After years of whiffing in free agency, Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer writes that the Mavericks may have finally got it right this summer despite not signing rumored targets Kemba Walker or Al Horford.
The difference this time around? The Mavericks already had their stars in Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, so supporting cast acquisitions like Delon Wright and Seth Curry made more sense than finally signing the big free agent fish.
And, with the NBA beginning to highlight more twosomes as opposed to threesomes like what the Heat did back in the early 2010s, Doncic (20) and Porzingis (24) could have the brightest future of any pairings because of their youth.
There’s more notes to pass along from the Southwest Division:
- Chris Herrington of the Daily Memphian opines that the Dwight Howard buyout with the Grizzlies may have set a baseline amount for a potential Andre Iguodala buyout sometime before or during the 2019/20 season.
- In a player profile piece for the upcoming season, Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News highlights how the aforementioned Wright could fit nicely alongside Doncic for the Mavericks.
- Speaking to Italian newspaper il Resto del Carlino (h/t to Sportando), Pelicans rookie forward Nicolo Melli spoke about his decision to leave Europe to come to the NBA. “(M)y agent Matteo Comellini sent me a message with the proposal made by the Pelicans. I felt a strong vibration. The same I had two years ago the first time I spoke with coach (Zeljko) Obradovic.” Melli says the choice to come to the NBA was never about money.
The Grizzlies aren’t getting a first round pick for Iggy, or probably anything since no one wants to pay him $17M next season. They should just give him his buyout.
Iguodala’s buyout is different than Dwight Howard’s. The Grizzlies gave Howard approximately 3 million bucks which when added to the Lakers minimum salary of 2 point something equals Howard’s 5.6 2020 salary.
Iguodala’s salary for 2020 is 17 million. Are the Grizzlies just going to give him 14 million dollars to walk away and sign with another team for the minimum of two points something? I think not.
They might as well keep him to Mentor the young guys or whatever. At least they can wait for a team willing to pay a lot of his 2020 salary. If no one comes along and no one hasn’t yet, we’ll see what happens at the trading deadline.
But I was wrong about Dwight Howard last week I thought the Grizzlies would have waited but they caved and gave them three million. Maybe they’ll do the same thing with Andre Iguodala and give him 14 million to walk away. Who knows anymore, Not Me. It’s Only Money I guess.
They can wait until during the season to complete the buyout, which would be a lower amount since they will have already paid part of his salary at that point. So they can either pay him to sit on the bench and mentor younger players then reach a buyout at some point during the season, or just do it now. It will cost the same either way.
Can’t wait to see what Luka and KP can do together. Supposedly Luka is in a lot better shape.
The Mavs do have an awesome pairing in Doncic and Porzingod and decent supporting cast with Wright and Curry. BUT, Tim Hardaway Jr and Courtney Lee aren’t obviously in those plans so why not look to trade them for someone who could be in those future plans.
Even if they did Courtney Lee and a second round pick for Markelle Fultz. The Mavs haven’t looked at playing Lee and the Magic have a hole at back up SG. And the Magic don’t seem that high Fultz whereas the Mavs may think he could be lost risk and nice piece with Doncic and Porz.
As for Hardaway it depends how keen they are on him. I think he’s the best option they have at 3 to space the floor and give them points but he does miss a lot. If you aren’t that high on him maybe you swap him for Iggy. It saves Memphis from buying him out and instead you get a 1 year deal for a good rotation player and good locker room vet. If you kinda like Hardaway abit more than that then keep him.
1. Wright. Brunson. Fultz
2. Doncic. Curry
3. Jackson. Iggy. Roby
4. Porzingod. Kleber. Finney-Smith
5. Powell. Marjanovic
So many potential lineups. Positionless basketball. I Think we will see a lot of doncic, curry, iggy, Jackson, porzingis
Jackson isn’t really a 3 at all. Porzingis can play the 4 or 5. Curry adds shooting and iggy is the best option short of doncic at the 3 and can defend. And Iggy is a leader