Mavs: mavs have 2 choices

[Ghazi]

Do you think the league will alter the moratorium to prevent stuff like this from happening again?

In the short-game I feel like the Mavs did nothing wrong: they had a plan to add impact players through free agency and position themselves well for the post-Dirk era and it appeared to pay off when DAJ initially agreed to come here. A core of DAJ/Parsons/Matthews isn't a le team but it's a good enough core that they could get a meeting with Durant and other FAs when they come free. They negotiated in good faith and I don't think it's on them that DAJ ghosted them and the Clippers negotiated behind their backs.

In the long-game I feel like they put themselves in a position where the difference between being positioned well for Life After Dirk and initiating a painful rebuild was winning the DAJ sweepstakes. They have neglected the draft for years. The Spurs have been in the upper echelon of the league as well and got Leonard's draft rights thanks to a late first-round pick they developed (George Hill). The Mavs could've drafted Giannis. You're not gonna get a Kevin Durant or Steph Curry always picking in the twenties, but you can absolutely help your team through the draft no matter where you're picking. If this had happened to San Antonio and LMA backed out at the 11th hour, it would've been a big setback but I don't think it would've crippled the Spurs like DAJ's reneging will do to Dallas.

Our FO has done a fantastic job. Everyone is just having the benefit of hindsight.

[Ghazi]

We mortgaged a lot of assets on that 2011 team and it paid off.

[Ghazi]

The philosophy of trying to nab a big time FA to win now during Dirks twilight years was fundamentally sound IMO. It didnt work out, and we couldve possiby added some youth and talent through the draft, but we were not gonna contend in Dirks final years without a superstar coming to his side. It was hard winning that 1 le with a 1 superstar team .. but Dirk was still at the peak of his abilities at that time. And that team was a good ensamble.

[Mark Celibate]

Just trade Dirk where he can win a few more rings before retiring (like San Antonio). I've been a supporter of them Spurs for years and I'll support them even more in the years to come, especially in the playoffs since you probably won't see any Dallas team there for the next 3-4 years. Now I empathetically realize why my Reck decided to change his favorite team to them Spurs tbh.

[djohn2oo8]

They're having a great discussion on 98.7 ESPN affiliate in Phoenix about this Jordan/Cuban thing. Brought up two points:::the 2nd the most fascinating. Cuban could have immediately refused to sign Matthew's contract and go into tank mode.

The first? That teams could (have?) send out FA's to double cross teams that agree to sign them after the moratorium, then renege at the last moment and go back home, crippling the opposition.

Good stuff.

He needs to tank instead of trading away draft picks for s like Rondo and Zaza Pachulia

[Killakobe81]

The philosophy of trying to nab a big time FA to win now during Dirks twilight years was fundamentally sound IMO. It didnt work out, and we couldve possiby added some youth and talent through the draft, but we were not gonna contend in Dirks final years without a superstar coming to his side. It was hard winning that 1 le with a 1 superstar team .. but Dirk was still at the peak of his abilities at that time. And that team was a good ensamble.

Agree with all of this EXCEPT one thing .... You could have kept Tyson (more years less $) and when cap went up you sign someone of import like the Spurs are now doing with LMA. The key is finding at least a "core" and building off that but cubes woudl never committ to one because he was trying to build a dynasty. I live in DFW but not a Mavs fan but Im pretty sure there are plenty of good #2's they could have added to Tyson and Dirk but they wanted to keep powder dry and chase big fish.

YEs Mavs wanted to win another with dirk but their actions indicate getting a star for post Dirk was a higher priority, especially when chasing Deandre.

Lakers have been making the same mistake but at least that got two les with Kobe post shaq instead of just the one for Dirk.

And no this not hindsight I said it on here multiple times. So did other Laker fans funny enough, and even Spur fan was wondering why did we care that you broke up a le team. No way you bring back everyone but I think Tyson, Terry and JJB were sparks for 2011 along with Marion you at least keep most of those guys.