusion, of all delusion.

Truly: is it fun? Because it doesn’t strike me as fun. Now, I’ll grant you: I’m sure it’s better for your mental health, to not allow yourself to be seduced or tempted; to never be lured too high; to never let yourself fall too low. But that doesn’t strike me as an escape from reality; it strikes me as reality — as using the same survival skills necessary to get by in this life of ours; as taking the same approach to opportunities and problems as we do in our workaday lives, our personal lives.

Ftr, most of us far more positive about KP than Pif is. Being more positive about Dinwiddie than KP seems silly to me, but what do I know?

[Shoe]

"To me the best rim protector in the league is (Kristaps Porzingis)" - Anthony Edwards

We also got the 52nd pick. Much better deal than trading unprotected firsts and young players to form a Sabonis and Bertans front court

[gesa2]

He really has been superb! He's been the guy some of us were thinking we might get here. At the same time, for sure it wasn't working out.

Here's hoping KP plays well. Not sure where your confidence in that comes from, badinage, but I hope you turn out to be correct. However unlikely that is....

Where it comes from? It comes from irrational optimism. The same irrational optimism that I feel with every acquisition — could this possibly be …? have we just gotten a steal …? are we looking at a potential star …? The same irrational optimism that has enabled me to be a fan of this benighted franchise for all these many decades.

Without it, I’m done; I throw in the towel; I stop watching the games; I stop reading all of you.

…

I really would like to know how so many of you do it. I ask in all seriousness, with the hope of learning something: How do you do it? How do you keep coming back on here — keep investing in this team — keep thinking about a future with this franchise — while maintaining what seems to me to be a very cold, flint-eyed perspective. Maybe at bottom you’re all irrationally optimistic, like me, but you just don’t ever permit yourselves to show it in public? Because it’s unseemly to be too high when they win or too low when they lose? Too unseemly to get giddy at times? Better to be even-keeled and hyper-realistic? Again, I don’t have the answers. I don’t know. I’m asking. I don’t know how you can be a fan, and care, and come to a forum like this, day in and day out — and be so shorn of optimism, or fanaticism, or willful naïveté, or whatever you want to call it. Or, to put it another way: to be so clear-eyed — siphoned of all illusion, of all delusion.

Truly: is it fun? Because it doesn’t strike me as fun. Now, I’ll grant you: I’m sure it’s better for your mental health, to not allow yourself to be seduced or tempted; to never be lured too high; to never let yourself fall too low. But that doesn’t strike me as an escape from reality; it strikes me as reality — as using the same survival skills necessary to get by in this life of ours; as taking the same approach to opportunities and problems as we do in our workaday lives, our personal lives.

Hall of fame post IMO

[nate33]

I'm still in amazement that Sheppard essentially turned John Wall (who had just missed an entire season with an Achilles injury and had 3 years left on his massive deal) for Porzingis, KCP and Kuzma.

[payitforward]

He really has been superb! He's been the guy some of us were thinking we might get here. At the same time, for sure it wasn't working out.

Here's hoping KP plays well. Not sure where your confidence in that comes from, badinage, but I hope you turn out to be correct. However unlikely that is....

Where it comes from? It comes from irrational optimism. The same irrational optimism that I feel with every acquisition — could this possibly be …? have we just gotten a steal …? are we looking at a potential star …? The same irrational optimism that has enabled me to be a fan of this benighted franchise for all these many decades.

Without it, I’m done; I throw in the towel; I stop watching the games; I stop reading all of you.

…

I really would like to know how so many of you do it. I ask in all seriousness, with the hope of learning something: How do you do it? How do you keep coming back on here — keep investing in this team — keep thinking about a future with this franchise — while maintaining what seems to me to be a very cold, flint-eyed perspective. Maybe at bottom you’re all irrationally optimistic, like me, but you just don’t ever permit yourselves to show it in public? Because it’s unseemly to be too high when they win or too low when they lose? Too unseemly to get giddy at times? Better to be even-keeled and hyper-realistic? Again, I don’t have the answers. I don’t know. I’m asking. I don’t know how you can be a fan, and care, and come to a forum like this, day in and day out — and be so shorn of optimism, or fanaticism, or willful naïveté, or whatever you want to call it. Or, to put it another way: to be so clear-eyed — siphoned of all illusion, of all delusion.

Truly: is it fun? Because it doesn’t strike me as fun. Now, I’ll grant you: I’m sure it’s better for your mental health, to not allow yourself to be seduced or tempted; to never be lured too high; to never let yourself fall too low. But that doesn’t strike me as an escape from reality; it strikes me as reality — as using the same survival skills necessary to get by in this life of ours; as taking the same approach to opportunities and problems as we do in our workaday lives, our personal lives.

First off -- this post is hilarious! & serious too. Thanks for both sides of that coin.

IMO, the best point you make -- & it really is significant, I think! -- is that everyone needs a situation in which to be extravagantly, exuberantly, irrationally optimistic! &, for a lot of people (especially male people!), sports is that place.

IOW, I'm no different from you, badinage: we just direct the arrow of our optimism differently. For you it's Porzingis. For prime it's Rui. For me it's some R2 pick or undrafted kid!

Anyone remember me pounding the gavel for Nate Hinton? How about Miles McBride? Has he looked like the guy I envisioned when I wouldn't shut up about him?

IOW, I don't see much here by way of a "cold, flint-eyed perspective." I.e. you are right: like you, we are "all irrationally optimistic."

Moreover, I'm sure you know the adage, "hope springs eternal." On a fan forum, disappointment does little more than fuel the next round of optimism. In my case, for example, the occasional unpredictable success (Garrison Mathews) frees me to bring up Nathan Knight's name over & over.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

FWIW, I still think Nate Hinton is going to break out

[payitforward]

I'm still in amazement that Sheppard essentially turned John Wall (who had just missed an entire season with an Achilles injury and had 3 years left on his massive deal) for Porzingis, KCP and Kuzma.

That's not exactly accurate -- but the point remains valid.

Tommy turned Wall & a protected 2023 R1 pick into Kuzma, KCP, Isaiah Todd, Ish Smith, Vernon Carey Jr., & Aaron Holiday, (whom he then turned into "cash considerations").

If he'd kept the #22 pick & used it on Isaiah Jackson, instead of trading it for Holiday & Isaiah Todd -- i.e. for Todd & "cash considerations" -- that would have been the deal of the century (even trading it for Isaiah Hartenstein or Isaiah Roby would have been better than the trade he did make). But, even so, you are right -- that was some good work!

But, that's not how got Porzingis! First, he decided to re-sign Bertans to an expensive, multi-year contract -- that was a predictably foolish move -- but I've decided to blame it on Ted.

Then he decided to sign Dinwiddie as a FA. That didn't work out.

Trading for Porzingis did nothing but help put those two errors in the rear-view mirror by shortening our salary obligations. Dinwiddie's play in Dallas indicates that he's a far better player than he showed here. Better than Porzingis, certainly! -- though in itself that's pretty easy, since KP is not & has never been a good NBA player & is injured repeatedly.

Still a terrific trade, given that it rid us of Bertans. Plus... we picked up one of those late R2 picks I'm so enamored of!