What if Dereck Lively II Takes a LEAP? Jaden Hardy or O-Max Prosper? | Dallas Mavericks Podcast

[@Levski011]

Lively will be a beast, he will become an even better passer of the post, and he will develop more post moves plus he will add the occasional 3. I'm One Million percent serious if he stays healthy he has AD upside!!!! Not to mention how mature and intelligent he is for his age!!!!! In DLive We Trust!!!!!!!!!

[@JohnnySmith-x2b]

Of the 3 to improve that would be the most beneficial for the Mavs, IMO, OMax would be the best, a long tall athletic 3D wing to back up PJ that can be a lock down defender and simply hit his wide open 3 would be huge. Liv development in getting bigger and stronger, having just a few strong finishing moves inside the paint and improving his free throws (we don't need him shooting 3's yet). In a few years as Klay moves on then Yes but now let our best shooters shoot. Last Hardy, he needs to improve his handle as a back up point guard and facilitator. He can score which we need but his weakness on D, passing & ballhandler would make him much more playable. So for me in order to best help the team on improving over last year it's OMax, Liv & Hardy. Although currently Liv is clearly the most valuable of the three now.

So basically we just need to see some signs of OMax being Kleeber? I wouldn’t dare say OMax can’t improve but man he’d have to make a gigantic leap in improvement for me to say that he’s on a trajectory of being a potential replacement for Maxi Kleeber? Kleeber has played some fantastic defense for Dallas and has also stretched the floor. I would not mind seeing Dallas acquire a better PF if possible but right now OMax looks like he could be included in a trade to acquire that upgrade. Isn’t Maxi on an expiring contract? To be continued.

[@malcolmcain4420]

Here are the facts. We traded for Gafford because we need two quality bigs. Daniel Gafford is 25, and to basically ignore him and PJ Washington and everything they bring to the table is disrespectful. They are both entering their primes and still have a lot to add to their tools to improve. Look at our team last year before and after the trade deadline. Without Gaff and PJ we might not make it out of the play-in. Actually, Dallas is still a young team with a lot of players (Luka included) heading into their primes. Things they could add: Gafford 1. Strength 2. Post Defense 3. Inside Jumper/Floater PJ Washington 1. Ball Handling 2. Mid Range Jumper 3. 3 Point Accuracy Luka Doncic 1. Free Throw Percentage (Get to 90s) 2. Off Ball Catch and Shoot 3. Lateral Quickness Grimes 1. Ball Handling 2. Jump Shot Accuracy 3. Playmaking (Passing) Exum 1. Playmaking 2. Push Tempo 3. Shot Accuracy Hardy 1. Defensive Awareness 2. Playmaking 3. Ball Handling Omax 1. Offensive/Defensive Awareness 2. 3 point Accuracy 3. Mid Range Jumper Lively 1. Post Defense (Strength) 2. Free Throw Shooting 3. Inside Shooting If these players improved just a few percentage points in these areas it would make the teama whole lot better.

Lmao!

[@LockedOnMavericks]

I’ve done episodes on both PJ and Gaff this offseason

And they were dry. Dallas was way better once the trade went down. Lively missed 27 games where Gafford played in 74.

[@dundalis]

Gotta love how you aren’t allowed to talk about someone cause you like other players more. Talk about gatekeeping the discussion

[@96wtfomg]

Nick really said mf the big 3, it's just big me

[@Kelbonobo]

BOUNCE

[@Zobachi]

Nick's the Kendrick Of white male podcast reviewers

[@sinningtintin3604]

Jaden hardy is gonna improve a lot. He literally gets to play against and with Luka and Ky. Some of their plays I can see in hardy as the season went on

[@de4ds1ghtcsgo94]

Dlive needs a 3 and sky hook. Hardy could go crazy

[@Punchybarnard]

Surprised you didn’t talk about Omax scoring 200 points at Rico hynes run with klay. He was ballin out with offense. Defense still looks shaky taking contact while moving.

[@martinh5182]

Never been as high on OMax as you guys. He just doesn’t look like he moves like a basketball player to me. Hope you’re right.

@martinh5182 I have to agree with you there. It’s like OMax doesn’t have the NBA fluidity as other players that play his position. But I will say this fact about Prosper that nobody has brought up yet(I don’t think?) and that is that in his rookie season during summer league play, Prosper actually looked better than Hardy and DLive. I see a great streamlined athlete in OMax if he could take his game up two notches the Mavericks who looked great after the trades of PJ and Gafford would look so nightmarish with the new additions and a Prosper who can play to the level of at least a Maxi Kleeber?

[@Kelbonobo]

Saying we trade Naji or Grimes for Omax cuz of a potential leap is disrespectful to the other two Nick. Hypothetical or not

@Kebonobo it’s not like we actually are even relying on OMax or OMax has flashed? I’m starting to understand why free agents worth having didn’t want to sign with the Mavericks prior to Cuban hiring Nicco and Kidd.

[@Sylv1ception71]

LET IT FREAKIN' RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE.

[@roneteus]

If you don't beleap, you shouldn't be here

[@richardcase9165]

bet we know who want take a leap just like the last 7 to 10 years

[@raavenzen6100]

I do wonder what would happen if they all took a leak. I guess it would depend where and when.

