Maybe focus your ire to the impetus of the complaint rather than the person complaining about someone doing a bad job.

It is ridiculous that the NBA allows referees to make an objectively wrong call, proceed to give a technical to the player, and then let the technical stand upon review.

Duncan won 5 championships.

Kyrie is a diva because of the way he interacts with his teammates and the team overall. That's an entirely different problem. Getting along with your teammates is important, getting along with referees dramatically less so.

Could use the JRich TPE as a place for a team to dump $10m salary in exchange for a pick.

Could also decide to move Brunson if they want something bad enough.

Getting nervous about losing Brunson. Knicks are making room. I hope the rumors of him telling teammates he is staying are true.

If the Knicks sign Brunson it's either because Brunson wants to play on a worse team for less money or the Mavs decided not to sign him. The Knicks are trailing the Mavs substantially in quality of team and dollars available to spend. Cuban just has to be willing to pay the tax for a year.

They still don't have enough cap space to make an offer at Brunson's market rate. They'll have to shed around 8 million more in salary to even compete with a Mavericks low end offer.

ryanhnc10 said:

---

hph6203 said:

---

Nonsense. And I have eyes. The whining about Luka complaining is way more whiney than Luka's complaining. Coming from a perspective that complaining is weakness, complaining is not weakness.

Every great player ever complained to refs. Every. Single. One. And they did it a lot.

---

Chalk me up as someone who wishes he would complain less. It is very noticeable and annoying. You're right that a lot of good players do it, that doesn't make it less annoying. Can still remember Duncan acting like he never committed a foul before - as a fan it just makes you roll your eyes.

---

I'll preface this by saying I love Luka, which obviously we all do.

I don't think Luka is a diva when it comes to personality bc everyone gets along with him off the court. But he's definitely a diva when it comes to on court personality. He pounds the rock more than anyone in the league and hasn't learned to play off the ball at all. That makes it impossible for another star to want to come here. Obviously people are down on KP, but it's understandable why he wasn't crazy about being here when Luka turned him into a spot up shooter. I compare it to Bosh in Miami, but Bosh was fine with it bc he was selfless and bc they were competing for championships.

And I agree he should complain less. He's got a great personality but his constant complaining does him no favors and actively hurts the team bc he just stays back and doesn't get back on D. I agree he doesn't get the calls that he should but would still rather him not complain so much (it's clearly not helping him get more calls).

We've officially entered the range in which Dallas can buy into. Guys still on the board they would likely draft:

-Kennedy Chandler
-EJ Liddell
-Trevor Keels
-Jaylin Williams
-Bryce McGowens
-Kendall Brown
-Ismael Kamagate
-Christian Koloko
-Josh Minott

Just got Hardy for 2 future 2nds. #2 recruit in the nation in 2021. HUGE ceiling. Love it.

gigem1223 said:

---

Just got the 37th pick for 2 future 2nds. Woj says we're focused on Hardy.

---

No way we keep THJ, Dinwiddie, and Brunson after trading back in to draft Hardy. I like the trade and pick so now I'm curious to see what kind of trade happens to make the pick fit.

Not exactly. The luxury tax is making me think we dump one of those high paid guys since we just drafted an incredibly high ceiling guy who plays the same position as all of them. He was effectively a college freshman asked to be a primary scorer against professional grown men. I don't expect him to be a starter or even first guy off the bench, but unless Cuban is willing to go deep in the luxury tax and have multiple 18+MM players with multiple years left on their deal sitting on the bench then something's got to give.

Stellar first draft move for Nico IMO. Cost was low, upside is sky high. Not just insurance for Brunson either. This is a guy that can handle the ball, create his own shot, and should fit nicely with what Dallas has on the roster already. #2 prospect in the country coming out of high school and he was basically a lottery kid six months ago. Obviously struggled some in the G-League and it hurt his stock, but he's 19. Love this move by Nico.

Hardy was the #19 player on the Mavs board and they got him at 37

He's not committed to paying the luxury tax for more than one year at this point. The most likely of those 3 to leave is Brunson. Don't think there's any way you're getting THJ off the books.

It's a low risk/high reward move, but I don't see how that changes their view of already established players. If they were willing to sign Brunson/keep THJ and Dinwiddie before I see no reason why an unproven guy is going to change that thought process.

Looks like some smooth moves tonight.

I hope we can also give Ibou Badji a shot!

Hardy's draft blurb on ESPN isn't great. Hopefully he remains a high ceiling guy who improves and Kidd can help him mature.

" Hardy started the season projected as a top-5 pick, but saw his stock slide drastically after an extremely inefficient season that was marred by poor shot selection, too many turnovers and quite a few defensive lapses that contributed to Ignite's 9-18 record with him on the court. For Hardy, the amount of freedom he was given on an Ignite team with very few go-to scoring options besides himself may not have been the best thing for him as he hunted shots relentlessly all season and never really learned the value of slowing down, letting the game come to him and doing more little things that contribute to winning.

