I'd vote Giannis. He's taken the leap this year

Surely we won't sell our draft pick when the best we can do is get the 8th seed band get swept in the first round.

I think this is one year where we wont be looking to trade. Ideal scenario, we play hard in every game and they are actually fun to watch, but we still get last place. I'll settle for sucking and getting last place. Worst scenario is getting 9th, closely followed by making the playoffs and getting stomped in the first round.

There have been many years where I thought the trades were fine and we had a legitimate chance to win it all. This year we would have to acquire about 3-4 players.

Trade Bogut for picks at least.

If they don't trade Bogut, it will
Be a complete failure by the front office. I'd love to see them try and unload D-Will also.

Yea we really need to unload bogut and anyone else that we can get something in return for. But somehow we are only 4 games out of the 8th seed so I'm worried we may not unload people. If we don't, I don't see us getting a great draft pick. We will win too many games, so I think we will be somewhere in the 8-12 draft pick range.

I think the peak value you could get for Bogut has passed. If they had done it on the day he was available for trade- Dec 15th- likely would've had more to gain from the trade. As it is, the more he plays the more he seems to get exposed. Yeah he's been injured, but there's definitely been disappointment with his play this season.

That being said, if you think they won't sell their draft pick just to get up to the 8th seed, you should know better by now. Dirk wants to make the playoffs- and this team wants to make Dirk happy while he's still playing. Unless something has drastically changed with their internal dynamic over the past 1-2 months

It's one thing to sell a draft pick before the season when you have hopes of contending, or to sell it mid-season when you think it will help you contend, get home court advantage, etc. It's completely different to sell a draft pick in a deep draft when you are where we are in the standings, and if everything happens to fall right, you might have a shot at the 8 seed. Maybe I'm being optimistic, but I really don't see them trading the pick this year, unless it is for a young player who is signed for years.

This would be by far the worst trade of their draft pick. I don't think they are delusional enough to think they can compete this year and know that they may not even make the playoffs if they did trade the pick.

I have been on board the "make Dirk happy" camp all along and have not had a huge problem with some of the deals we have made because I understood the reasoning...Dirk wants to compete and we want to remain a playoff team as long as possible. I hated the Rondo trade from the beginning, but other than that I was generally okay with the trades. But this year is completely different in my opinion (I hope the front office agrees). I can't imagine how awful it would be to trade the pick and then miss the playoffs.

Oh don't get me wrong- I'm in full agreement with you. I'm just saying what the front office is likely going to do, which is counter to what we both would think is best

Yea I knew you were in agreement. I just think the front office will actually think like we are this year....or god help us.

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Maybe I am being pessimistic but the worst case scenario is definitely in play. The Mavs get healthy, beat up on some of the scrub teams, miss the playoffs and end up with the 10th pick in the draft. That would be the ultimate wasted season. Even if they make the playoffs it wouldn't exactly be riveting television. This Mavs team would get blasted 4-0 to GS and lose every game by 15+ points.

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I wrote that about a month ago. Unmitigated disaster now in progress. Mavs first 21 games, 4-17. Mavs last 20 games, 10-10. With a good chance to win a 4th straight versus a tanking Miami team. There is absolutely no strategic thinking here. This was easily predicted and should have been cut off before it got started. D. Will could have been shipped to Cleveland for scraps. Bogut already destroyed any value he had, too late now. Carslise isn't even giving playing time to young players Anderson, Brussino or Finney-Smith anymore. At least veteran players like Barrea are scoring 12 points so the Mavs can win a pointless January game against Chicago. All in an attempt to get blasted by Golden State instead of trying to acquire a program changer like Fultz.

It's one thing to be bad. It something a little more special to be stupid. Jason Garrett going into a panic and having the football spiked with 1 minute left. Mark Cuban going all in to take yet another first round beat down. A&M basketball (who is in charge again?) giving Kennedy a 7M buyout. A&M football (who is in charge again?) waiting until December 2017 to announce Aggie Chad Morris as head coach after "national search". I don't necessarily cheer for the worst set of teams, but I might cheer for the dumbest.

jeffdjohnson said:

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Quote:

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Maybe I am being pessimistic but the worst case scenario is definitely in play. The Mavs get healthy, beat up on some of the scrub teams, miss the playoffs and end up with the 10th pick in the draft. That would be the ultimate wasted season. Even if they make the playoffs it wouldn't exactly be riveting television. This Mavs team would get blasted 4-0 to GS and lose every game by 15+ points.

