To build on the Luka defensive stuff, Flagg's impact on that end will be night and day in the regular season.

And it will be impactful, though it's something that won't show up in the box score. Obviously not directing this at you, but there will be people who see Flagg is at like 14 ppg, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds and they say he's an average player. They will completely neglect his possession to possession impact on the defensive end.

He also probably won't get as many rebounds as he would have in an alternate timeline because there will be times when he's still the third tallest guy on the floor for us lol.

shack009 said:

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To build on the Luka defensive stuff, Flagg's impact on that end will be night and day in the regular season.

And it will be impactful, though it's something that won't show up in the box score. Obviously not directing this at you, but there will be people who see Flagg is at like 14 ppg, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds and they say he's an average player. They will completely neglect his possession to possession impact on the defensive end.

He also probably won't get as many rebounds as he would have in an alternate timeline because there will be times when he's still the third tallest guy on the floor for us lol.

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Agreed

Yes, I do think he'll be a very well rounded player where his stat sheet won't tell the whole story. That's actually why I think those in the know consistently projected him at #1 overall. He'll be good at everything. The question is can he be great - the type of great that leads a championship contender and is consistently putting that contender on his back like the greats do.

For sure. Question will be can he handle it competently, which he showed some promise with in summer league. Still lots of work to do. And then can the jumper be consistent. He was at like 40% from 3 in conference play and the tournament last season, and 37 or 38% on the season. So again, some promise, but we gotta see it consistently.

Yeah, I actually think the development of that perimeter shot is the key question about how good can he be. He's not some freak specimen that will dominate inside. Luka wasn't great from the perimeter, but he was an absolute magician at putting the defender on his hip and basically playing a symphony from there. How far that shot develops will go a long way to determining good vs great.

DannyDuberstein said:

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Yes, I do think he'll be a very well rounded player where his stat sheet won't tell the whole story. That's actually why I think those in the know consistently projected him at #1 overall. He'll be good at everything. The question is can he be great - the type of great that leads a championship contender and is consistently putting that contender on his back like the greats do.

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Yeah, that's where I am and I think that Jayson Tatum is the right comparison.

Maybe a Franz Wagner with a shot. Wagner put up 24/6/5 last year with great defense, but only put up .295 from three.

I do buy into Flagg doing all the little things that positively effect the game for the Mavs that don't show up on a stat sheet, similar to Kidd, Duncan, etc.

It is really hard to buy into the generational tag some people give him when he likely won't be the key defensive player (POA or rim protector) and won't be the primary initiator. But he certainly could become a perennial All-NBA/MVP candidate like Tatum. He'll probably guard the best wing

Just watched the first half of the Mavs preseason game and I have good news: Flagg is really good already. Did some nice ball handling while Cason Wallace was guarding him and made some really nice passes. Also hit two 3s. The shot looks a lot cleaner than it did just this summer. Defense was nice and had a weak side block that led to an AD alley oop from DLo.

I thought Max Christie looked pretty solid too. Bearded PJ Washington off the bench is really nice to have.

The defense looks pretty daunting when Flagg, AD, and Lively are out there.

Oh and Dwight Powell still kinda has it lol.

Jason Kidd said Caleb Martin & Dennis Smith participated in half of today’s practice.

Asked about Dante Exum & Kidd said, “He’s just out. That’s all I can tell you.”

On Daniel Gafford: “Daniel’s doing a little running…I think he’s feeling better so he’s going in the right…

— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) October 7, 2025

Exum bit is very strange

I only saw the highlights, but Flagg impressed. Really liked his passing. Hard to believe he's 19 18!! Dude is ready.

I know it's only preseason but chemistry looks good and D-Lo will be a serviceable PG till Kyrie is back.

18!! Re-classified his Senior year of High School to graduate early. Doesn't turn 19 until the end of December!

M.C. Swag said:

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Jason Kidd said Caleb Martin & Dennis Smith participated in half of today’s practice.

Asked about Dante Exum & Kidd said, “He’s just out. That’s all I can tell you.”

On Daniel Gafford: “Daniel’s doing a little running…I think he’s feeling better so he’s going in the right…

— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) October 7, 2025

Exum bit is very strange

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J Kidd is annoying with that stuff. It's not a star player we're talking about here

The Exum thing is so weird. I think he was missing from practices until very recently.

Even the podcasts and reporters are being very cryptic in what they say. I haven't heard anything regarding an injury from anybody, that I can recall. At this point it seems like it's something else.

Dante Exum is dealing with sore knee irritation, per Jason Kidd, so he is going to be out for “a bit.” pic.twitter.com/CtgKS3vJTz

— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) October 11, 2025

Some info on Exum from Saturday. Not great...

shack009 said:

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Dante Exum is dealing with sore knee irritation, per Jason Kidd, so he is going to be out for “a bit.” pic.twitter.com/CtgKS3vJTz

— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) October 11, 2025

Some info on Exum from Saturday. Not great...

