Dallas Mavericks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Western Notes: D’Antoni, Jazz, Doncic, Thunder

June 9th, 2020 at 7:07pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni, who has traditionally played a short rotation in meaningful games, sounds like he’s going to experiment with playing more guys once the NBA returns from hiatus.

“With (GM) Daryl (Morey) and data, with how we think gives us the best chance to win, it probably comes down to nine guys. Now, who those nine are they could change, and maybe early we experiment, practice and watch,” D’Antoni tells Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

D’Antoni acknowledged that many of the players won’t be in peak regular-season form, adding that “it’s something that you have to play through.”

Here’s more from the Western Conference:

Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert have had numerous conversations since the pair tested positive for COVID-19 and team sources are “adamant” that the two will be able to coexist without issue, Tim MacMahon writes in a collaborate piece with other writers on ESPN.com. Jazz GM Dennis Lindsay previously said that the two players were ready to put it behind them.
The time off has allowed Luka Doncic‘s thumb, wrist and ankles to heal and while there were rumors that he gained some weight during the hiatus, sources tell MacMahon (same piece) that the Mavericks star has been working out diligently in Slovenia.
The Thunder‘s biggest concern coming back from the hiatus could be their chemistry, ESPN’s Royce Young contends in the same piece. OKC compiled a 34-13 record since Thanksgiving, which was second in the league over that span. However, the club needed the first month of the season to get its three-guard lineup in sync.

Nets, Mavs Among Candidates For Multiple Injury Replacements

June 9th, 2020 at 11:11am CST by Luke Adams

With a transaction window expected to open around June 22, Bobby Marks of ESPN (Insider link) examines all 22 teams headed to Orlando this summer and speculates about what sort of roster tweaks they might make during that last week in June. As Marks notes, teams like the Nets (Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving) and Mavericks (Dwight Powell, Jalen Brunson) are candidates to sign multiple injury replacements at that time.

Jalen Brunson Unlikely To Return This Summer

June 8th, 2020 at 8:44pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Mavericks still don’t plan on guard Jalen Brunson returning this season, Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Brunson underwent right shoulder surgery this same week that play was halted. He hasn’t played since February 22.

Doncic Expected To Be Healthy For NBA Restart

June 7th, 2020 at 5:55pm CST by JD Shaw

Barring a new setback or injury, Mavericks star Luka Doncic will be healthy for the NBA’s restart, Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News writes. Doncic has dealt with a sprained ankle, an illness and various thumb and wrist injuries in 2020. Caplan also examines other Mavs-related notes, including the team’s starting lineup and who could be a potential X-factor in the playoffs.

Jason Terry Leaves Mavericks For Arizona Assistant Coaching Gig

May 27th, 2020 at 8:28pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Jason Terry will be joining the University of Arizona as an assistant coach, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Terry had been serving as an assistant GM of the Texas Legends, the Mavericks‘ G League affiliate. Charania adds that an official announcement is expected on Thursday.

Terry was selected out of Arizona in the 1999 NBA draft by the Hawks. He spent 19 seasons in the NBA, including five with Atlanta and eight with Dallas.

The Jet won a title with the Mavs during the 2010/11 campaign. While in Dallas, he won a Sixth Man of the Year award. Terry had stints in Boston, Brooklyn, Houston, and Milwaukee in addition to playing for the aforementioned teams.

Mavericks To Reopen Practice Facility On Thursday

May 27th, 2020 at 5:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Mavericks will become the next team to open their practice facility, according to Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News. Coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that the facility will be reopened Thursday for limited player workouts.

Carlisle provided details about the return during a Zoom meeting today with players, coaches and the team internist. Under league rules, only four players at a time are permitted in the facility and no group activities such as practices or scrimmages are allowed.

“One of the things we went over in the Zoom call today were the procedures for going in and out of the facility and procedures from going workout to workout, and there’s a lot of detail involved,” Carlisle said. “(Owner) Mark Cuban has been very vigilant on the fact that we cannot be in a rush to reopen unless the timing is right.

“So we probably are (one of the last facilities) to reopen, but I’m actually proud of that fact because I think it’s been the right decision, and I also know our players have been doing a great job on their own of staying in shape and taking care of themselves, so we have a high level of trust with our players.”

The NBA allowed players to begin working out at their team facilities on May 8, but the Mavericks have remained cautious, even though Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lifted a stay-at-home order on May 1. Dallas’ decision leaves the Celtics, Knicks, Bulls, Pistons, Wizards, Spurs and Warriors as the only teams not using their facilities.

Mark Cuban Shares Proposal For Return To Play

May 26th, 2020 at 3:36pm CST by Luke Adams

As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski detailed earlier today, the format for the NBA’s potential return to play this summer is a topic of much debate within the league right now. Teams at the top of the standings will have different motivations than bottom-feeding clubs or those on the fringes of playoff contention, leading to disagreement over which format would make the most sense for the league as a whole.

