September 23, 2023 • 41 mins
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd joins Marc Stein to preview Wednesday’s start of training camp and shares his thoughts on stars Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, Dallas’ center situation and his plans for rookies Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:04):
Welcome to the Saturday Stein Line withMark Stein, presented by Panini Trading Cards
and Collectibles. On ninety seven oneThe Freak, the Official homes while Dallas
Nevericks Games, hosted by legendary NBAreporter and publisher of his substract, the
Stein Line. Here's Mark Stein.Yes, indeed, friends, welcome in
(00:29):
to the latest edition of the SaturdayStein Line, presented by my dear friends
at Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles.I am admittedly a little bit nervous about
this episode, because yes, Iam enjoying the very last dribbles of my
(00:51):
off season with some recharge the batteriestravel. Like last week, it means
that a show had to be prerecorded, carefully assembled by the great groups ninety
seven point one The Freak's glue Guy. The risk we ran, However,
(01:15):
with a pre assembled show on thisparticular Saturday, the risk is Damian Lillard.
Trade talks heated up this week,just as a certain someone you listen
to on ninety seven one The Freakand someone you read on his substack has
been saying for weeks was the likelyoutcome. How many times by now have
(01:42):
you heard me say that the PortlandTrailblazers tough talk about being patient, not
being afraid to bring Lillard to camp, refusing to be rushed into just trading
Lillard to Miami for whatever the Heatoffer because that's where Dame Time wants to
go. Those things are all easyto say in July and August, but
(02:04):
once training camp is actually here,once the Blazers are faced with the prospect
of still having him on the roster, the fact he hasn't been traded yet
after his very public trade request,when that is about to become a daily
distraction and a daily issue. Voila, we hear that Portland this week has
(02:24):
begun to seriously consider the prospect oftrading Lillard before camp. The Blazers,
assuming this trade has not already happened. The Blazers have all of next week
to get something done if necessary,because Media Day for the Blazers, like
twenty seven other teams, it's notuntil October two. Only the Mavericks in
(02:47):
Minnesota, remember, as the NBA'stwo teams with preseason games on their schedule
abroad, those are the only twoteams that get to start practices this coming
week, hold their meat a daythis coming week. Again, I am
actually so, I am actually flyingback to Dallas today and had to go
(03:08):
the pre record route. If Dameactually got traded Friday afternoon or Friday night
US time, I profusely apologize.I promise I will make it up to
you. We will discuss it atlength the next time we get together on
this show. We'll do it sooner, I'm sure, on our This League
(03:31):
Uncut podcast alongside the world's leading demologistChris Haynes of Turner Sports. Okay,
enough enough with the inside baseball onall my radio problems and challenges, my
travel schedule, blah blah blah.We have a monster show for you guys.
No matter what, No matter what'sgoing on with a Lillard situation.
(03:55):
Again, we all pretty much knowhe is going to get traded by Portland
sooner rather than later. So let'spivot now to what Mavericks fans are surely
tuning in to hear on this SaturdayTons of training camp preview discussion lined up
nicely for you. Stay tuned becauseMavericks coach Jason Kidd will be my guest
(04:23):
in the second segment. He's gotsome really interesting things to say about the
rookies, about newcomer Grant Williams abouthis plans for Tim Hardaway Junior. Beyond
the obvious discussion points about Luca donChich and Kyrie Irving, we get into
it all and MAVs training camp.It really opens Wednesday, two practices.
(04:47):
I've been reliably informed that Luca donChich is already back in town. I'm
told he got back Wednesday, aweek before the first practice was in the
practice facility. Thursday and Friday,I'm told the Mavericks actually closed the gym.
(05:09):
They basically implored all the guys,with many already back in town,
said, you know, this isthe last long weekend before two a days
start, Go enjoy yourselves. KyrieIrving, of course, has been on
a promotional tour in China in recentdays, trumpeting his new shoe partnership with
Anta, the Chinese based shoe brand. Tuesday is the day every Maverick has
(05:34):
to report. But yeah, really, most of the team has already been
back in town. And that's theway it works in the modern NBA.
Right after Labor Day is when thegym starts buzzing again and the pickup games
start. Because the modern NBA playerdoesn't just show up for training camp and
(05:55):
start to get themselves in shape.They spend those last three weeks of September
to make sure that they get ahead start on being in peat condition.
Again. That is the way themodern game has evolved. I know you
guys are all ready. It wasa brutally long and hot summer around here,
(06:17):
apart from Draft night, apart froma couple of weeks in July being
able to watch the Summer League squad. I know you guys, you haven't
had the Mavericks in your orbit ina truly tangible fashion since April ninth.
And so again we will get intoall the pressing questions about this team and
(06:42):
how it has been remodeled and theseason ahead, all of that stuff with
Jason Kidd in the next segment.Luca Kyrie. Luca and Kyrie is a
duo, the rookies, the centerposition. All of that to come before
we get into that. Though,another trade topic did emerge this week on
Dame Lillard Divisions. It's a veryangsty start to the season. Damian Lillard
(07:09):
has requested a trade. James Hardenin Philadelphia has requested a trade. Jana
Sannteakumpo in two interviews in recent weeks, has said that his long term future
isn't necessarily going to be in Milwaukee. And now we also have the Indiana
Pacers reported willingness to entertain trade offersfor Buddy Healed, given that the sides
(07:33):
have been unable to find common groundon a contract extension, I can't confirm
that, yes, Dallas is indeedamong the teams interested in pursuing a Buddy
Heeled trade. And I'm guessing youguys, probably some of you probably know
this already. Buddy Healed maintains hisoffseason residence in Dallas. It was last
(08:00):
season, in fact, that thePacers actually ran footage of you know,
they played the Mavericks here in Dallasin early March and did a morning shoot
around at the court at Buddy Heald'shouse here locally. So that leads one
to assume that Buddy Healed wouldn't exactlyprotest if he were dealt to Dallas Mavericks.
