Dallas Mavericks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Nerlens Noel To Miss Several Weeks

December 8th, 2017 at 1:29pm CST by ChrisCrouse

DECEMBER 8, 1:29pm: Noel has officially undergone surgery on his left thumb, the Mavericks announced today in a press release. The team didn’t provide a recovery timetable for the center.

DECEMBER 6, 5:50pm: Nerlens Noel will undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, Mavericks team writer Bobby Karalla relays (Twitter link).“He’ll be out for several weeks,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “I don’t know how long.”

Noel hurt his thumb earlier in the season and he hasn’t played since November 23. The center told the media that he expects to be out four to six weeks after undergoing surgery, as Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com passes along via Twitter.

Noel, who ‘s making slightly under $4.2MM this season, missed a total of six games so far this season and has only played 12.5 per contest on the nights he has suited up. He’ll be one of several players to become trade-eligible on December 15 and while there was a decent chance that he would have been switching teams prior to the injury, the latest news puts a hold on any movement.

Johnathan Motley Earns First Big League Chance

December 7th, 2017 at 9:04pm CST by Austin Kent

The Mavericks have added Johnathan Motley to their active lineup for the first time this season after the two-way contract signee averaged 22.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in the G League, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes. “[When you’re in the G League] you can’t just try to be a guy and get everybody else involved,” teammate J.J. Barea, an alum of the NBA’s minor league, said. “You got to kill it. That’s how you get noticed.“

Mark Cuban Talks Rebuilding, NBA Vs. NFL, Celtics

December 7th, 2017 at 12:04pm CST by Luke Adams

It has been a tough season for Mark Cuban‘s Mavericks so far, as the team currently ranks last in the Western Conference with a 7-18 record. Still, that doesn’t mean Cuban’s plan for Dirk Nowitzki has changed it all — he still envisions Nowitzki spending as many more seasons as he wants with the Mavs, finishing his career in Dallas.

“I still wouldn’t trade Dirk even if they offered me three No. 1’s,” Cuban said with a smile to Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald this week. “Four, yes. But three, no.”

In addition to cracking jokes about his longtime star, Cuban also weighed in on a few more noteworthy topics. The Mavs owner talked about the rebuilding process for his club, which he hopes doesn’t last long, and pointed to the Celtics as a franchise worth emulating during that rebuild. He also revisited a topic he has discussed in the past, exploring why the NBA has been on the upswing in recent years, while other sports (most notably the NFL) haven’t had as much success gaining new fans and viewers.

Here are a few highlights from Cuban’s comments to Bulpett, whose piece is worth checking out in full:

On why the NBA is seeing increased popularity and TV ratings:

“There’s a confluence of a couple of things. No. 1, our demographic keeps on getting younger. The NFL and baseball, they keep on getting older. And I think what we’re doing with (the video game) NBA 2K is brilliant. And in the bigger scheme of things, in terms of building fans for the future, what do you want your kids to play? Of all the sports out there, do you want to go to a baseball game, or do want to watch your kid play basketball? Do you want to worry about him [playing] a whole football game, or do you want to watch your kid play basketball? Do you want him to get healthy from running the court, or do you want to watch him play football and worry about collisions?”

On the aspects of the Celtics’ rebuild that he admires and wants to emulate:

“I think the hallmark of what they did is how they get their teams to play hard. That’s really what we look to emulate more than anything else. I mean, they’ve done a great job in the draft, but there’s as much luck as anything else there, and things have got to fall in your lap one way or the other. So the way it’s worked out, the biggest takeaway that we’ve seen in looking at the Celts — and we’ve done a lot of deals with them, so we’re close to them — really, more than anything, it’s just how hard Brad gets his teams to play.”

On the Mavericks’ own rebuild:

“We just started last year. We weren’t going into last year thinking we were rebuilding, but [Andrew] Bogut got hurt and Deron Williams was hurt. We started off 3-17 or something ridiculous, and until we went into tank mode once we got eliminated from the playoffs, we were just outside the playoffs. So we have just started the rebuild, and hopefully it won’t be long.”

