Dallas Mavericks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Mavericks Notes: Green, Roster Spot, Wood, Dorsey

January 7th, 2023 at 8:40pm CST by Arthur Hill

Mavericks guard Josh Green participated in contact drills Friday and is hoping to return soon from a sprained right elbow, writes Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com. While most of his teammates were watching film, Green was taking part in drills and one-on-one scrimmages to test the condition of his elbow.

“I feel good,” he said afterward. “I started with contact the last two days. It’s been tough because we’ve had so many games and there’s not so many practice days. So I’m just going to continue with this, see how the elbow feels, put it in situations that (simulate games) and see how it goes.”

Green was on a hot streak before being hurt December 9, averaging 9.2 points and shooting 44.8% on three-pointers in his previous 10 games. He hurt the elbow playing defense in a game against the Bucks and said he knew right away that something was wrong.

“In the first half, I kind of got a steal out of bounds, a deflection and my arm kind of got arm-locked by Grayson Allen,” Green said. “I kind of got stuck and it hurt a lot. I couldn’t really shoot too much in the second half, so I tried to get to the basket as much as I could. And I wanted to finish the game out.”

There’s more from Dallas:

The Mavericks may consider re-signing Kemba Walker, who was waived Friday in advance of the league-wide contract guarantee date, but first the team will see what other options are available, Sefko adds. With a newly open roster spot, Dallas may decide to target someone else. “You’re always looking at the waiver wire to see if you can better the team,” coach Jason Kidd said. “That’s what management will be doing to see who is let go here in the next couple of days for tax purposes or just making moves.” Sefko suggests that the opening could also be used to convert McKinley Wright IV‘s two-way contract to a standard deal.
In an interview with Grant Afseth of DallasBasketball, Christian Wood said he has been working to improve his defense since being inserted into the starting lineup. “My teammates have trust in me to make big plays,” Wood said. “My coaches have trust in me to make big plays. With a few guys out like our defensive anchors — (Dorian Finney-Smith), Maxi (Kleber), Josh — the guys have to step up, and I think I’ve been doing that as of late.”
After signing a contract to return to the G League, Tyler Dorsey‘s rights have been acquired by the Mavericks’ affiliate, tweets Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. Dorsey played for the Texas Legends earlier this season while on a two-way contract with Dallas, but the Mavs waived him in late December.

Scotto’s Latest: LaVine, Mavs, Heat, Dort, Raptors

January 6th, 2023 at 4:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Rival executives believe the Knicks, Mavericks, Lakers, and Heat would be among the most likely suitors for Zach LaVine if the Bulls were to make him available prior to this season’s February 9 trade deadline, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype said on the latest episode of HoopsHype’s podcast. However, with Chicago still hanging onto the 10th seed in the East despite a disappointing first half (17-21), there’s no indication that the team is on the verge of becoming a seller.

Here’s more from Scotto:

The Mavericks owe their 2023 first-round pick to New York, but control all their future picks and could theoretically move one or more at the trade deadline. However, Scotto has heard the Mavs will be reluctant to give up a first-rounder unless it’s for a player they believe can help make them a title contender this season.
Rival executives are keeping a close eye on the Heat as a team that may be active before the deadline, says Scotto. After finishing with the East’s best record in 2021/22, Miami is just 20-19 so far this season and holds the No. 8 seed. The team never really replaced P.J. Tucker after he departed in free agency and should have some tradable contracts, especially after Victor Oladipo and Dewayne Dedmon become movable on January 15 (though Oladipo will have veto power).
Luguentz Dort is another player who will become trade-eligible on January 15, but don’t expect him to be mentioned in any rumors this season, according to Scotto, who says the Thunder view him as a part of the team’s long-term future alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Some people around the league believe the Raptors will be more active in trade talks beginning in mid-January, Scotto says. Toronto may have a better sense by then of which direction the team’s season is headed.

Kidd: Mavs Could Bring Back Kemba On 10-Day Deal

January 6th, 2023 at 2:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd didn’t rule out the possibility of the team bringing back Kemba Walker on a 10-day contract after waiving him earlier today, tweets Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. The team now has an open roster spot to bring in Walker or another player on a 10-day deal.

Mavericks Waive Kemba Walker

January 6th, 2023 at 10:19am CST by Arthur Hill

10:48am: The move is official, the Mavericks confirmed (via Twitter).

10:19am: Kemba Walker‘s comeback with the Mavericks only lasted nine games, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, who tweets that Dallas will waive the veteran guard before his contract becomes fully guaranteed this weekend.