(08:24):
That's an assumption we're making on theshow, but I feel like it's
a pretty safe one. He hadgreat numbers last season for Indiana. He
averaged nearly seventeen points per game,but more importantly, he shot the snot
out of the ball better than fortytwo percent on three last season for Buddy
(08:46):
Healed nearly seven hundred attempts from deepand here the reality though, with the
Pacers, when you look at theirroster, Benedict Maturin and nebhard two outstanding
and emerging young Canadians, They're onthe Pacers roster too, So all the
(09:09):
signals are that Buddy Healed is thusin play. However, from what I
have been able to glean this week, while Tim Hardaway Junior's contract would be
an ideal salary match for Healed,my read at this juncture is that the
Pacers are not inclined to make thatsort of swap, at least not now.
(09:33):
And it's no secret that the Mavericksthey have made Hardaway available in various
trade scenarios dating back months now.But I'm told there's no traction between the
teams at this point. And justlooking at this from Indiana's perspective, you
could definitely see them wanting to taketheir time survey the landscape, see if
(09:56):
they can build a trade market foryield with multiple bidders, because everybody needs
and wants more shooting a three pointmarksman of Buddy Heal's caliber, whatever the
defensive deficiencies might be, when hehas a pretty team friendly contract, and
(10:18):
yes, he is in the lastyear of his current deal at a pretty
manageable nineteen plus million. Again,I think the Pacers are going to want
ultimately, they are going to wantsome sort of draft sweetener on top of
whatever contract they eventually take on ina Buddy Healed trade, because he's not
(10:39):
only an excellent three point shooter,he's a very durable player as well.
So my instinct is that the Pacersactually do have a pretty good chance to
manufacture a first rounder from someone outthere when they actually trade Healed. In
general, though, I mean thisseason, it's really starting with with lots
(11:03):
in the ether for those of youwho love the transaction game, and I'm
guessing that most of you listening dolove the transaction game, and that's one
of the reasons that you do listento this show. Beyond the Lillard trade
saga, Harden still wants out ofPhilly. No one is lining up to
trade for Harden at this point,but it's still a significant talking point.
(11:28):
And now we have Healed future aswell, because he's going to be a
helpful addition to a contender wherever helands. The Lakers were a buddy healed
suitor for a long time before theymade a slew of other moves. The
Milwaukee's, the Phillies, other contenders, I'm sure are going to look into
(11:50):
the prospect of trying to trade forhim. Okay, we are going to
drill down on the Mavericks from here. There's some spirited let's say, Maverick's
discussion with Ben and Skin to come. That will be in the third segment,
featuring some vintage outright panic from Benbefore training camp even starts to fit
(12:16):
right into that angsty vibe so prevalentacross the league right now. First though,
my discussion with Mavericks coach Jason Kiddas the first set of three doses
of two a day practices draws near. That's next here on ninety seven one
the free This is the Saturday SteinLine Quiz Mark Stein presented by Panini Trading
(12:41):
Cards and Collectibles on your official hometo all Dallas Mavericks game The Freak.
The Saturday Stein Line Dribbles. Fourth. Now, thanks for being with us
on a pretty momentous Saturday special becausethis is the last time for a long
time we're gonna do a show withouthaving new MAVs basketball to discuss. That's
(13:07):
why we had to line up atruly marquee guest for this one, which
happens now joining us for the firsttime on the Saturday Stine Line presented by
Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles. It'sMavericks coach Jason Kidd, coach Kid.
Welcome to the show. Thank you, Steins, thank you for having me.
(13:30):
I'm excited to be on the show. Now. This is going to
be a training camp really unlike anyother that I can remember for the Mavericks,
because you've got six or seven practices, then a long stretch out of
the country, three exhibition games intwo different countries. What kind of challenges
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does the schedule present for you andyour staff just to get ready for the
season. Yeah, I think thisis a little different. I don't think
anyone's has done this yet where youbrought up. We're going to be in
two different countries in twelve days,playing Minnesota and Abadhabi, and then in
(14:15):
Madrid playing Real Madrid, and soI think it's ex exciting. I think
it's it can be challenging but Ithink it's more of we're gonna look at
it as a great time to bondas coaches and players and enjoy the experience.
But I think also, you know, putting in the defensive schemes and
(14:37):
the offensive sets will be uh,you know, here with seven practices before
we leave on October first. SoI think it's ex exciting. Yes,
it could be challenging, but we'regonna look at it in a positive way
that will become closer faster with thisschedule. I know you went to Slovenia
(15:00):
the summer to pay Luca visit,and I know you watched him in the
World Cup, leading scorer in thetournament, got his team to the quarterfinals.
But I mean it's impossible to ignorewhat Luca himself said. Luca was
asked about his leg, which aninjury that actually surfaced in the spring,
and you know his words were quotenot okay. So as his coach,
(15:22):
what's your level of concern about whereLuca is physically after a summer with his
national team? Well, I thinkone you brought up we went to visit
when I say, well, myfamily was spent a week there in his
hometown. It was beautiful, Cityand Country. Got to see him practice
(15:43):
twice with his national team. Helooks he looked incredible. He was doing
two days. He was in greatspirits. He loves to play for his
national team. You talk about theleg injury. I think hopefully as we
go forward here, he is goingto be ready to go. I presume
(16:07):
that, you know, sometimes inour career we're not one hundred percent.
Maybe we're ninety nine or ninety fivepercent. The more games you play,
the longer your career. I thinkyou can ask anyone, no one's really
one hundred percent. But now lookingat our roster, hopefully we don't have
to play him forty, you know, plus minutes a night with the depth
(16:30):
that we have. I thought Nicodid an incredible job this summer. But
I think right now I'm excited withLuca and Kai and having you know,
Luca ready to go and achieve hisgoals, and that's, you know,
to win a championship. Mavericks coachJason Kidd here with us on ninety seven
one the Free the Saturday Skyline presentedby Pannini America. You know, some
(16:56):
of us here are old enough toremember you in your playing days. December
twenty six, nineteen ninety six.I will not forget the date the first
time you were traded when the Mavericksgot you back, that was a February
trade, So you yourself know whatit's like to be traded mid season.