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I wrote that about a month ago. Unmitigated disaster now in progress. Mavs first 21 games, 4-17. Mavs last 20 games, 10-10. With a good chance to win a 4th straight versus a tanking Miami team. There is absolutely no strategic thinking here. This was easily predicted and should have been cut off before it got started. D. Will could have been shipped to Cleveland for scraps. Bogut already destroyed any value he had, too late now. Carslise isn't even giving playing time to young players Anderson, Brussino or Finney-Smith anymore. At least veteran players like Barrea are scoring 12 points so the Mavs can win a pointless January game against Chicago. All in an attempt to get blasted by Golden State instead of trying to acquire a program changer like Fultz.

It's one thing to be bad. It something a little more special to be stupid. Jason Garrett going into a panic and having the football spiked with 1 minute left. Mark Cuban going all in to take yet another first round beat down. A&M basketball (who is in charge again?) giving Kennedy a 7M buyout. A&M football (who is in charge again?) waiting until December 2017 to announce Aggie Chad Morris as head coach after "national search". I don't necessarily cheer for the worst set of teams, but I might cheer for the dumbest.

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I hope someone has a non-career threatening injury..or probably 2 people.

You make me sad

It makes me sad too. Because it's true.

Last night was the perfect balance of Mavs basketball for this season- exciting games that ultimately end up in a loss. very enjoyable and entertaining

Killing the lakers.

The turnaround starts now!

Played well against the Knicks last night.

So, with the amount of money the Knicks sank into Joakim Noah, and with Derrick Rose expecting some huge payday this offseason- kinda makes you realize that the Mavs could be in an even worse position right now, even with them trying to play themselves out of the lottery

W over Spurs, led by something called a Yogi Ferrell?

I don't think Carlisle saw that coming.

24-10 for Curry Lite!

He'll start playing like his brother and sign elsewhere.

Nice W over the spurs.

Nice W over the Cavs, too. What the hell is going on?

Might have something with Yogi.

Yogi Ferrell just lead us to back to back wins over the Spurs and cavs. Never thought I'd say that.

He was good in college. Surely we will sign him to a longer contract now.

Setting ourselves up nicely to fight like hell for the 8 seed to earn the right to get crushed by Golden State.

When is the Bogut trade going down?

Everyone knows the guy will walk at the end of the year and he's not a good fit here. Gotta get something for him or this front office is stupid.

Hard to trade someone who is always hurt

His trade value is gone. Maybe they'll get a second round for him? He has to be the one to move to make room for Yogi Ferrell once the second 10-day contract is up.

That game last night was awesome- the massive disappointment of all the LeBron t-shirt fans watching their team crumble against an "underrated **** team" as Rick Carlisle himself said was just awesome.

And it seems like that game finally broke LeBron, who went off on several rants after the game particularly against Charles Barkley

I guess Seth can play! 50% FG and 50% from 3 in January.

This team really does have too much talent to be in the bottom of the West. And the more they play exciting, good ball like this, the harder it is for me to stay in "tank mode."

TheMasterplan said:

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Killing the lakers.

The turnaround starts now!

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Let's go!!!!

NoahAg said:

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I guess Seth can play! 50% FG and 50% from 3 in January.

This team really does have too much talent to be in the bottom of the West. And the more they play exciting, good ball like this, the harder it is for me to stay in "tank mode."

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Yea, thats why it was nice when so many were out injured and we were playing horrible ball. Didn't feel bad about looking forward to a high draft pick.

Now that we are looking better, you have the dueling impulses of wanting to win games and knowing that its the worst thing for the team going forward.

Bring on the 8th seed and Golden State! Revenge for 2007!

I still can't believe that 2007 series. All of those golden state guys played way above their heads.

So I've changed my mind regarding this team, and it helped to listen to Locked On Mavericks yesterday. It looks like the Mavs are gonna sign Yogi Ferrell to a 2-year deal. If he continues doing well- or even just doing okay- along with Seth Curry looking like he's legitimate, Harrison Barnes being the go-to guy as a starter- just those three alone can provide a good nucleus going forward, and you can pair them up with whatever pick you get this off-season, while continuing to scour the free agent market for low-level guys who can learn under the Carlisle system. As Mike Marshall had said, "I'd rather have these young guys that we're actually playing and get the 7th pick then have none of them and get the 4th pick".