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sore knee irritation? welcome to the club dante....suck it up buttercup and rub some dirt on it

You always love when the explanation contains two injury modifiers and only one body part lol.

Just getting to Bill Simmons' episode from last Thursday where he had on Kirk Goldsberry to talk about the 3 Texas teams.

They both have Flagg as a top 35 player in their Top 100 players list which I thought was really interesting. They both think the Mavs should go over the Vegas wins total for the season. They both think the Mavs should be better than SA over the course of the season.

Obviously it was a Flagg love fest most of the time and they both think the Mavs defense should be an elite unit.

Worst part of these preseason games has easily been Jaden Hardy…

On the bright side, Nembhard has looked like a real player with the guys who will be on the team. Just makes the smart play with a really crisp pass every time.

Nembhard finished with 12 assists and 1 turnover last night. I don't see how he's not in the rotation if Exum and B Will are both injured. He has to play real games before Hardy at this point.

Cuban danced around the knicks cheating

Pablo Torre “Do you think the Knicks may have circumvented the cap taking Jalen Brunson from your Mavs?“

Mark Cuban “IDK…Think there was a lot at play”
…
“That’s behind me. More power to JB

“Was I happy they only got dinged for a 2nd round pick? No…Should’ve been far worse” https://t.co/DWYRzuhEsG pic.twitter.com/pl1G0CzuSf

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 14, 2025

It probably has something to do with Cuban being closer to the average Mavs fan in wealth than he is to Steve Ballmer. Always trying to posture to increase his standing among the elites, especially important if he plans on a political run.

shack009 said:

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It probably has something to do with Cuban being closer to the average Mavs fan in wealth than he is to Steve Ballmer. Always trying to posture to increase his standing among the elites, especially important if he plans on a political run.

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Now that he's mostly irrelevant to the Mavs, can we finally acknowledge how much of a bully and priccckkk he was on shark tank? My gosh he was so hateable at the end

zgolfz85 said:

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shack009 said:

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It probably has something to do with Cuban being closer to the average Mavs fan in wealth than he is to Steve Ballmer. Always trying to posture to increase his standing among the elites, especially important if he plans on a political run.

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Now that he's mostly irrelevant to the Mavs, can we finally acknowledge how much of a bully and priccckkk he was on shark tank? My gosh he was so hateable at the end

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To be fair, that was probably acting lol.

I just can't stand that when it comes to all things non-business related he just comes across as an uninformed person who hasn't read a serious book about anything ever while pretending his business success gives him some sort of authority.

shack009 said:

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zgolfz85 said:

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shack009 said:

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It probably has something to do with Cuban being closer to the average Mavs fan in wealth than he is to Steve Ballmer. Always trying to posture to increase his standing among the elites, especially important if he plans on a political run.

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Now that he's mostly irrelevant to the Mavs, can we finally acknowledge how much of a bully and priccckkk he was on shark tank? My gosh he was so hateable at the end

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To be fair, that was probably acting lol.

I just can't stand that when it comes to all things non-business related he just comes across as an uninformed person who hasn't read a serious book about anything ever while pretending his business success gives him some sort of authority.

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Having known people who've worked for him, I think it was 100% just him and how he genuinely behaves. He was such a hypocrite and would just throw out an offer and be like take it or leave it and you can't hear any other offers or I'm out. That was his MO the last 5 seasons he was on. It was a dick move to his fellow sharks and to the people who'd sacrificed so much to land a spot on the show. Maybe I'm being a bit too sensitive here, but he was a total ass by the end. I don't think the other sharks were sad when he hung it up. Team Barbara or GTFO

Ryan Nembhard is plain good at basketball. Best court vision on the team by far. His size shouldn't be an issue if he plays with AD and a center on a court.

Would love to see Nembhard-Klay-Flagg-AD-Lively lineups once the season starts.

WYD Klay lol pic.twitter.com/n8XbfPty0I

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) October 16, 2025

Daniel Gafford (right ankle sprain) is listed as doubtful against the San Antonio Spurs. He is on the court during the open portion of shootaround wearing slides instead of shoes. pic.twitter.com/snUldwHsnW

— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) October 22, 2025

Looks like Gafford won't play tonight. Probably lots of AD at the 5 and Lively with no AD tonight. Going to be a serious tease of strong lineups that we won't see much of this season lol.

excited to see what we can do with nembhard and co and no kyrie for a few mos. If we can stay in the 6-10 range during that stretch, we should be gravy when he comes back. WOuld obv love to be 1-6, but probably not doable with no kai

Yeah, as long as we're within a few games of 6th by the All Star break, I'd say that's pretty solid.

I have my eye on that 6 seed this year. Avoid a play in game and you won't have to play the Thunder early in the playoffs.

Looks like Olynyk is out for the Spurs tonight which is great news because he kills the Mavs.

We'll probably still get killed by Luke Kornet, because he's the exact type of player who kills us

The off white floor looks awful on tv