For Kyrie Irving now resigned, whatdo you think it's going to be like
(17:21):
to actually have a camp with yourtwo main guys as opposed to trying to
do this thing on the fly.And you know, again you've been in
the player position, Kyrie's position,he came here last February in a trade,
and now coaching him to actually havea camp, what does that mean
for him? I think it's huge. I think, you know, sometimes
(17:42):
we would love things that just happenedright away. Unfortunately that didn't happen last
season as a team. I thinkfor those two when you talk about Luca
and Kay played at a high levelwhen you look at the stats, but
the most important stats, you know, the win loss, and we just
didn't have success. And I thinkwith this summer and training camp, to
(18:07):
be able to, you know,build that relationship, that trust and that
understanding of one another helps us.And I think again with our preseason,
our twelve day trip overseas. It'sgonna actually I think help us again become
closer. But you talk about,you know, kind and what he brings
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to the team, his leadership,his ability to control the game, scoring,
playing off the ball, and thenalso he's played with the best players
in the world, and you knowthat starts with Lebron being able to win
a championship there and then also playingwith Kadie Westbrook Harden, you know,
Chris Paul. I think you lookat the abilities that he's had, you
(18:55):
know, to play with stars andAll Star Games or Team USA. He
blends his game is it's something thatdoesn't you know, he can play with
other stars, and so I thinkthis is going to be exciting time for
mass basketball. When maths fans hitme up, they almost always want to
(19:17):
ask about the rookies. They arejust insatiable trying to find out more about
Derek Lively, the second Olivier,Max Sens prosper from your seat having watched
them in the summer league. Now, how NBA ready are they? Well,
they're NBA ready, they got drafted. I think there's different stages of
(19:40):
NBA ready, And so when youlook at oh Max and being able to
get him again. I think thatwas a big, big part of that
success that night. And also whatd live not short staging, you know,
short changing being able to get himand one of the pieces that we
we need as a as a center. It's exciting. They've done everything we've
(20:04):
asked him to do. UH.Each week they get better and so we're
excited. I look for those UHrookies to play a lot this season.
There's going to be a part ofour fabric. There could be a chance
of one of them starting. Sowe'll see. Well, because you know,
(20:26):
the other topic that gets thrown atme constantly is the center position,
and obviously you've added Derek Lively therethrough the draft with Sean Holmes via trade
and Dwight Powell returns on. Aswe're discussing this on September twenty one,
twenty second, twenty third range,what's your approach to the center position going
(20:47):
into camp? Is the job?Is the starting job up for grabs?
How are you looking at that?It's up for grabs? You know,
just understanding that. But I willI will start Lively with the big group
and see how that goes. MaybeJosh starting with the big group. Maybe
(21:11):
oh, Max starting with the biggroup, starting both rookies out with the
big group, and that being withGrant, Kai and Luca. Just to
take a look at that to see, if you know, you asked the
question NBA ready, to see wherethey are? I think anytime you can
put rookies or your younger players withthe star players to see how they handle
(21:37):
the situation, I think you canget a grass of where they are.
Are they ready? And these lastcouple of weeks, our rookies have taken
jumps here and so as I've talkedto the coaching staff and Nico about starting
lively with with Luca and Kai andGrant, and so we'll see how that.
(22:00):
But I can say that we'll probablystart both rookies here early in camp
and probably in one or if notboth games in Abu Dhabi, just to
see how they handle the situation.Right, And then you mentioned Grant Williams.
You are huge accusation, huge acquisitionfor this team. What do you
(22:22):
what do you want from him?What's your message to Grant Williams about what
you need him to provide as aDallas Maverick now leaving Boston. Yeah,
I think again, I participated inhis first Foundation Golf event in Charlotte,
and when I talked to him thereand uh, and when I've seen him,
you know at the practice facility,is to be himself. We encourage
(22:45):
his voice. Uh, he's he'sa guy that's about winning, he's about
helping others. And then I tellhim, just be ready to make open
shots. Luca is the best atcreating open looks for his teammates, So
just be prepared that you're going tobe open and we look forward to you
(23:07):
making them. And so that's whatthat's my message to him is he's a
winner. He understands how to playthe game. He understands his role and
what he means to to the team. And so I'm excited to have him
on board because again, he's anothervoice on that floor that we need.
(23:29):
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd with us hereon ninety seven one The Freak. I
mean, this was this the longestoffseason of your life. I mean it's
like you do the math It's likethe Maths have not played a real game
since April ninth. I mean it'smore than five months. What has this
weight been like for you just toget just to get back to work with
(23:51):
this group. Yeah, I thinkthis might be the only second time in
my basketball career that I didn't participatein in a playoff as a player,
or maybe maybe two or three asa coach Milwaukee and and now this here
(24:11):
in Dallas. So it's rare.But I think I think this was actually
a positive summer in so many waysof being able to be successful in the
draft, also a free agency anduh, and give us a young,
exciting team that's athletic. And soI'm excited about this year. Yes,
(24:36):
it was a long, a longyear, but now it's here and I'm
excited to have this opportunity to putthese guys in a position to be successful.
