OFFICIAL 2022 Playoffs round WCSF 2 SERIES Mavs and Suns

[G-Man]

I think its time to give a little love to Nico.

No one was impressed by his off season dealings. Everybody said we had to have a big man and a ball handling wing who could get his own shot, and he got neither. All he got was Bullock and Brown, with Frank N a very late add at the end of training camp. But think about it. He was on Bullock's doorstep the minute free agency opened...that turned out to be a brilliant move. And look at some of the minutes we got from Frank playing defense against Booker. Very small Nico moves, but ones that had major influence on the ultimate success of this season.

Now, lets look at his big move. Trading Porzingis for 2 of the worst contracts in the NBA. But Spencer has helped. He hit a couple of game winners late in the season, and I don't think there is any way we win those Utah games without Luka if JB was our only dependable ball handler. And without Betrtans big game hitting 4 threes in game five against the Suns, the Mavs season would already be over.

But the biggest impact in dumping Porzingis is on the team. No longer does Kidd have to waste time figuring out how to get KP his shots, when Luka is clearly more effective in a five out type of offense. Its no mystery that Porzingis had some of his best games when Luka was out.

I'm hoping his success last year will help in recruiting this off season. Free agents can see what we are building here, with J Kidd's pro-player approach working where Carlisle 's "my way or the highway" style failed. But who knows? Maybe Nico has his eye on a couple of unwanted scrubs who will be enough to push us over the top.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by G-Man

I think its time to give a little love to Nico.

No one was impressed by his off season dealings. Everybody said we had to have a big man and a ball handling wing who could get his own shot, and he got neither. All he got was Bullock and Brown, with Frank N a very late add at the end of training camp. But think about it. He was on Bullock's doorstep the minute free agency opened...that turned out to be a brilliant move. And look at some of the minutes we got from Frank playing defense against Booker. Very small Nico moves, but ones that had major influence on the ultimate success of this season.

Now, lets look at his big move. Trading Porzingis for 2 of the worst contracts in the NBA. But Spencer has helped. He hit a couple of game winners late in the season, and I don't think there is any way we win those Utah games without Luka if JB was our only dependable ball handler. And without Bertans big game hitting 4 threes in game five against the Suns, the Mavs season would already be over.

But the biggest impact in dumping Porzingis is on the team. No longer does Kidd have to waste time figuring out how to get KP his shots, when Luka is clearly more effective in a five out type of offense. Its no mystery that Porzingis had some of his best games when Luka was out.

I'm hoping his success last year will help in recruiting this off season. Free agents can see what we are building here, with J Kidd's pro-player approach working where Carlisle 's "my way or the highway" style failed. But who knows? Maybe Nico has his eye on a couple of unwanted scrubs who will be enough to push us over the top.

I always loved the Frank pickup and thought he played solid even doing the regular season.

The Bullock pickup I really didn't have much to say I was just hoping he could add some defense that the Mavs missed fired on with D.Wright and J.Richardson. Early in the season it was looking like Bullock was headed down that same path, but he's really played solid since January and when THJ went down that IMO allowed the dude to settle in more.

The Brown pickup has turned out to be a bust but I just blame that on the Mavs once again going after a player just because he played well against them in a few games (Wright) LOL.

Dinwiddie was a guy that I wanted them to go after last summer. Having said I was not happy with the KP trade especially since in hindsight had they went after Dinwiddie in the Summer they could have potentially had both him and KP on the same roster already. The trade IMO was simply a salary cap move. I honestly don't expect either Bertans or Dinwiddie to be on the roster by the trade deadline next year. Bertans because he makes shots every 4th or 5th game. For that money you need a more reliable shooter IMO.

Dinwiddie has looked lost in the playoffs most nights, sure he's a few double digit games but overall the lack of defense and out of control drives to the rim might ultimately get him shipped out unless he goes on some kind of consistent run the 1st half of next season.

My ideal summer pickup would be Myles Turner and Brogdon both guys can play off ball and provide two way options at their position. I know some people will keep throwing it out there that Luka will attract FA's but I just don't but that anymore. It didn't work with Dirk and the Mavs built their rosters via trades not FA's

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

I always loved the Frank pickup and thought he played solid even doing the regular season.