Walker, 32, signed with the team in late November, hoping to resurrect his NBA career after knee issues cut short his stays with the Knicks and Celtics. Walker averaged 8.0 points in 16.0 minutes per game during his time in Dallas and even turned in a 32-point outing.

MacMahon states that the Mavs want to dedicate more playing time to young guard McKinley Wright IV, who has been earning minutes on a two-way contract, and second-round pick Jaden Hardy, who may get a larger role in the second half of the season. A source told MacMahon that Walker was an “ultimate pro” in his short stay with the Mavs.

The team will have a $684,712 cap hit for Walker, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link).

A four-time All-Star with Charlotte and Boston, Walker is in his 12th NBA season. His performance in Dallas may lead to other opportunities now that teams are able to offer 10-day contracts.

Fischer’s Latest: Cavs, LeVert, Crowder, Okoro, Bogdanovic, More

January 5th, 2023 at 10:59am CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers would love to add a defensive-minded wing who is also a consistent shooting threat, but doing so won’t be easy, writes Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. After acquiring Donovan Mitchell in the offseason, Cleveland no longer has any first-round picks available to trade, so landing a wing would probably require the club to move Caris LeVert and another rotation player, which isn’t an appealing prospect.

Fischer names Tobias Harris and Jae Crowder as a couple veterans who would make sense for the Cavaliers from an on-court perspective. However, Cleveland likely wouldn’t be able to put together a package for Harris that would entice the Sixers, and the Suns are seeking a “playoff-caliber player” in return for Crowder — if the Cavs had that sort of player available, they wouldn’t be in the market for another wing, Fischer writes.

Although LeVert might have to be included in a package for an upgrade on the wing, the Cavaliers still value his “high-character presence in the locker room,” per Fischer, and aren’t looking to move him, even if they’re open to discussing him. As the Cavs consider what sort of impact any potential target might have, LeVert will be the “comparative barometer,” says Fischer.

Here’s more from Fischer’s latest story:

The Cavaliers are still hopeful about Isaac Okoro‘s development into the sort of two-way wing they’re missing and he has a strong desire to remain in Cleveland, sources tell Fischer. The fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft, Okoro will be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2023 offseason.
The Cavaliers are among the teams with interest in Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic, but Detroit has set a high asking price for Bogdanovic, according to Fischer. The team is believed to be seeking a first-round pick, plus either additional draft assets or a young player with upside. The Mavericks, Lakers, and Suns are among the other teams interested in Bogdanovic, Fischer adds.
Crowder, who is in the final year of his contract, is hoping to sign an extension similar to the three-year, $33MM deal P.J. Tucker got from Philadelphia this past summer, Fischer writes. The Suns‘ unwillingness to give Crowder that sort of deal is considered a factor in his decision to remain away from the team this season.
While forwards like P.J. Washington, Jalen McDaniels, and Kelly Oubre will draw interest from potential suitors, center Mason Plumlee appears to be the Hornets‘ most likely trade candidate, says Fischer. Moving Plumlee would open up more minutes for youngsters Mark Williams and Nick Richards at center.

Wright Grateful For NBA Minutes

January 4th, 2023 at 11:14pm CST by Rory Maher

Mavericks point guard McKinley Wright IV, who is on a two-way contract, has been getting some run lately with so many key rotation players injured. He’s grateful for the opportunity to play NBA minutes, as Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com writes. “It’s been a dream come true for me,” Wright said. “Everybody’s dream is to play in the NBA and I’ve been earning pretty valuable minutes to help contribute to our winning. Right now, that’s defending the ball, bringing energy off the bench and using my speed to get downcourt. I’m thankful to be in the position I am.” The former Colorado star has primarily played in the G League in his first two pro seasons.

Mavericks Open Extension Talks With Christian Wood

January 4th, 2023 at 3:27pm CST by Arthur Hill

JANUARY 4: The Mavericks have begun talking to Wood’s camp about a possible extension, league sources tell Marc Stein (Substack story). Like MacMahon, Stein suggests the team prefers a shorter-term commitment, writing that Dallas is considered unlikely to offer a four-year deal.

Although the Mavs have expressed a desire to retain Wood beyond this season, they’re widely expected to gauge his trade market if they can’t agree to terms on an extension before February 9, Stein adds.

JANUARY 3: The Mavericks are interested in a two-year extension for Christian Wood, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

Wood recently became eligible to sign an extension of up to four years at $77MM, but the team prefers a shorter commitment, sources tell MacMahon. The most the Mavs could offer on a two-year in-season extension would be about $35.7MM.

Wood is still finding his role in Dallas after being acquired from the Rockets in an offseason trade. He’s second on the team in scoring at 17.8 PPG, and he appears to have developed a chemistry with Luka Doncic.