Yeah, because I remember you said, and you're in one of your
last press confidence last season that youknow there's probably gonna be a lot of
changes, and there have been alot of changes. How do you just
(24:56):
feel about how the roster looks comeheard to where it was five six months
ago? Yeah, I'm excited aboutthe roster when you talk about you know,
being young, athletic, uh,playing faster. Things that we've talked
about this summer, what the whatthe players? I really I think when
(25:21):
you look at the depth of ourteam. We're deep. We didn't even
get to talk about xm uh JonesJunior Derek Jones Jr. We got guys
who can play different positions, andso I'm excited again for Timmy Uh looking
to talk, you know, talkto him about being six Man of the
(25:44):
Year. That would help our team. Uh, you know, put us
in a in a really good seatif he's up for six Man of the
Year. And I think he's capableof doing that. But you look at
Josh and Maxie. Again we talkedabout the center position. We have three
guys there. When you talk abouthomes DP and in the rook d Live,
(26:07):
I think again, we have alot of weapons and it should be
exciting our last few moments here withMavericks coach Jason Kidd on ninety seven one
the Freak. I guess maybe thebiggest issue you guys might face is the
West is a beast again. Itseems like several teams have gotten stronger,
(26:30):
obviously the defending champs in Denver.How much attention are you paying to what
the competition has done this summer?Yeah, I think you bring up a
very good point. The West hasgotten better but I think you know,
here early and often, we justhave to focus on ourselves and again get
(26:52):
get what you know, what wewant to do on both ends, not
just the offensive end. We feelvery talented on the offensive end the defensive
end, being able to get stopsor you know, last year we felt
we got missus. We just couldn'tfinish the play with rebounding. And so
that's something that we'll talk about alot here early in camp in preseason.
(27:15):
But again, if our health andwe're playing the way that we're capable or
know that we can, we havea chance to you know, be successful,
not just in the West, butin this league. And so I'm
really excited about this opportunity with thisteam. Two practices Wednesday, two practices
(27:36):
Thursday, than media Day Friday.I think you got another two days and
then you guys get on that flightto Abu Dhabi. I am not ready
for two days. Luckily, thoughI don't think I have to do any
running. I'm sure you're ready,and I'm sure you're you're excited to get
back out there. Yeah, we'reexcited. This is again a little different
(27:57):
with the you know, normally Idon't have two days, but just the
way the schedule is set up totry to get as much as we can
before we do take off on Octoberfirst. So the guys again, are
they know about the two days here, so everybody's excited. I will see
(28:18):
you soon after that first practice onWednesday, Coach, thanks to mil for
joining us and helping us get readyfor the season, because I know and
the listen it was a long fivemonths for the listeners. They're ready,
They're they're the most ready. Iappreciate Stansy for having me on the show.
I know the Maths fans are readyand we will be ready to there.
(28:38):
He goes Jason Kidd, the Maverickscoach. Practice now just four days
away, stick around, lots moreto come here on the Saturday Steine Line
on ninety seven one, The Freak. This is dirty whiskey and you're listening
to the Saturday Stein Line with myguys Steiny on ninety seven one The Freak.
Thanks everyone for stick with us hereon the Saturday Stein Line. I
(29:03):
think by now we've made it clearthat Wednesday will be the Mavericks first practice
of the new season, and thispast Wednesday, to celebrate the one week
away Marker, I joined Ben andSkin for some MAVs heavy discussion. They
(29:25):
are the faces of the franchise hereat ninety seven one the freak, well,
actually Mike Reiner is, but Ihave to pretend when I talk to
those guys because Ben and Skin havesuch fragile egos. Anyway, I spend
a good half hour with them theother day because on their expansive show they've
got more time to stretch their legsand really chop it up. We've got
(29:49):
to we've got to be a littlebit more economical here on the Saturday Steine
Line presented by Panini America, alittle bit more economical about how we do
things. So we're going to bringback about half of that conversation from Wednesday.
That's all the space we have forhere. But here it is the
mediat part of my visit with Benand Skin, leading off with what else
(30:14):
Ben Rogers in a full on panicbefore a single ball has been dribbled,
full on panic of course, aboutnumber seventy seven. Mark. You know,
going into this mav season, thenumber one thing on my mind is
what the same thing it is inJune March January, What is Luca Luca
(30:41):
I'm worried, Stine, I'm worriedabout Luca. Yes, we know,
we know, Ben Okay, solet's check the validity meter on my fear.
Is it? Is it valid fearright now? Or no? Is
there anything I could say that wouldmake you not worry? Yeah, because
I because you're my leader and Iand I value your opinion so much,
(31:06):
and I know you're in the nose. So if you tell me there's nothing
to work, well, look,I mean, look, hey, I
mean I'm not I can't sugarcoat this. I mean Luca himself at the Feeble
World Cup. You know, hewas the leading scorer in the tournament.
He got a shorthanded Slovenia team tothe quarterfinals, which was a fantastic effort.
But obviously the Canada game in whichhe got ejected. You know,
(31:27):
there's been a lot of criticism thrownhis way over that. But I mean
that to me is a secondary ora third dairy addition or third? Uh,
what's the word I'm looking. It'shard without an editor. I'm so
much. I'm so much. I'mso much better with a just a keyboard
than the basta. It's a third, it's a secondary or third issue.
(31:51):
Compared to Luca announcing to the assembledmedia at the Feeble World Cup, he
was asked, how is your leg? How is your health? And he
said not okay. So the extentof what is quote not okay, we
don't know that yet. Luca isyou know, camp is a week away.
(32:12):
He will be back before camp starts, and then the Mavericks get to
bring him back into the fold andyou know, get to test him,
evaluate him and see him. TheMavericks obviously, Nico Harrison did make the
trip to see a little bit ofthe World Cup. I think he saw
one game, and Jason Kidd wentto Slovenia before the World Cup started to
(32:35):
check in on Luca. But theyreally haven't had him in the building for
more than five months, so thatwill be happening soon and then we have
more data to try to allay yourtwenty four seven, three sixty five concerns.
I can't do it today. I'msorry. Well Stein, We know
that the Mavericks wanted to address theircenter position, and they did address it.
(33:00):
Whether they addressed it enough, that'scertainly a different thing. I think
most people would agree they probably haveit. But aside from the issue at
the center position. How do youfeel about the other moves and the rest
of the roster. I think theyhad a solid summer. I think there
was probably too much excitement in themoment. They did have a very good
draft night. And look, Iyou know that they went after Clint Capella.