The Bullock pickup I really didn't have much to say I was just hoping he could add some defense that the Mavs missed fired on with D.Wright and J.Richardson. Early in the season it was looking like Bullock was headed down that same path, but he's really played solid since January and when THJ went down that IMO allowed the dude to settle in more.

The Brown pickup has turned out to be a bust but I just blame that on the Mavs once again going after a player just because he played well against them in a few games (Wright) LOL.

Dinwiddie was a guy that I wanted them to go after last summer. Having said I was not happy with the KP trade especially since in hindsight had they went after Dinwiddie in the Summer they could have potentially had both him and KP on the same roster already. The trade IMO was simply a salary cap move. I honestly don't expect either Bertans or Dinwiddie to be on the roster by the trade deadline next year. Bertans because he makes shots every 4th or 5th game. For that money you need a more reliable shooter IMO.

Dinwiddie has looked lost in the playoffs most nights, sure he's a few double digit games but overall the lack of defense and out of control drives to the rim might ultimately get him shipped out unless he goes on some kind of consistent run the 1st half of next season.

My ideal summer pickup would be Myles Turner and Brogdon both guys can play off ball and provide two way options at their position. I know some people will keep throwing it out there that Luka will attract FA's but I just don't but that anymore. It didn't work with Dirk and the Mavs built their rosters via trades not FA's

Turner and Brogdon would be sick.. Agree on trades vs. FA with the Mavs - If we see Plan Dry Powder Part 3 I will kick someone in the groin. Am I missing a dry powder plan? Dry Powder 1 - saving money for Dwight Howard, Dry Powder 2 - saving money for Giannis (ironically the reason we didn't draft him because of DP 1).

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

I always loved the Frank pickup and thought he played solid even doing the regular season.

The Bullock pickup I really didn't have much to say I was just hoping he could add some defense that the Mavs missed fired on with D.Wright and J.Richardson. Early in the season it was looking like Bullock was headed down that same path, but he's really played solid since January and when THJ went down that IMO allowed the dude to settle in more.

The Brown pickup has turned out to be a bust but I just blame that on the Mavs once again going after a player just because he played well against them in a few games (Wright) LOL.

Dinwiddie was a guy that I wanted them to go after last summer. Having said I was not happy with the KP trade especially since in hindsight had they went after Dinwiddie in the Summer they could have potentially had both him and KP on the same roster already. The trade IMO was simply a salary cap move. I honestly don't expect either Bertans or Dinwiddie to be on the roster by the trade deadline next year. Bertans because he makes shots every 4th or 5th game. For that money you need a more reliable shooter IMO.

Dinwiddie has looked lost in the playoffs most nights, sure he's a few double digit games but overall the lack of defense and out of control drives to the rim might ultimately get him shipped out unless he goes on some kind of consistent run the 1st half of next season.

My ideal summer pickup would be Myles Turner and Brogdon both guys can play off ball and provide two way options at their position. I know some people will keep throwing it out there that Luka will attract FA's but I just don't but that anymore. It didn't work with Dirk and the Mavs built their rosters via trades not FA's

Turner and Brogdon would be sick.. Agree on trades vs. FA with the Mavs - If we see Plan Dry Powder Part 3 I will kick someone in the groin. Am I missing a dry powder plan? Dry Powder 1 - saving money for Dwight Howard, Dry Powder 2 - saving money for Giannis (ironically the reason we didn't draft him because of DP 1).

[G-Man]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

I know some people will keep throwing it out there that Luka will attract FA's but I just don't buy that anymore. It didn't work with Dirk and the Mavs built their rosters via trades not FA's

Perhaps the problem with getting free agents was not Dirk and is not Luka. Maybe the problem was Carlisle.

Remember when they first got Kidd? In one of his early games, think against the Spurs, he had a conflict with RC over who would call the plays. Eventually, they worked it out. But a few years later, we saw the same conflict with Rondo, and that blew up in the Mavs faces big time. I suspect a lot of young stars do not want to be under the thumb of an old control freak.

Now, potential players see a different look Mavs team. We have Luka, who will get anyone better shots, and we have Kidd, who is showing himself to be a great coach. He has made this team that leaked like a sieve into a defensive juggernaut, with the addition of just one player. This is a team that is headed for greatness. It is dramatically more attractive than the post championship Mavs, where most of the key players were just a few seasons away from retirement.