After a year with the ultimate green light, the best thing possible for Hardy may be being asked to dial it back and play a team-friendly style looking for singles and doubles rather than seeking out the home-run play on every possession. Digging beneath the surface, there are enough indicators to show the potential Hardy offers offensively, with the incredible shooting range he offers, dynamic shot-making off the dribble, and occasional flashes of passing and scoring touch around the rim that hint at good things to come for the 19-year-old. Hardy's 6-foot-9 wingspan and solid build gives him the framework of someone who can hold his own offensively as his discipline and intensity improves, and there are some things to work with here if his bad habits in terms of effort and off-ball gambling can be improved."

Scout write-up from December:

"Hardy has had a somewhat disappointing season for Ignite, scoring inefficiently, appearing disinterested defensively and often looking selfish with his approach. He looked to be building positive momentum earlier in the week with strong performances against Salt Lake City and in the opening game of the Showcase, before completely falling apart in an ugly blowout loss to Austin, reminding scouts of how poor he's looked for much thus far.

Hardy is shooting a dismal 40% from 2-point range and 27% from beyond the arc, while posting a negative assist to turnover ratio. He's struggled to generate good looks for himself this season, regularly freezes out teammates and has been a defensive liability for most of the season. NBA scouts in attendance questioned whether he has the quickness or feel to play the only style of basketball he seemingly knows. Others pointed out that his team strung together back-to-back wins and played much better when he and his teammate/brother Amauri Hardy were suspended for two games in Stockton due to a violation of COVID protocols.

While Hardy's chances of being a top-five pick like he was projected in the preseason are looking unlikely by the day, he still has time to solidify his candidacy as a top-10 pick. Luckily for him, few prospects have emerged in the college ranks and flashed the type of star-potential NBA teams look for in the mid to late lottery portions of the draft, putting him in a large group of prospects with major question marks. It will be interesting to see what type of adjustments Hardy makes as the season moves along, or whether he'll continue to play the type of empty-calorie, volume scoring style that's mostly been his M.O. thus far. "

Redneck Luka on the 8:40 spot on the Ticket. Looks like we're gonna need to be concerned about his conditioning after the break.

Not gonna lie, I took Hardy off my list because I thought he had 0 role on this roster. He's a 6'4 shooting guard that can't shoot and is passable at defense at best. I personally don't see it. He has incredible handle but he lacks almost every other discerning skill required to play in the league. His G league box score stats are grossly inflated due to pure volume of attempts and PT. None of which will fly in the NBA.

He lacks ball security and elite athleticism. Being a mediocre sized guard that doesn't play hard nose defense and is an inefficient scorer is difficult to translate to the NBA as a positive player.

On top of all that, where's the opportunity? Unless the Mavs are gonna lose Brunson, whose minutes is Hardy going to carve out from the backcourt? Dinwiddie? THJ? FrankIe Smokes? Unless you're willing to completely punt on Josh Green, and give Hardy the scraps, I dont see how he does anything for this roster.

The mavs needed to add a rotational piece to their playoff roster in the form of rim protection or wing defense. Hardy simply doesn't fill a need even if he was a viable NBA candidate (which I don't think he is).

M.C. Swag said:

---

Not gonna lie, I took Hardy off my list because I thought he had 0 role on this roster. He's a 6'4 shooting guard that can't shoot and is passable at defense at best. I personally don't see it. He has incredible handle but he lacks almost every other discerning skill required to play in the league. His G league box score stats are grossly inflated due to pure volume of attempts and PT. None of which will fly in the NBA.

He lacks ball security and elite athleticism. Being a mediocre sized guard that doesn't play hard nose defense and is an inefficient scorer is difficult to translate to the NBA as a positive player.

On top of all that, where's the opportunity? Unless the Mavs are gonna lose Brunson, whose minutes is Hardy going to carve out from the backcourt? Dinwiddie? THJ? FrankIe Smokes? Unless you're willing to completely punt on Josh Green, and give Hardy the scraps, I dont see how he does anything for this roster.

The mavs needed to add a rotational piece to their playoff roster in the form of rim protection or wing defense. Hardy simply doesn't fill a need even if he was a viable NBA candidate (which I don't think he is).

---

at pick 37, I don't think much of that matters. It's a calculated gamble. I think his upside at pick 37 is worth the swing. He's only 1 yr removed from high school....still a ways to go yet

gigem1223 said:

---

I'm not sure why some of y'all are making this pick out to be more than it is. Bottom line is we got a super talented 19 year old, who most had graded as a lottery pick just last year, at pick 37. If it doesn't work it's not a big deal, but writing him off after just one season in the G league seems a bit extreme.