Five Notable Players Who Become Trade-Eligible In December

December 5th, 2017 at 11:30am CST by Luke Adams

Nearly every NBA team has at least one or two players who will become trade-eligible this month, starting on December 15. In total, approximately 100 players around the NBA who aren’t currently eligible to be moved will have those restrictions lifted before the end of the month. That’s nearly one quarter of the league’s players.

Those trade restrictions apply to players who recently signed new contracts, so in most cases their teams probably aren’t clamoring to shop them. After all, by mid-December, those players will only have spent about two months of regular-season action on their new deals — even rebuilding teams may want a little more time than that with their recently-signed players to assess whether they’ll be part of the club’s future.

Still, a look through the list of players who will become trade-eligible in December – either on the 15th or later in the month – reveals a few interesting names. Here are some players worth keeping an eye on when their trade restrictions lift:

Nerlens Noel, C (Mavericks): As a player who signed his qualifying offer, Noel would lose his Bird rights if he’s traded, so he has the ability to veto any deal the Mavericks might want to make. Still, the situation in Dallas has turned out to be even more unfavorable for Noel than the one he experienced in Philadelphia, increasing the odds that he’d waive his no-trade clause if the opportunity arose. Noel has averaged just 12.5 minutes per game this season, and with unrestricted free agency looming in 2018, a long-term union with the Mavs no longer appears likely.
Alex Len, C (Suns): Len is in a similar situation to Noel, having settled for signing his qualifying offer after failing to find a suitable multiyear deal. He also has veto rights on any deal, but might be willing to accept a trade to a team that would give him more consistent playing time — his minutes have fluctuated significantly in recent weeks and he expressed frustration after not playing at all in a couple games. Trading Greg Monroe or Tyson Chandler would help clear the Suns’ logjam at center and could save the team more money, but it might be easier to find a deal involving Len and his inexpensive expiring contract.
Derrick Rose, PG (Cavaliers): After accommodating Rose’s recent stint away from the team and working to reintegrate him, the idea of trading the point guard may not appeal to the Cavaliers. But it may be the best move for his career. The Cavs have thrived in Rose’s absence, and with Isaiah Thomas due back soon, it’s no longer clear how the former MVP fits into Cleveland’s rotation. If Rose is satisfied with sitting on the bench and waiting for an opportunity, the Cavs could keep him around, but if he wants to play, a trade may be his best path to consistent minutes.
Amir Johnson, F/C (Sixers): There’s no indication that the Sixers are in any way dissatisfied with Johnson or have any interest in moving him. However, his contract makes him an intriguing trade chip if the Sixers want to make a move before the deadline. At $11MM, Johnson’s salary is an ideal mid-sized amount for potential salary-matching, and because it expires at season’s end, it would be more appealing to a trade partner than Jerryd Bayless‘ deal, which is guaranteed through 2018/19. I’m not expecting Johnson to be moved, but if the team tries to make an impact trade, his name figures to pop up in rumors.
Dewayne Dedmon, C (Hawks): Dedmon, currently sidelined due to a tibia stress reaction, should be healthy and back on the court well before the trade deadline, barring any setbacks. The veteran center had been enjoying a career year before he went down, with 11.1 PPG and 7.8 RPG in a modest 24.4 minutes per contest. The 5-18 Hawks clearly aren’t contenders this season, making them probable sellers at the deadline, and Dedmon could be the club’s most appealing trade piece. He’s not expensive, at $6MM, and if he continues to play well, he’s a good bet to turn down his $6.3MM player option for next season, which means now would be the time for Atlanta to get something for him. His rim-protecting and rebounding ability could make him a nice, lower-risk target for a team that misses out on an impact center like DeAndre Jordan.