The Mavs were reluctant to give Wood major responsibilities right away due to long-time concerns about his defense and efficiency. But an injury to Maxi Kleber and a disappointing season from JaVale McGee created an opening for Wood to move into the starting lineup. He’s averaging 19.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in that role, and the team is 7-1 in the games that he and Doncic have both started.

Still, the original concerns about Wood haven’t gone away, MacMahon adds, and the Mavericks may not know for sure how reliable he can be until they see him in the playoffs. Dallas gives up 119.8 points per 100 possessions when Wood is the only big man on the court with Doncic, but the offense is compensating by averaging 121.9 points in that situation.

“I’m happy to be here. That’s what I’ll say,” Wood told reporters on Christmas Day. “The vibe is good. … I’m open to it.” However, he responded “I can’t answer that” when asked if it would take a four-year offer to keep him in Dallas.

If the Mavericks can’t work out an extension agreement with Wood, they run the risk of having him leave in free agency, just as Jalen Brunson did last summer. They may look to the trade market to get some value in return, and MacMahon notes that the team could have a difficult decision to make with the February 9 deadline barely five weeks away.

Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid Earn Player Of The Month Honors

January 3rd, 2023 at 3:18pm CST by Luke Adams

Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Sixers center Joel Embiid have been named the NBA’s Players of the Month for December, the league announced today (via Twitter).

Both Doncic and Embiid are perennial All-NBA players when healthy, but December was an extraordinary month even by their lofty standards.

The Mavericks, who the month of December as a .500 team (10-10), went 11-4 in the games Doncic played (11-6 overall). The three-time All-Star averaged 35.1 points, 9.3 assists, and 8.5 rebounds in 36.3 minutes per night, with a shooting line of .519/.424/.752. Doncic had three 50-point games during the month, including a 60-point, 21-rebound, 10-assist performance against the Knicks last Tuesday.

Embiid’s Sixers also moved up the standings in December, winning nine of their 13 games. Embiid was a major factor in that run, averaging 35.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 4.2 APG, and 1.8 BPG on .545/.417/.858 shooting in 36.1 MPG. He scored at least 44 points on three separate occasions, including pouring in 53 on Dec. 11 in a win over Charlotte.

Jayson Tatum, who won the East’s Player of the Month award for October/November, was among the conference’s long list of nominees for December. Jaylen Brown, Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Donovan Mitchell, Pascal Siakam, and Franz Wagner also received consideration, according to the NBA (Twitter link).

In the West, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Lauri Markkanen, Ja Morant, Domantas Sabonis, and Zion Williamson were nominated for the award (Twitter link).

Mavs To Play Preseason Games Overseas

January 2nd, 2023 at 8:20pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Mavericks will play a preseason game next fall in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, Marc Stein reports in a Substack story.

Dallas will also play a game against perennial Spanish League power Real Madrid during the overseas journey. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wanted to arrange a preseason game in Madrid for Luka Doncic, who played for Real Madrid until he became an NBA lottery selection.

The Mavericks can’t afford to lose impending free agent Christian Wood like they did this past summer when Jalen Brunson walked, Tim Cato and Kelly Iko of The Athletic opine. An extension might be a good move for both parties, though Cato is somewhat pessimistic they can find middle ground. No team has made a long-term commitment to Wood during his career, Cato notes.

Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis Named Players Of The Week

January 2nd, 2023 at 2:40pm CST by Rory Maher

Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Wizards big man Kristaps Porzingis have been named the NBA’s players of the week, the league announced (via Twitter).

Doncic, the Western winner for the second straight week and the conference’s first repeat winner this season, led Dallas to a 3-0 record and put up historic numbers in the process. He averaged 48.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks, becoming the first player in NBA history to total 140-plus points, 30-plus rebounds and 30-plus assists over any three-game span, according to the Mavericks.

The 23-year-old, who now leads the league in scoring average with 34.2 per game, recorded 60 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and one block against New York, followed by 35 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists, one steal and two blocks against Houston, and lastly had 51 points, six rebounds, nine assists, four steals and one block against San Antonio. Doncic shot 61.7% from the field in the three games, including 48.0% from three, and only had six turnovers.

Porzingis, Doncic’s former teammate with the Mavs, led Washington to a 4-0 week. The East’s winner averaged 24.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.5 blocks on .559/.364/.857 shooting. Porzingis led the league in plus/minus over the four contests, recording a total of plus-82 for an average of plus-20.5 in each game, per the Wizards.

According to the NBA (Twitter links), the other nominees in the West were LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Ja Morant, Jordan Poole, Domantas Sabonis and Zion Williamson, while Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Myles Turner were nominated in the East.