(33:23):
They had trade talks with Atlanta andthe decision they made was Atlanta wanted
the number ten pick and Josh Greento send Clint Capella here. And I
tend to agree with the way theMavericks saw it, that was too high
a price. If you trade numberten and Josh Green, not only have
(33:46):
you surrendered Josh Green, who's youknow, a key part of what you're
trying to do, you know withoutthat number ten pick, you know,
does it all work out that,you know, you can get Lively and
Omax and do do the other stuffthat they did on draft night? I
don't think so. So I understandwhy they took that hardline there and felt
like they couldn't make that trade becausein the West is such a monster again
(34:13):
after a brief low, but Ithink if you guys look at the West
and see all the moves that somany other teams that have made and how
stacked the West could be. Yes, I think Clint Capella is a clear
upgrade on what they have at Centerright now. But how far up the
west ladder is? You know,would he have really sent the mass And
(34:34):
I think that's a fair question.It's also an unanswerable question because they didn't
make the trade. But I thinkthey are still you know, I've been
saying this on the Saturday Show forweeks. You know, they're still looking
there. You know, if Atlantawants to revisit those talks, the Mavericks
would obviously love to revisit those talks. I don't think they're done looking for
(34:58):
a Center upgrade. But trades don'thappen at this time of year, really,
you know. Obviously, Damian Lillardhas asked to be traded, James
Harden has asked to be traded.Those situations are different, but basically everybody
this is their team going. Youknow, Camp starts next week, so
you're not going to see a tradenow most likely. Okay, so we're
(35:19):
talking to the goat, Mark Stein, the best of the best. We're
a week away from camp opening.Super excited about that. So many delicious
storylines with the Mavericks. And yeah, I'm worried about Luca Levin. I'm
worried about, you know, himbeing unhappy, demanding trade, worried about
even started. I'm worried about hisinjury. I'm worried about all this.
But that said, it's worried aboutthe end. You can worry about the
(35:40):
injury. I'm not gonna you know, you know again that it's from We
don't know much, but from hisown mouth he said not, you know,
it's not okay. So you know, with with rest and treatment and
getting back here, can it getback to okay? I mean, that's
what we'll soon find out. Yeah, that's scary because look, they have
to get off to a great start, I think, because if they don't
(36:00):
get off to a good start,then you know, it starts getting really
tense about what is he going todo? Is he's going to request a
trade, how is that going togo? And so there's been so much
turnover on the roster, so manynew guys that and he's hurt, and
they're going to be playing overseas andso and he hasn't really had time to
rest, and so how important isit that they get off to a fast
(36:23):
start with all these storylines percolating,and is it a good thing or a
bad thing that they're going to beon the other side of the globe as
they get ready to start. No, I do think that is a legit
source of concern because they are goingto be gone for basically two weeks.
It's a little bit shy of twoweeks and what happened. We went into
(36:45):
this in depth on Saturday Show.The Mavericks have been promising Luca for years
that they're going to play a gameat Real Madrid. Real Madrid is the
club that Luca joined as a thirteenyear old. He made his pro debut
at sixteen. You know, obviouslyhas huge fondness for Real Madrid and playing
an exhibition game there so Luca canmake a grand return. That obviously made
(37:08):
a ton of scents. But thereality is in the NBA, you know,
Spain is not high up on thelist anymore of places that they want
to have preseason games. Abu Dhabi, that's a place that the league is
really focused on trying to grow it'sMiddle East presence. So the league basically
told the MAVs, you can goto Madrid, but you're going to have
(37:30):
to be one of our two teamsin Abu Dhabi this year, and so
that makes the trip much longer.It's a three game trip now they're going
to have. Because of the waythe league rules work, teams that start
the season, teams that have exhibitiongames abroad get to start earlier. So
Dallas and Minnesota they're the only twoteams in the league that get to start
practice a week from today. Andin the Mavericks case, I think they
(37:52):
have scheduled six or seven practices beforethey leave for abroad. So that's the
good news. But obviously, onceyou go on those trips, you know
you're making appearances, you've got todo stuff for the league. You know
you've got the game, the actualexhibition games, there's not gonna be a
ton of practice time once they're abroad. They will practice, but it's just
(38:14):
it's not the same as training camppractices in your own gym. So yeah,
I do think that it is abig ask for this team to have
to go abroad for almost two weeksnow. The way, what the Mavericks
are surely going to say is it'sbonding to you know, we've got all
these new faces. This is extrabonding time to go abroad and really get
(38:35):
to know each other with this allnew group. You know, let's see
if it works out that way.His skin was was like seventeen and eighteen
year old Ben. Was he ahuge because I thought I was a world
class warrior, but he is likehe is, he might have be beat.
I think that been. The worryingRogers has been a development in his
late twenties. I think it's moreof a later in life been. I
(39:00):
think I think he was fine untilhe discovered the Internet, and then I
think it was like, oh mygod, there's so many bad things in
the world. It's unbelievable. Ididn't know all this bad. You guys
really should be able to get somesort of there really should be some sort
of sponsor that can play into hisworrying like there it should be a segment
or a I don't know, justthinking out loud, trying to realize one
(39:22):
of my biggest fears is going toprison. I think he just knocked him
off the phone line. Here's here'swhat's crazy about that. Skin's like,
just don't do anything illegal and youwon't have to go to prison. But
dude, if you saw the fugitive. Then you saw what happened Harrison Ford,
you might get framed for something youdidn't do. Like I said,
(39:46):
I am a world class warrior,which I inherited from my father, and
I really thought like if the threeof us were hanging out that I could
out worry the both of you.But every single time we get to get
o you are jittery and pat Imean, and this is not like a
new thing. This is whatever yearI met you, guys, this is
(40:07):
about year twenty of it. You'rejust you're always worried. He just he
doesn't about the masks. You're alwaysyou're always worried about the mass He just
doesn't handle adversity well, Stein,I mean, he's he's a he's a
champion. But again, Ken Kenny, adversity happened first. I mean that
Bryan, adversity hasn't happened yet.It's his number one fear is the adversity.
(40:29):
That's true. It's true. Ido well with adversity. What's it
happens? It's crippling for me onthe way to it happening. All right,
everyone that is going to do itfor the latest edition of the Saturday
Steinline, if you want to hearthat whole convo with Bennon's Skin from Wednesday,
check it out on the benn andSkin podcast page. I will be
(40:52):
back in studio, fully present nextSaturday, back on the thin line text
line, Back, perhaps with aPanini card giveaway. If everything proceeds smoothly.