If I'm a talented guy and I want a chance at a ring, Dallas is as good a place as any to have a chance at multiple long playoff runs. And I think Nico will know how to use that to his advantage. He's taken Frank and Chriss from off the scrap heap and made them into decent trade pieces. Kidd has shown that Josh has value at well.

Nico and Kidd are now one of the hottest management teams in the league. If Cuban is willing to open his wallet, I think the sky is the limit.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by G-Man

Perhaps the problem with getting free agents was not Dirk and is not Luka. Maybe the problem was Carlisle.

Remember when they first got Kidd? In one of his early games, think against the Spurs, he had a conflict with RC over who would call the plays. Eventually, they worked it out. But a few years later, we saw the same conflict with Rondo, and that blew up in the Mavs faces big time. I suspect a lot of young stars do not want to be under the thumb of an old control freak.

Now, potential players see a different look Mavs team. We have Luka, who will get anyone better shots, and we have Kidd, who is showing himself to be a great coach. He has made this team that leaked like a sieve into a defensive juggernaut, with the addition of just one player. This is a team that is headed for greatness. It is dramatically more attractive than the post championship Mavs, where most of the key players were just a few seasons away from retirement.

If I'm a talented guy and I want a chance at a ring, Dallas is as good a place as any to have a chance at multiple long playoff runs. And I think Nico will know how to use that to his advantage. He's taken Frank and Chriss from off the scrap heap and made them into decent trade pieces. Kidd has shown that Josh has value at well.

Nico and Kidd are now one of the hottest management teams in the league. If Cuban is willing to open his wallet, I think the sky is the limit.

I think certainly Carlisle didn't help, but that wasn't it either. The problem is, there are only 3 cities in all of America that are genuine free agent destinations. New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. That's it. Dallas is a decent sized market, but there's nothing noteworthy or for lack of a better word "glamorous" about it.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by G-Man

Remember when they first got Kidd? In one of his early games, think against the Spurs, he had a conflict with RC over who would call the plays. Eventually, they worked it out. But a few years later, we saw the same conflict with Rondo, and that blew up in the Mavs faces big time. I suspect a lot of young stars do not want to be under the thumb of an old control freak.

To your point about Carlisle, I don't know that he and Kidd ever worked it out. I remember reading a few years ago that the two of them frequently would argue pretty angrily, to the point of cussing each other out, but were very good at hiding it from the public. That could also have been a contributing factor to Kidd not retiring with the Mavs and spending that one weird season with the Knicks.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by G-Man

I think its time to give a little love to Nico.

No one was impressed by his off season dealings. Everybody said we had to have a big man and a ball handling wing who could get his own shot, and he got neither. All he got was Bullock and Brown, with Frank N a very late add at the end of training camp. But think about it. He was on Bullock's doorstep the minute free agency opened...that turned out to be a brilliant move. And look at some of the minutes we got from Frank playing defense against Booker. Very small Nico moves, but ones that had major influence on the ultimate success of this season.

Now, lets look at his big move. Trading Porzingis for 2 of the worst contracts in the NBA. But Spencer has helped. He hit a couple of game winners late in the season, and I don't think there is any way we win those Utah games without Luka if JB was our only dependable ball handler. And without Betrtans big game hitting 4 threes in game five against the Suns, the Mavs season would already be over.

But the biggest impact in dumping Porzingis is on the team. No longer does Kidd have to waste time figuring out how to get KP his shots, when Luka is clearly more effective in a five out type of offense. Its no mystery that Porzingis had some of his best games when Luka was out.

I'm hoping his success last year will help in recruiting this off season. Free agents can see what we are building here, with J Kidd's pro-player approach working where Carlisle 's "my way or the highway" style failed. But who knows? Maybe Nico has his eye on a couple of unwanted scrubs who will be enough to push us over the top.

Must spread rep. These weren't sexy, exciting moves. But they were smart, savvy moves.

I'll take a little credit for being right about Nico. I hated the Kidd hire, but I liked the Nico hire. I'm a big believer in agents and executives for companies like Nike making good potential GMs. I think being a good GM has as much to do with your ability to ingratiate yourself with players and negotiate firmly with other GMs as it does with simply knowing basketball. Nico checked all the right boxes. Not only was he a respected Nike executive, but he is a former player himself.