If the Mavs trade for Jrue (no substantive links to Jrue, just speculation), are we competing for top 6 in the West this year? The trade would be Klay and PJ for Jrue. That would leave the roster looking like this:

1 - Kyrie, Sergio, Sasser
2 - Jrue, Max, Naji,
3 - Flagg, Risacher, Biberovic, Martin
4 - Rez, Aldama
5 - Lively, Gaff, Cisse

Tons of positional versatility with the size and skillsets of Sergio, Naji, Coop, Risacher, Biberovic, Rez, and Aldama.

Bit of projection for Rez and Sergio, but it's a talented starting/closing 5 and really nice depth with different skillsets.

Vessel said:

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If the Mavs trade for Jrue (no substantive links to Jrue, just speculation), are we competing for top 6 in the West this year? The trade would be Klay and PJ for Jrue. That would leave the roster looking like this:

1 - Kyrie, Sergio, Sasser
2 - Jrue, Max, Naji,
3 - Flagg, Risacher, Biberovic, Martin
4 - Rez, Aldama
5 - Lively, Gaff, Cisse

Tons of positional versatility with the size and skillsets of Sergio, Naji, Coop, Risacher, Biberovic, Rez, and Aldama.

Bit of projection for Rez and Sergio, but it's a talented starting/closing 5 and really nice depth with different skillsets.

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I'd love the addition of jrue to give us another veteran and former all star presence alongside Kai. That would be a young and fiery, but vet led team.

I think we're all going to be surprised at just how good Kyrie will look. I know he's 34, but he's an all-world talent, and it's been shown recently that these types of players can play well, well into their late 30's. With that being said, I also wonder how you get another Kyrie type of talent through the door next to Cooper over the long haul.

What we have done thus far has raised our floor a ton imo, and our ceiling some as well because of how much better of shooting team we will be with the additions (including Kyrie). However, Kyrie is again 34 and I doubt we extend him for more money. He can come on back at a discount but in no way am I giving him a contract that would pay 50 million a year.

This brings me to my next point; the Mavs have decidedly gotten younger. Cooper is 19, Larry is 20, Morez is 21, Risacher is 21, Lively is 22 and so on and so forth. So, what I am getting at is the idea that we go into this season with a plan to get the most out of Kyrie in terms of on the court success (maybe you have to limit him to 30 minutes a night like Wemby), and then you trade him at the deadline trying to get a somewhat significant asset that give you a chance to land a 1B or B player that could go next to Cooper. I think there is a very legitimate chance this happens with Kyrie, Gafford, Klay, etc. Try to get the most out of a full team and make your old guys look as good as possible.

Quickly on Risacher, while he was bad last year, I think we gotta give him another chance. He finished out his rookie season strong, had a bad second year on a team that clearly started to revolve around Johnson and was not built to include him because of it. He didn't help himself either, but I think he could be a solid bench or 3 and D guy. (not elite D).

Dallas's O/U is 34.5. Taking the over feels like stealing tbh. If you simply put Kyrie on the team last year we probably win 30 games, and we have gotten better as a team imo. I think this team, barring any catastrophic injuries, can compete to be .500.

On Risacher, it will benefit him as well as the fan perspective of him that he's now on a team which gave up Ryan Nembhard for him, rather than a team that used the 1st pick for him. When you look at it from that lens, it's a nice pickup for the Mavs. Hopefully a mental burden is lifted from him as well.

He's an above average 3 point shooter for a SF and has a league average eFG%. He has a relatively low TO% and he gets his hands on lots of balls defensively.

You describe that player and say you only gave up Ryan Nembhard and you're over the moon. It only gets better when you say this player just turned 21 years old (more than 2 years younger than the player you gave up) and has the pedigree of a higher upside player.

Tksymm7 said:

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Dallas's O/U is 34.5. Taking the over feels like stealing tbh. If you simply put Kyrie on the team last year we probably win 30 games, and we have gotten better as a team imo. I think this team, barring any catastrophic injuries, can compete to be .500.

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My gut reaction as well. We played in so many close games last year, just having Kyrie and Lively back (fingers crossed) should flip several of those losses. I also think it's a nice buy low spot, because the Mavs could still make a consolidation move that drastically improves the team upside (such as adding Jrue Holiday lol).

