Season 62 - Mavs Press conference - Getting under the Tax

[LazyTitanSmash]

Let's do this! Last season was full of fireworks and tons of trade talks. The Mavs made a run at the playoffs and probably would have had it if the Timberwolves GM had stayed retired or if I hadn't tried to run Canfield 40+ mins and gotten him injured to end last season.

Team report: Scoot is ready to take the reins from Cuevas. Cuevas is taking his star mentality to a new level. Just because he can score 20 points a game, he thinks he doesn't have to commit to the new team defensive schemes!!! He found out we are trying to move him so he score 26 points a game in preseason, but he's going to have to do a lot more than that to stay on the team. His contract is not cheap, but he's available if you're looking for an efficient high scorer.

Expectations: We are trying to make the playoffs and avoid going into the tax this year. No matter what, we are not going into the tax for a third year! We have a solid team, better than last year. The problem is the league looks even better this year than last year. The good news is, I've figured out a way out of the tax this year, even if I can't find a trading partner, so I'm not forced to make a trade I don't want.

Trade Rumors: If you heard trade rumors coming out of the Mavs camp, they are probably true. Everyone except Kaminga and Scoot is available for the right price. Kaminga is still being prepared, but his timeline matches Scoot, so we are holding onto him for a while. Oh, and if you send a trade that, no amount of negotiating will get the deal done, then there is a good chance I won't respond. No offense. I'm probably talking to some other team.

Firing the Trainers: The players can train themselves and have improved independently, but the staff has figured out how to supplement them in the past three years. So we are firing all the trainers and bringing in new ones.

Come chat it up if you've got young talent to move and you want win now, players.

[garbageman]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: With a few seasons under your belt, what do you see as your strengths and weaknesses as a GM?

[LazyTitanSmash]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: With a few seasons under your belt, what do you see as your strengths and weaknesses as a GM?

Weakness: Training Players, holding on to rookie contracts, looking for Defensive Players, Game Plans, being patient, holding onto points

Strength: Manipulating the Salary Cap, long term contracts I offer, evaluating players, anticipating who will be go later, avoiding big contracts to old players, mentoring Hawks, drafting, finding players that play well together.

[K-100]

You have an interesting decision looming at the end of the season with Canfield and Martin's team options totaling $90M against next year's books. If the season ended today, would you exercise either player's option and ride out their respective deals or decline them to free up the cap space and attempt to make a bigger splash play next UFA?

[PaulyP]

Are there any holes in your squad that you're looking to strengthen and how would you plan on fixing those holes without dipping into tax territory?

[IamQuailman]

If things start out rocky for your squad, will you look to pivot and prepare for the future? Or will you look to add win-now talent, so long as you are under the tax apron?

[Mike Lowry]

Do you intend to decimate any GM's with scathing posts this season?
(PLEEEEEAAASSE??!!!????)

[AngryBanana]

Do you still hold a grudge against me for our trade involving Hackney now that he is a Blazer?

[LazyTitanSmash]

You have an interesting decision looming at the end of the season with Canfield and Martin's team options totaling $90M against next year's books. If the season ended today, would you exercise either player's option and ride out their respective deals or decline them to free up the cap space and attempt to make a bigger splash play next UFA?

Hopefully I don’t have to make this decision. Trying to move both for younger cheaper blue potential talent. But if nothing happens I probably won’t sign Canfield but will bring back Martin.


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[LazyTitanSmash]

Are there any holes in your squad that you're looking to strengthen and how would you plan on fixing those holes without dipping into tax territory?

Not really. I got my starting 5 and my bench. I need more defense, but I’m really looking to next season


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[LazyTitanSmash]

If things start out rocky for your squad, will you look to pivot and prepare for the future? Or will you look to add win-now talent, so long as you are under the tax apron?

I’m only looking to make the playoffs because my squad has got a chance. I’d love to fully tank but my guys have to much pride for that.


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[LazyTitanSmash]

Do you intend to decimate any GM's with scathing posts this season?
(PLEEEEEAAASSE??!!!????)

Lol. I had some follow up articles that would have been pretty good, but felt bad for accidentally clipping the Suns in the first one… so I moved on.

The title was something like why you should never try negotiate with purposely inflated offers

To answer you question, If there needed I’ll send more.


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[LazyTitanSmash]

Do you still hold a grudge against me for our trade involving Hackney now that he is a Blazer?

We are all good. It was a good learning experience. Rookie contracts matter!

Plus Hackney got a ring.

Good job on that ship!!! It is a difficult league.


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