Dallas Mavs from here
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2025 12:36 pm
Where do they go from here?
Harrison put them where they are.
I could talk about the past, and maybe it will creep in; but I am going to start with facing the future.
A lot depends on Irving's recovery and next contract (when, how much, how long).
Irving Thompson Washington Lively was great on both sides of court in about 200 minutes. Irving Davis was good in about 30. Presumably that it is the desired starting 5.
Gafford is good but on an expiring contract next season, as is Washington. What would they sign for and do they want to? I don't know. Risk there but assume Harrison will try to get it done. But maybe only one?
Christie, Martin, Jones, Powell, Marshall, B Williams, Exum, K Jones etc. are players to consider for depth, trade or non-renewal. Some have promise, none are sure things to be better than typical depth.
If defense wins championships is the slogan, do they have enough? How good is Davis at this point? With Lively, without Lively?
Irving Thompson Washington is no better than meh defense on perimeter and probably worse. None of the bench guys are good at defense except Gafford. Davis Lively Gafford sounds like strong interior defense but how important is that and is it enough? Is Kidd the right coach to build the systems?
With contract extensions, Harrison can keep this core for 3+ years but what will they do next season and season after? Will they want to keep it a year from now? Will they have already committed to it this summer?
It is a tricky spot. The likelihood is that they go all in on current group. Time will tell if it works, is a disaster or something in between.
They might be able to battle for a 6th seed if everything goes right, more likely it is the 9th or 10th seed next season. Making the playoffs and doing something there is the goal. Not likely to have much to show til then, so the pressure (and fan disgust) will hang around for what will feel like a long time.
Dramatic change before then? Possible, several varieties.
Draft? Probably needs to be a guard. PG or SG or combo. Depends on Irving situation to some degree. Jakucionis is fairly likely but I am not that confident in his future. There are worse choices. Ben Saraf, Demin, Fears... Trading down to get 2 or more draft picks is a possibility to explore. Walter Clayton is a possibility but I don't know well. Sergio de Larrea is another that might get considered on merits and marketing. If defense is the battle cry, are either the best choice? Maybe Clayton is good enough. Trade pick for vet? Can they get a vet guard via other trade or free agency?
Are there other Nico targets already identified? He goes for what he wants. Most would probably take a Dallas opportunity, if they have any say, but some might not want it.
One of the spotlight stories to watch.
Harrison put them where they are.
I could talk about the past, and maybe it will creep in; but I am going to start with facing the future.
A lot depends on Irving's recovery and next contract (when, how much, how long).
Irving Thompson Washington Lively was great on both sides of court in about 200 minutes. Irving Davis was good in about 30. Presumably that it is the desired starting 5.
Gafford is good but on an expiring contract next season, as is Washington. What would they sign for and do they want to? I don't know. Risk there but assume Harrison will try to get it done. But maybe only one?
Christie, Martin, Jones, Powell, Marshall, B Williams, Exum, K Jones etc. are players to consider for depth, trade or non-renewal. Some have promise, none are sure things to be better than typical depth.
If defense wins championships is the slogan, do they have enough? How good is Davis at this point? With Lively, without Lively?
Irving Thompson Washington is no better than meh defense on perimeter and probably worse. None of the bench guys are good at defense except Gafford. Davis Lively Gafford sounds like strong interior defense but how important is that and is it enough? Is Kidd the right coach to build the systems?
With contract extensions, Harrison can keep this core for 3+ years but what will they do next season and season after? Will they want to keep it a year from now? Will they have already committed to it this summer?
It is a tricky spot. The likelihood is that they go all in on current group. Time will tell if it works, is a disaster or something in between.
They might be able to battle for a 6th seed if everything goes right, more likely it is the 9th or 10th seed next season. Making the playoffs and doing something there is the goal. Not likely to have much to show til then, so the pressure (and fan disgust) will hang around for what will feel like a long time.
Dramatic change before then? Possible, several varieties.
Draft? Probably needs to be a guard. PG or SG or combo. Depends on Irving situation to some degree. Jakucionis is fairly likely but I am not that confident in his future. There are worse choices. Ben Saraf, Demin, Fears... Trading down to get 2 or more draft picks is a possibility to explore. Walter Clayton is a possibility but I don't know well. Sergio de Larrea is another that might get considered on merits and marketing. If defense is the battle cry, are either the best choice? Maybe Clayton is good enough. Trade pick for vet? Can they get a vet guard via other trade or free agency?
Are there other Nico targets already identified? He goes for what he wants. Most would probably take a Dallas opportunity, if they have any say, but some might not want it.
One of the spotlight stories to watch.