The roster still has some deficiencies, such as short on ballhandling and POA defense (Hi Jrue lol). Like you said, Kyrie is going to play fewer minutes and he'll probably sit out a number of games. Who are the ballhandlers in the non-Kyrie minutes/games? Right now, it's the same as last year minus Nembhard plus Larry.

But probably the biggest barrier to 35 wins is that the league-wide losing incentive has more or less been removed. Several bad teams from last year will not be bad and nobody who was in the play-in or better last year looks like they'll be taking a major step back. At minimum, basically nobody will be throwing games. Obvious counter to that would be that the Mavs aren't trying to lose games either.

Should be a lot more fun basketball this season, hopefully. But that means almost every game will be competitive.

A lineup of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecomb, Jaylen Brown, Bron, and Embiid is kinda disgusting. It'll be 40 games of all-world basketball.

Lebron celebrating Karl Malone on his birthday in the most moving tribute to his end of career legacy. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Join us in wishing a Happy 63rd Birthday to 14x NBA All-Star, 2x NBA MVP and 75th Anniversary Team member... “The Mailman,” Karl Malone! pic.twitter.com/IsEqGbY0My

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) July 24, 2026

I think it's a really good starting five, or starting four if you push Edgecombe to the bench (which I definitely think might happen).

Maxey running the show, Jaylen being your primary scoring option on offense, Lebron being your secondary facilitator, Embiid being your second primary scorer on offense when healthy, and then Edgecombe to mix in. They could use a real stretch four or three and D wing, but they'll be okay I think.

Also props to LeBron for swallowing some pride, recognizing he's made a lot of damn money in his career, and going all in on wanting to win. IMO that is something I admire and respect about some all-time greats. Your desire to win should supersede your desire for the next paycheck when you've made probably north of 700 million in your career.

Lamest thing is he took a minimum and there probably don't need to be any corresponding moves to help clear cap space or anything.

I absolutely think it's swallowing some pride. He could easily get 25+ per year and be the main guy on a lot of teams in this league still, but he's taking a healthy pay cut and accepting that he's going to be bass player in the five man band when he's been the face of the league for 15 years. You want to call it ring chasing as well, have no issue with that. It absolutely is. But he's also taking the back seat when he's still a really damn good player.

Tksymm7 said:

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I absolutely think it's swallowing some pride. He could easily get 25+ per year and be the main guy on a lot of teams in this league still, but he's taking a healthy pay cut and accepting that he's going to be bass player in the five man band when he's been the face of the league for 15 years. You want to call it ring chasing as well, have no issue with that. It absolutely is. But he's also taking the back seat when he's still a really damn good player.

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Nah, he's taking the minimum to ring chase just like Karl Malone did. It's not swallowing pride, he's telling to get 5 and that's worth more to his legacy than 20m more when he's already a billionaire

NoahAg said:

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lol, I don't see it as "swallowing pride" at all. It is 100% chasing a ring. Left his own son behind in LA b/c he knows the Lakers aren't contenders.

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Imagine that. Not wanting to play your last two seasons with a team thats at-best the 4th best team in the West. Life is too short.

M.C. Swag said:

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thegoodolag15 said:

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A lineup of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecomb, Jaylen Brown, Bron, and Embiid is kinda disgusting. It'll be 40 games of all-world basketball.

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Offensively potent but defensively I have concerns. Adding LeBron for basically a vet min is insane value though. Philly did a great job of maximizing this roster with the cap constraints.

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LeBron is still an above average defender who can defend every spot on the court competently, and while Jaylen Brown's reputation on that end is bigger than his actual production he's still a plus wing defender. Embiid is either an elite defensive player or a liability depending entirely on his health.

If Embiid is healthy that's at least an average NBA defensive lineup.

https://t.co/z8ZzusSfxZ pic.twitter.com/VcCFUazxRc

— Is Lebron A 76er Yet (@IsBronA76erYet) July 25, 2026

2026-27 Dallas Mavericks Impact Landscape…

⬆️Greater 25-26 Defensive Impact
➡️Greater 25-26 Offensive Impact

Projected Wins: 38.1 pic.twitter.com/hqB974zIjW

— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) July 25, 2026

Interesting that the Darko predictive metrics project 38ish wins for the Mavs. I don't believe that includes any projected jump from young players, of which the roster is primarily constructed.

If Rez and Larry are semi-positive role players, and the Mavs make some type of consolidation trade that improves the upper tier of the roster, we're looking at a pretty nice team (assuming a modicum of health).