[@R3Y1023]

Hardy needs to play good defense to take a leap

[@TopDogStatus25]

Im not gay my wife can tell but I love Dereck Lively. He is such a great C and down to earth, humble, plays his role. I feel like he might be an allstar at some point

[@roderickautry3065]

Can't over look Gafford played good protecting the rim better than Lively..Facts

[@MistaWordz]

If DLive keeps working on his jumper, I could potentially even see him getting some time at the PF spot when PJ needs a rest. Imagine how fun it would be for opps trying to get into the lane with both Lively and Gaff on the floor.

[@timh363]

kessler edwards is better then omax so he may be behind him. they are both big 4s. hardy it playing time mavs dont have development time for hardy and omax. they have to pay him by years end. they have a 2yr window b4 they pay luka. and will luka take s paycut for the team like brunson did to keep a winning team. he has the endorsement so money is no issue for him 🤔

[@Jomiloju-xw6wg]

I remember him playing really well against us too when we played Sacramento

[@kornelpodembski3348]

Anything

[@jackastor5265]

DLive is going to be better, mostly because he's talented, young, and gets play time. Hardy, that would be much more difficult because he may not be on the court enough to make a leap. OMAX is the biggest disappointment so far, he may not even be on the team by the end of the year. He's in an even worse situation than Hardy because he really needs to show something but will likely get no time to do it.

[@calvinluciano]

You sound ridiculous. OMax will be fine

[@LarryChamberlain-d7g]

That's Jason Kidd's fault. Before he got injured he didn't get any playing time. If they aren't going to give him that they could at least send him to the G league for development

[@jackastor5265]

@@calvinluciano I hope you are right, really I do, but so far he can't escape the G-League.

[@jackastor5265]

@@calvinluciano I hope you are right, really I do, but so he can't escape the G-League.

[@jackastor5265]

@@LarryChamberlain-d7g They did, he was in the G League last year wasn't he?

[@babyduece5940]

anything below

[@nastyjag9767]

MFFL🤞🏽💙

[@jariohtonen3676]

Last chance for Hardy and Omax to show they belong in Dallas. Otherwhise, off to Detroit.

[@theSUBVERSIVE]

The G-League Ignite wasn't a failed experiment, its role, alongside other leagues was to force the crap that NCAA was pulling to keep all the money for themselves while "exploring" young talents. But sure, it didn't help that Scoot played so poorly... hahahahaha...

[@timh363]

57 was 1st last year. the west got tougher. i think 54 55 wins the west this year. that why they have to mavs win totall at 49 50. not cus the mavs arent good. because the west will beat up on each other so 51 52 53 54 will be top 1 threw 4 seeds i think

[@johnblackman9720]

No one’s dyin’

[@eda2341_]

🦝

I never knew DLive was the center that played 74 games last season and made 33 consecutive field goals? I didn’t know Lively already has an NBA playoff field goal percentage record of 84% in a playoff run? So now I see why they’re talking about DLive so much now? Locked on Mavs is doing to Gafford what national media does to Luka. They ignore how good he’s played for the Mavs by bringing up other players.

[@PeterWilson-c3u]

Gafford should start over Lively. In the event the Mavs are underperforming, benching Livley will indirectly tell him we are not confident in him. Remember, we had major success with Gafford starting

[@elijahcook6129]

I wish gafford got more love. He is amazing. Love his style and grit. He would genuinely be a great starter for a lot of the league (although his play style is limiting in lots of modern systems) However, gaf is 25, sure he could grow? But to what extent? I think We know who he is. He’s a certified baller, but his potential is already pretty much capped. D-live is 20! 20!!! He’s taller then gaf with the potential to frame out even bigger!! on defense he is a much better defender at the rim and in space, again as a 20 year old!! on offense his decision making is elite for a 20 year old. His passes out of the short roll are straight mesmerizing. He seems to always make the number one best possible basketball play. His post moves are limited, but his finishing is elite. Not to mention the wrinkle of a 3 point shot? D-live is just so freaking exciting it’s hard NOT to talk about him. Im bummed gaf hasn’t gotten more air time, we all love him, but d-live is special man.

[@elijahcook6129]

Im just some guy doe, yeah I did watch every mavs game last year, but genuinely im just guy.. whatttta i know! Take my words however you want, im no nba scout. Lets go mavs!

[@matthieusaade3616]

What the hell are you talking about?😂

[@theministryoftruth5161]

I get wanting more gafford love, but the flashes lively showed last szn esp the playoffs make him a more interesting talking point to make podcasts on. Gaff is largely known player at this point while lively development could make him the 2nd best player in a draft class behind wemby

[@PeterWilson-c3u]

Lively has zero post moves, had issues with fouling, and played fewer games than Kyrie🤨An occasional three-point attempt, and a mid-range jumper would make the Mavs offense less predictable

[@matthieusaade3616]

Do you know what a rookie is ? Dude lost his mother and still played amazing for a rookie. Y'all need to put things in perspective

[@LarryChamberlain-d7g]

The dude was a rookie he has a lot to learn and will be better in the future. You need to get a grip dude

[@Velveteenvision]

@@PeterWilson-c3u wow

[@Velveteenvision]

@@PeterWilson-c3u lively had an amazing rookie year and will be even better this year. Worry about Klay not lively