The NBA season, folks, theNBA's seventy eighth season. It really
(41:14):
does start Wednesday. You did it, You made it.
Welcome to the Saturday Stein Line withMark Stein, presented by Panini Trading Cards
and Collectibles. On ninety seven oneThe Freak, the Official homes while Dallas
Nevericks Games, hosted by legendary NBAreporter and publisher of his substract, the
Stein Line. Here's Mark Stein.Yes, indeed, friends, welcome in
(00:29):
to the latest edition of the SaturdayStein Line, presented by my dear friends
at Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles.I am admittedly a little bit nervous about
this episode, because yes, Iam enjoying the very last dribbles of my
(00:51):
off season with some recharge the batteriestravel. Like last week, it means
that a show had to be prerecorded, carefully assembled by the great groups ninety
seven point one The Freak's glue Guy. The risk we ran, However,
(01:15):
with a pre assembled show on thisparticular Saturday, the risk is Damian Lillard.
Trade talks heated up this week,just as a certain someone you listen
to on ninety seven one The Freakand someone you read on his substack has
been saying for weeks was the likelyoutcome. How many times by now have
(01:42):
you heard me say that the PortlandTrailblazers tough talk about being patient, not
being afraid to bring Lillard to camp, refusing to be rushed into just trading
Lillard to Miami for whatever the Heatoffer because that's where Dame Time wants to
go. Those things are all easyto say in July and August, but
(02:04):
once training camp is actually here,once the Blazers are faced with the prospect
of still having him on the roster, the fact he hasn't been traded yet
after his very public trade request,when that is about to become a daily
distraction and a daily issue. Voila, we hear that Portland this week has
(02:24):
begun to seriously consider the prospect oftrading Lillard before camp. The Blazers,
assuming this trade has not already happened. The Blazers have all of next week
to get something done if necessary,because Media Day for the Blazers, like
twenty seven other teams, it's notuntil October two. Only the Mavericks in
(02:47):
Minnesota, remember, as the NBA'stwo teams with preseason games on their schedule
abroad, those are the only twoteams that get to start practices this coming
week, hold their meat a daythis coming week. Again, I am
actually so, I am actually flyingback to Dallas today and had to go
(03:08):
the pre record route. If Dameactually got traded Friday afternoon or Friday night
US time, I profusely apologize.I promise I will make it up to
you. We will discuss it atlength the next time we get together on
this show. We'll do it sooner, I'm sure, on our This League
(03:31):
Uncut podcast alongside the world's leading demologistChris Haynes of Turner Sports. Okay,
enough enough with the inside baseball onall my radio problems and challenges, my
travel schedule, blah blah blah.We have a monster show for you guys.
No matter what, No matter what'sgoing on with a Lillard situation.
(03:55):
Again, we all pretty much knowhe is going to get traded by Portland
sooner rather than later. So let'spivot now to what Mavericks fans are surely
tuning in to hear on this SaturdayTons of training camp preview discussion lined up
nicely for you. Stay tuned becauseMavericks coach Jason Kidd will be my guest
(04:23):
in the second segment. He's gotsome really interesting things to say about the
rookies, about newcomer Grant Williams abouthis plans for Tim Hardaway Junior. Beyond
the obvious discussion points about Luca donChich and Kyrie Irving, we get into
it all and MAVs training camp.It really opens Wednesday, two practices.
(04:47):
I've been reliably informed that Luca donChich is already back in town. I'm
told he got back Wednesday, aweek before the first practice was in the
practice facility. Thursday and Friday,I'm told the Mavericks actually closed the gym.
(05:09):
They basically implored all the guys,with many already back in town,
said, you know, this isthe last long weekend before two a days
start, Go enjoy yourselves. KyrieIrving, of course, has been on
a promotional tour in China in recentdays, trumpeting his new shoe partnership with
Anta, the Chinese based shoe brand. Tuesday is the day every Maverick has
(05:34):
to report. But yeah, really, most of the team has already been
back in town. And that's theway it works in the modern NBA.
Right after Labor Day is when thegym starts buzzing again and the pickup games
start. Because the modern NBA playerdoesn't just show up for training camp and
(05:55):
start to get themselves in shape.They spend those last three weeks of September
to make sure that they get ahead start on being in peat condition.
Again. That is the way themodern game has evolved. I know you
guys are all ready. It wasa brutally long and hot summer around here,
(06:17):
apart from Draft night, apart froma couple of weeks in July being
able to watch the Summer League squad. I know you guys, you haven't
had the Mavericks in your orbit ina truly tangible fashion since April ninth.
And so again we will get intoall the pressing questions about this team and
(06:42):
how it has been remodeled and theseason ahead, all of that stuff with
Jason Kidd in the next segment.Luca Kyrie. Luca and Kyrie is a
duo, the rookies, the centerposition. All of that to come before
we get into that. Though,another trade topic did emerge this week on
Dame Lillard Divisions. It's a veryangsty start to the season. Damian Lillard
(07:09):
has requested a trade. James Hardenin Philadelphia has requested a trade. Jana
Sannteakumpo in two interviews in recent weeks, has said that his long term future
isn't necessarily going to be in Milwaukee. And now we also have the Indiana
Pacers reported willingness to entertain trade offersfor Buddy Healed, given that the sides
(07:33):
have been unable to find common groundon a contract extension, I can't confirm
that, yes, Dallas is indeedamong the teams interested in pursuing a Buddy
Heeled trade. And I'm guessing youguys, probably some of you probably know
this already. Buddy Healed maintains hisoffseason residence in Dallas. It was last
(08:00):
season, in fact, that thePacers actually ran footage of you know,
they played the Mavericks here in Dallasin early March and did a morning shoot
around at the court at Buddy Heald'shouse here locally. So that leads one
to assume that Buddy Healed wouldn't exactlyprotest if he were dealt to Dallas Mavericks.