Told today that Dallas has held some early stage talks with Dereck Lively II on a possible contract extension.

Lively, 22, is eligible for a new deal until Opening Night Eve but played in just seven games in 2025-26 before foot surgery.

More NBA Intel: https://t.co/Bi4MVP7QMm https://t.co/YGDbLfnXR8

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 27, 2026

If the Mavs are confident in their medical team they are hiring, and think there isn't anything debilitating or deteriorating, then they should do a deal soon. Lively is easily a top 10 center in the league when he plays.

"When"

Hopefully he plays a lot. They really have no choice choice, but to extend him. But frankly, if the return was good enough, I would be perfectly fine with dealing him. I just don't know that we would get much in return.

Vessel said:

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Told today that Dallas has held some early stage talks with Dereck Lively II on a possible contract extension.

Lively, 22, is eligible for a new deal until Opening Night Eve but played in just seven games in 2025-26 before foot surgery.

More NBA Intel: https://t.co/Bi4MVP7QMm https://t.co/YGDbLfnXR8

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 27, 2026

If the Mavs are confident in their medical team they are hiring, and think there isn't anything debilitating or deteriorating, then they should do a deal soon. Lively is easily a top 10 center in the league when he plays.

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Considering his injury history the Mavs should be able to sign him to a team friendly deal.

98 games in three seasons. Oof.

I think the Mavs shouldn't be super high and that 3rd/4th years should be unguaranteed but can become increasingly guaranteed with minutes/games played, similar to Zion Williamson's guarantees.

Zion gets 20% guaranteed if he makes weight 6x a year. 40% of salary becomes guaranteed if plays >= 41 games, additional 20% if plays >= 51 games, remaining 20% if plays >= 61 games.

That type of initial framework could work. Back, knee, ankle, and foot injuries would make me wary. I wouldn't want to give him more than Luke Kornet's deal of front-loaded 4/41 with two unguaranteed years. Obviously Lively can be better, but those injuries are rough.

You don't really want to do incentives (like 15% pay bump if you play 65 games) because those get counted against your apron levels.

I'd do something in the $20 million per year range right now. Maybe you can do some sort of Zion guarantee deal.

Walker Kessler just got $30 million+ per year. Lively is at least in Kessler's tier, and I'd argue Lively is better. If Lively plays this year without an extension and plays in 60ish games he'll be asking for more than that next offseason.

I can't get to 20 with that injury history. 43 games over the last two years? Only if it is completely unguaranteed.

He's a good rim protector and lob threat, but he's an 9/7 guy in 22mpg. I'm not sure he is 90% of Hartenstein.

Lively is also only 22. In 2 years he could easily be 125% of Hartenstein. That's the gamble.

Saying he's a good rim protector wildly undersells his defensive impact. He can guard on the perimeter and he's a good passer on offense. He was at 4.1 assists/36 in the small sample that is last season. Always made good decisions on the short roll when Luka was doubled.

It's a risk, but it's also a risk you have to sign him for twice as much if he has one healthy season this year.

I'd be fine with not a Penny more than 20M per year for four years (with an option for the fourth year). With that said, you give him that contract you HAVE to get off Gafford. You absolutely cannot pay two centers 38M per year.

Yea I feel like there is no way lively is taking a Luke Kornet deal, even with the injury history. And I agree there is no way the mavs are paying more than $20 per year (or at least they should not even consider doing that). I think the middle ground would be in the $14-15 per year range. That seems fair to both sides. Allows lively to lock up life changing money and avoid a Nerlens Noel situation and is a great deal for the Mavs if he actually stays healthy (which is a huge if).

Tksymm7 said:

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I'd be fine with not a Penny more than 20M per year for four years (with an option for the fourth year). With that said, you give him that contract you HAVE to get off Gafford. You absolutely cannot pay two centers 38M per year.

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I agree we should be moving on from Gafford. Lively's extension wouldn't kick in until 27-28, so there will be multiple windows to trade Gafford before the deals become concurrent. Unfortunately, the league appears to be signaling that Gafford's deal may be somewhat unmovable until it's an expiring contract.

Some center will get hurt this season and that team will come calling for Gafford. If not, then he'll just be really solid, though expensive, Lively insurance. Ideally we get off him and let Cisse get more minutes and let Morez play the 5 for some stretches.