Note: Len becomes trade-eligible on December 23, while the other four players listed above become trade-eligible on December 15.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Noel Gets Hot Dog; Carlisle Collects Win 700

December 2nd, 2017 at 7:37pm CST by Arthur Hill

Mavericks center Nerlens Noel didn’t get off the bench for the fourth straight game today, but he got some attention in the media dining area, relays Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. Noel stopped in for a hot dog at lunchtime, which is an unusual act for a player in uniform. He explained that he got hungry during the afternoon game and needed “fuel” in case he was called on in the second half. Whether it was an innocent gesture or an act of protest, it’s clear that Noel is unhappy being stuck on the bench. “I’m doing everything I need to, staying in shape, continuing to work on my game and working on the little things,” Noel said. “It’s frustrating at times. But I think I got laser focus right now for what I want to do and where I want to be. I’m anxious to play. When that comes, it comes.” But when asked if he expects that to happen in Dallas, he replied, “I honestly have no idea.”
Today’s win was number 700 for Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, Sefko notes in a separate story, which underscores how long he has been with the organization. He spent two seasons as head coach in Detroit and four years in Indiana before coming to Dallas at the start of 2008/09. “It means I’ve been very fortunate to have three great owners and a lot of great players,” Carlisle said. “I’ve never been one to count that kind of stuff. As time goes on, I count those things even less.”

Mavericks Options At Center Moving Forward

December 2nd, 2017 at 11:13am CST by marksuleymanov

Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News examined the Mavericks’ possibilities at the center. Of the team’s possible choices, Sefko discussed trading for Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, utilizing in-house options such as Nerlens Noel more frequently, or waiting until 2018 and using the draft to upgrade at the position.

Dwight Powell Finds More Ways To Contribute

November 30th, 2017 at 5:00pm CST by Austin Kent

With an increased commitment to contributing in ways other than just scoring, Dwight Powell has found a way to ramp up his production for the Mavericks. As Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes, the 26-year-old’s rebounds, steals and blocks are all up this season despite playing a similar amount of minutes.
If the Mavericks are to ever become a coveted free agency destination, they’ll need to build themselves a young core, Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News writes. With Dennis Smith Jr. and Harrison Barnes, they’re off to a good start.

Kleber Shares In Credit For Recent Success

November 29th, 2017 at 8:32pm CST by Arthur Hill

Rookie Maxi Kleber is getting some of the credit for the Mavericks‘ improved performance over their past six games, relays Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. After a terrible start, Dallas has gone 3-3 since moving Kleber into the starting lineup. “Kleber’s given us a lot more flexibility defensively,” said coach Rick Carlisle. “He’s been one of our better defenders. When you add a guy like that, that can guard people individually and can switch liberally and keep little guys in front of him, that helps.”

Mavs’ Seth Curry Not Close To Return

November 29th, 2017 at 8:51am CST by Luke Adams

Mavericks guard Seth Curry, who continues to recover from a stress fracture in his leg, is still not close to returning to the court, head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters on Tuesday. Carlisle indicated that he won’t provide another update on Curry’s status until December 11, suggesting that the 27-year-old will remain sidelined at least until then, if not longer.

“Seth’s not close,” Carlisle said on Tuesday, per Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. “Today’s the 28th. So let’s say Monday, the 11th. He ain’t playing ’til then.”

Curry’s absence this season has hurt the Mavericks, who have one of the NBA’s worst records at 5-16. Stephen Curry‘s brother enjoyed a breakout year in 2016/17, averaging 12.8 PPG on .481/.425/.850 shooting in 70 games (42 starts) for Dallas, and was viewed as a key part of the Mavs’ backcourt heading into this season.

In addition to impacting the Mavs, Curry’s extended absence may have an adverse effect on his value as he nears unrestricted free agency. The Duke alum is earning a modest $3MM salary this season, but should be in line for a raise and perhaps a long-term deal if he comes back healthy and gets a chance to build on last year’s performance before he reaches the open market next July.

Seth Curry's Return Closer, But Still Not Set

November 26th, 2017 at 4:15pm CST by Arthur Hill

Mavericks guard Seth Curry is moving closer to a return, but coach Rick Carlisle tells Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News that there’s still no timetable. Carlisle confirmed that Curry, who suffered a stress reaction in his right leg during preseason, won’t be back before December, but couldn’t offer much more on his status. Curry is working on an underwater treadmill to ease the impact on his tibia.

The Mavericks haven’t given up on the postseason despite their abysmal start, Sefko writes in a separate story. Dallas improved to 5-15 with Saturday night’s win and is just four games out of a playoff spot. “This locker room is full of winners,” said Wesley Matthews. “We got three guys who have won championships and a bunch of veterans that have been on really good teams. We’re not comprised of players who haven’t won. It’s just a matter of getting an identity and we’ve started to do that.”