(08:24):
That's an assumption we're making on theshow, but I feel like it's
a pretty safe one. He hadgreat numbers last season for Indiana. He
averaged nearly seventeen points per game,but more importantly, he shot the snot
out of the ball better than fortytwo percent on three last season for Buddy
(08:46):
Healed nearly seven hundred attempts from deepand here the reality though, with the
Pacers, when you look at theirroster, Benedict Maturin and nebhard two outstanding
and emerging young Canadians, They're onthe Pacers roster too, So all the
(09:09):
signals are that Buddy Healed is thusin play. However, from what I
have been able to glean this week, while Tim Hardaway Junior's contract would be
an ideal salary match for Healed,my read at this juncture is that the
Pacers are not inclined to make thatsort of swap, at least not now.
(09:33):
And it's no secret that the Mavericksthey have made Hardaway available in various
trade scenarios dating back months now.But I'm told there's no traction between the
teams at this point. And justlooking at this from Indiana's perspective, you
could definitely see them wanting to taketheir time survey the landscape, see if
(09:56):
they can build a trade market foryield with multiple bidders, because everybody needs
and wants more shooting a three pointmarksman of Buddy Heal's caliber, whatever the
defensive deficiencies might be, when hehas a pretty team friendly contract, and
(10:18):
yes, he is in the lastyear of his current deal at a pretty
manageable nineteen plus million. Again,I think the Pacers are going to want
ultimately, they are going to wantsome sort of draft sweetener on top of
whatever contract they eventually take on ina Buddy Healed trade, because he's not
(10:39):
only an excellent three point shooter,he's a very durable player as well.
So my instinct is that the Pacersactually do have a pretty good chance to
manufacture a first rounder from someone outthere when they actually trade Healed. In
general, though, I mean thisseason, it's really starting with with lots
(11:03):
in the ether for those of youwho love the transaction game, and I'm
guessing that most of you listening dolove the transaction game, and that's one
of the reasons that you do listento this show. Beyond the Lillard trade
saga, Harden still wants out ofPhilly. No one is lining up to
trade for Harden at this point,but it's still a significant talking point.
(11:28):
And now we have Healed future aswell, because he's going to be a
helpful addition to a contender wherever helands. The Lakers were a buddy healed
suitor for a long time before theymade a slew of other moves. The
Milwaukee's, the Phillies, other contenders, I'm sure are going to look into
(11:50):
the prospect of trying to trade forhim. Okay, we are going to
drill down on the Mavericks from here. There's some spirited let's say, Maverick's
discussion with Ben and Skin to come. That will be in the third segment,
featuring some vintage outright panic from Benbefore training camp even starts to fit
(12:16):
right into that angsty vibe so prevalentacross the league right now. First though,
my discussion with Mavericks coach Jason Kiddas the first set of three doses
of two a day practices draws near. That's next here on ninety seven one
the free This is the Saturday SteinLine Quiz Mark Stein presented by Panini Trading
(12:41):
Cards and Collectibles on your official hometo all Dallas Mavericks game The Freak.
The Saturday Stein Line Dribbles. Fourth. Now, thanks for being with us
on a pretty momentous Saturday special becausethis is the last time for a long
time we're gonna do a show withouthaving new MAVs basketball to discuss. That's
(13:07):
why we had to line up atruly marquee guest for this one, which
happens now joining us for the firsttime on the Saturday Stine Line presented by
Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles. It'sMavericks coach Jason Kidd, coach Kid.
Welcome to the show. Thank you, Steins, thank you for having me.
(13:30):
I'm excited to be on the show. Now. This is going to
be a training camp really unlike anyother that I can remember for the Mavericks,
because you've got six or seven practices, then a long stretch out of
the country, three exhibition games intwo different countries. What kind of challenges
(13:52):
does the schedule present for you andyour staff just to get ready for the
season. Yeah, I think thisis a little different. I don't think
anyone's has done this yet where youbrought up. We're going to be in
two different countries in twelve days,playing Minnesota and Abadhabi, and then in
(14:15):
Madrid playing Real Madrid, and soI think it's ex exciting. I think
it's it can be challenging but Ithink it's more of we're gonna look at
it as a great time to bondas coaches and players and enjoy the experience.
But I think also, you know, putting in the defensive schemes and
(14:37):
the offensive sets will be uh,you know, here with seven practices before
we leave on October first. SoI think it's ex exciting. Yes,
it could be challenging, but we'regonna look at it in a positive way
that will become closer faster with thisschedule. I know you went to Slovenia
(15:00):
the summer to pay Luca visit,and I know you watched him in the
World Cup, leading scorer in thetournament, got his team to the quarterfinals.
But I mean it's impossible to ignorewhat Luca himself said. Luca was
asked about his leg, which aninjury that actually surfaced in the spring,
and you know his words were quotenot okay. So as his coach,
(15:22):
what's your level of concern about whereLuca is physically after a summer with his
national team? Well, I thinkone you brought up we went to visit
when I say, well, myfamily was spent a week there in his
hometown. It was beautiful, Cityand Country. Got to see him practice
(15:43):
twice with his national team. Helooks he looked incredible. He was doing
two days. He was in greatspirits. He loves to play for his
national team. You talk about theleg injury. I think hopefully as we
go forward here, he is goingto be ready to go. I presume
(16:07):
that, you know, sometimes inour career we're not one hundred percent.
Maybe we're ninety nine or ninety fivepercent. The more games you play,
the longer your career. I thinkyou can ask anyone, no one's really
one hundred percent. But now lookingat our roster, hopefully we don't have
to play him forty, you know, plus minutes a night with the depth
(16:30):
that we have. I thought Nicodid an incredible job this summer. But
I think right now I'm excited withLuca and Kai and having you know,
Luca ready to go and achieve hisgoals, and that's, you know,
to win a championship. Mavericks coachJason Kidd here with us on ninety seven
one the Free the Saturday Skyline presentedby Pannini America. You know, some
(16:56):
of us here are old enough toremember you in your playing days. December
twenty six, nineteen ninety six.I will not forget the date the first
time you were traded when the Mavericksgot you back, that was a February
trade, So you yourself know whatit's like to be traded mid season.