---

Lol well it's part of the discussion. If every convo about drafted second rd players was "who cares, it's not a big deal" then that'd be pretty lame.

zgolfz85 said:

---

M.C. Swag said:

---

Not gonna lie, I took Hardy off my list because I thought he had 0 role on this roster. He's a 6'4 shooting guard that can't shoot and is passable at defense at best. I personally don't see it. He has incredible handle but he lacks almost every other discerning skill required to play in the league. His G league box score stats are grossly inflated due to pure volume of attempts and PT. None of which will fly in the NBA.

He lacks ball security and elite athleticism. Being a mediocre sized guard that doesn't play hard nose defense and is an inefficient scorer is difficult to translate to the NBA as a positive player.

On top of all that, where's the opportunity? Unless the Mavs are gonna lose Brunson, whose minutes is Hardy going to carve out from the backcourt? Dinwiddie? THJ? FrankIe Smokes? Unless you're willing to completely punt on Josh Green, and give Hardy the scraps, I dont see how he does anything for this roster.

The mavs needed to add a rotational piece to their playoff roster in the form of rim protection or wing defense. Hardy simply doesn't fill a need even if he was a viable NBA candidate (which I don't think he is).

---

at pick 37, I don't think much of that matters. It's a calculated gamble. I think his upside at pick 37 is worth the swing. He's only 1 yr removed from high school....still a ways to go yet

---

It's just my read on the player. My point was merely that even if he hits, I'm not sure we raised the ceiling of the team vs some other guys on the board if they hit (Kendall Brown, Josh Minott, etc.). Feel free to disagree.

M.C. Swag said:

---

zgolfz85 said:

---

M.C. Swag said:

---

Not gonna lie, I took Hardy off my list because I thought he had 0 role on this roster. He's a 6'4 shooting guard that can't shoot and is passable at defense at best. I personally don't see it. He has incredible handle but he lacks almost every other discerning skill required to play in the league. His G league box score stats are grossly inflated due to pure volume of attempts and PT. None of which will fly in the NBA.

He lacks ball security and elite athleticism. Being a mediocre sized guard that doesn't play hard nose defense and is an inefficient scorer is difficult to translate to the NBA as a positive player.

On top of all that, where's the opportunity? Unless the Mavs are gonna lose Brunson, whose minutes is Hardy going to carve out from the backcourt? Dinwiddie? THJ? FrankIe Smokes? Unless you're willing to completely punt on Josh Green, and give Hardy the scraps, I dont see how he does anything for this roster.

The mavs needed to add a rotational piece to their playoff roster in the form of rim protection or wing defense. Hardy simply doesn't fill a need even if he was a viable NBA candidate (which I don't think he is).

---

at pick 37, I don't think much of that matters. It's a calculated gamble. I think his upside at pick 37 is worth the swing. He's only 1 yr removed from high school....still a ways to go yet

---

It's just my read on the player. My point was merely that even if he hits, I'm not sure we raised the ceiling of the team vs some other guys on the board if they hit (Kendall Brown, Josh Minott, etc.). Feel free to disagree.

---

I don't disagree necessarily...I was higher on Minott vs Hardy

Knicks offering 4 for $100 mill and daddy on the bench.

Mavericks paying Brunson 25 per makes sense. The Knicks doing it makes zero sense. That would be pretty standard fare for them.

I struggle with paying Brunson $25MM but I could maybe get there. Can't imagine paying more than that for a guy who will probably never be an all nba player.

Which it may take 5 years and closer to $30

That's true for next season but nonsense thereafter. Other contacts expire and you can make trades. If you're locked in to JB at $30MM a year for 4 or 5 years you have way less flexibility than if you aren't.

Brunson at 20 mil puts you at a ~176 cap figure next year, 139+ mil (would still be over the cap) for 23/24, and 109 mil for 24/25. That's before accounting for the TMLE this year and potentially MLE next year, which would add 16 mil to that 24/25 figure. You're not going to have substantial cap space until 25/26 without making significant trades that gut the team. At that point you're risking pushing off Luka, because you cheated out on his friend/a WCF team.

Knicks offer 4/100, Mavs offer a 5/150 premium to get Brunson to move his opt out to year 5. Mavs have Brunson on the roster with Luka and cap space to sign an all-star if they maneuver correctly in 25/26.

My point is that if you're willing to give Brunson 20, then 30 is not substantially changing your cap position.

I would also add that no one knows what the Cap will be in the near future. A $30m/yr deal could look like a bargain with the new tv deal because a cap spike is definitely expected.

Just perusing the expectation is that it's going to be north of 170m. If they signed Brunson they'd have about 35-38m tied up in him (guessing, haven't done the actual math), 45m tied up in Brunson, and maybe 16m tied up with DFS. That would leave you ~74m in cap space and when these TV deals are known players negotiate their deals to ensure they're on the market when it happens. It should be a stellar free agency class.

That's if you really want to maneuver to swing big. I think swinging smaller and taking on the cap castoffs that are talented is probably a better move for a team like Dallas.

Yeah, they've got to sign him. Little upside to letting him go. Major downside if he walks.

Interesting Jaden Hardy talk from a month ago.