On Monday, we discussed the possibility of the NBA re-seeding playoff teams, regardless of conference, for its 2020 playoffs. Earlier today, we explored the idea of what a World Cup-style play-in pool would look like in place of the usual first round. Now, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has shared his own proposal with ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.

Cuban would like to see all 30 teams return to action and play approximately five to seven regular season games, as MacMahon relays. Once those games were completed, these steps would follow:

The top 10 teams from each conference would make the playoffs.
Those teams would be re-seeded from 1 through 20 based on regular season record.
The Nos. 17 and 20 teams and the Nos. 18 and 19 teams would face one another in a pair of single-elimination or best-of-three matchups.
The winners of those matchups would advance to face the Nos. 15 and 16 teams for the final two spots in the playoff bracket.
The postseason would proceed with its usual best-of-seven format from there, using 1-16 seeding rather than an East/West divide.

Cuban pointed out that such a format would give every team except the Warriors and Timberwolves a chance to qualify for at least the play-in tournament. Assuming safety and scheduling concerns didn’t get in the way, bringing every team back and playing several regular season games would also help out the league financially, allowing a number of clubs to fulfill their local TV deals, tweets MacMahon.

Cuban, who referred to his proposal as “fair” and “entertaining,” expressed concern about the play-in pool format that has been discussed by the NBA, according to MacMahon. The Mavericks owner argued that the group-stage concept “throws away the value of the whole season.”

Of course, it’s worth noting that Cuban’s proposal would benefit the Mavs. They currently hold the NBA’s 13th-best record and – given their current cushion – would have no chance of slipping to 15th and being part of his proposed play-in tournament. If the NBA used another form of play-in tournament, putting the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference up for grabs without playing any regular season games first, Dallas would be at risk of losing the No. 7 spot in the West.

Rick Carlisle Making Sure Team Stays Ready

May 24th, 2020 at 6:05pm CST by JD Shaw

Despite having multiple opportunities to join the Warriors and play with his brother to this point, Mavericks guard Seth Curry has decided he’d rather compete against Stephen Curry and has turned down those chances, as he explained on Uninterrupted’s “Go Off” with Austin Rivers.

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle is making sure his players stay ready ahead of the NBA’s decision on whether to resume, as The Athletic’s David Aldridge writes. Dallas has yet to open its practice facility, with Mavericks players relying on virtual instructions, at-home workouts, yoga sessions and more since the league went on hiatus. “I don’t have any doubt that the players are very motivated to play, but (they’re) also, very smart guys, and they understand, I think, that we’re in a very serious part of our history, and things need to be handled the right way,” Carlisle said.

Cuban Praises THJ

May 21st, 2020 at 8:36pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban is excited about how Tim Hardaway Jr. has fit with the squad during his first year in Dallas, according to an interview with WFAN recounted by Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “Quickest release in the NBA,” Cuban raved. “Probably one of the top three catch-and-shoot players in all of the NBA now.” This season, the 28-year-old shooting guard has averaged 15.8 PPG, 3.1 PG, and 2.0 APG on 43.7% shooting from the field. He has converted 40.7% of his 7.2 three-point attempts per game.

Silver Wants Best-Of-Seven Playoff Series If Season Resumes

May 21st, 2020 at 12:25pm CST by Luke Adams

One of the many topics discussed by the NBA in the 10 weeks since COVID-19 shut down the 2019/20 season is the possibility of adjusting the playoff format if the season resumes. Reducing the number of games per series or even shifting to more of a tournament-style postseason could significantly cut down on the amount of time players and teams would have to remain in a “bubble” location to complete the season.

However, appearing on ESPN’s Get Up this morning (video link), Adrian Wojnarowski stressed that commissioner NBA Adam Silver continues to prioritize a best-of-seven format for playoff series, assuming the season can resume.

“Adam Silver wants to have seven-game series in the playoffs,” Wojnarowski told Mike Greenberg. “He doesn’t want to have shortened series early on. He wants to try to legitimize the champion as much as he can.”

While it seems inevitable that some NBA fans and observers will attach an asterisk to whatever team wins the 2019/20 title, maintaining that best-of-seven format would at least ensure that this year’s winner doesn’t make it through the playoffs under entirely different circumstances than usual.

Of course, the end of the season – again, assuming it can be completed – will still be very atypical. As Wojnarowski noted on Get Up and during a Wednesday appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter (video link), the NBA still hopes to bring back all 30 teams – or as close to 30 as possible – this summer, and may need to provide some sort of incentive to convince those lottery-bound teams to return.

One of the biggest ongoing conversations around the league is how many clubs will be invited to the NBA’s “bubble,” how many will have an opportunity to make the playoffs, and what a potential play-in tournament for the final postseason spot or two could look like.

As Woj pointed out during both of his TV appearances, the league will have to walk a fine line as it attempts to make things fair for teams like the Mavericks and Grizzlies, who comfortably hold the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds, while potentially incentivizing a return for current lottery teams by putting those playoff spots up for grabs.