For Kyrie Irving now resigned, whatdo you think it's going to be like
(17:21):
to actually have a camp with yourtwo main guys as opposed to trying to
do this thing on the fly.And you know, again you've been in
the player position, Kyrie's position,he came here last February in a trade,
and now coaching him to actually havea camp, what does that mean
for him? I think it's huge. I think, you know, sometimes
(17:42):
we would love things that just happenedright away. Unfortunately that didn't happen last
season as a team. I thinkfor those two when you talk about Luca
and Kay played at a high levelwhen you look at the stats, but
the most important stats, you know, the win loss, and we just
didn't have success. And I thinkwith this summer and training camp, to
(18:07):
be able to, you know,build that relationship, that trust and that
understanding of one another helps us.And I think again with our preseason,
our twelve day trip overseas. It'sgonna actually I think help us again become
closer. But you talk about,you know, kind and what he brings
(18:30):
to the team, his leadership,his ability to control the game, scoring,
playing off the ball, and thenalso he's played with the best players
in the world, and you knowthat starts with Lebron being able to win
a championship there and then also playingwith Kadie Westbrook Harden, you know,
Chris Paul. I think you lookat the abilities that he's had, you
(18:55):
know, to play with stars andAll Star Games or Team USA. He
blends his game is it's something thatdoesn't you know, he can play with
other stars, and so I thinkthis is going to be exciting time for
mass basketball. When maths fans hitme up, they almost always want to
(19:17):
ask about the rookies. They arejust insatiable trying to find out more about
Derek Lively, the second Olivier,Max Sens prosper from your seat having watched
them in the summer league. Now, how NBA ready are they? Well,
they're NBA ready, they got drafted. I think there's different stages of
(19:40):
NBA ready, And so when youlook at oh Max and being able to
get him again. I think thatwas a big, big part of that
success that night. And also whatd live not short staging, you know,
short changing being able to get himand one of the pieces that we
we need as a as a center. It's exciting. They've done everything we've
(20:04):
asked him to do. UH.Each week they get better and so we're
excited. I look for those UHrookies to play a lot this season.
There's going to be a part ofour fabric. There could be a chance
of one of them starting. Sowe'll see. Well, because you know,
(20:26):
the other topic that gets thrown atme constantly is the center position,
and obviously you've added Derek Lively therethrough the draft with Sean Holmes via trade
and Dwight Powell returns on. Aswe're discussing this on September twenty one,
twenty second, twenty third range,what's your approach to the center position going
(20:47):
into camp? Is the job?Is the starting job up for grabs?
How are you looking at that?It's up for grabs? You know,
just understanding that. But I willI will start Lively with the big group
and see how that goes. MaybeJosh starting with the big group. Maybe
(21:11):
oh, Max starting with the biggroup, starting both rookies out with the
big group, and that being withGrant, Kai and Luca. Just to
take a look at that to see, if you know, you asked the
question NBA ready, to see wherethey are? I think anytime you can
put rookies or your younger players withthe star players to see how they handle
(21:37):
the situation, I think you canget a grass of where they are.
Are they ready? And these lastcouple of weeks, our rookies have taken
jumps here and so as I've talkedto the coaching staff and Nico about starting
lively with with Luca and Kai andGrant, and so we'll see how that.
(22:00):
But I can say that we'll probablystart both rookies here early in camp
and probably in one or if notboth games in Abu Dhabi, just to
see how they handle the situation.Right, And then you mentioned Grant Williams.
You are huge accusation, huge acquisitionfor this team. What do you
(22:22):
what do you want from him?What's your message to Grant Williams about what
you need him to provide as aDallas Maverick now leaving Boston. Yeah,
I think again, I participated inhis first Foundation Golf event in Charlotte,
and when I talked to him thereand uh, and when I've seen him,
you know at the practice facility,is to be himself. We encourage
(22:45):
his voice. Uh, he's he'sa guy that's about winning, he's about
helping others. And then I tellhim, just be ready to make open
shots. Luca is the best atcreating open looks for his teammates, So
just be prepared that you're going tobe open and we look forward to you
(23:07):
making them. And so that's whatthat's my message to him is he's a
winner. He understands how to playthe game. He understands his role and
what he means to to the team. And so I'm excited to have him
on board because again, he's anothervoice on that floor that we need.
(23:29):
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd with us hereon ninety seven one The Freak. I
mean, this was this the longestoffseason of your life. I mean it's
like you do the math It's likethe Maths have not played a real game
since April ninth. I mean it'smore than five months. What has this
weight been like for you just toget just to get back to work with
(23:51):
this group. Yeah, I thinkthis might be the only second time in
my basketball career that I didn't participatein in a playoff as a player,
or maybe maybe two or three asa coach Milwaukee and and now this here
(24:11):
in Dallas. So it's rare.But I think I think this was actually
a positive summer in so many waysof being able to be successful in the
draft, also a free agency anduh, and give us a young,
exciting team that's athletic. And soI'm excited about this year. Yes,
(24:36):
it was a long, a longyear, but now it's here and I'm
excited to have this opportunity to putthese guys in a position to be successful.
Yeah, because I remember you said, and you're in one of your
last press confidence last season that youknow there's probably gonna be a lot of
changes, and there have been alot of changes. How do you just
(24:56):
feel about how the roster looks comeheard to where it was five six months
ago? Yeah, I'm excited aboutthe roster when you talk about you know,
being young, athletic, uh,playing faster. Things that we've talked
about this summer, what the whatthe players? I really I think when
(25:21):
you look at the depth of ourteam. We're deep. We didn't even
get to talk about xm uh JonesJunior Derek Jones Jr. We got guys
who can play different positions, andso I'm excited again for Timmy Uh looking
to talk, you know, talkto him about being six Man of the
(25:44):
Year. That would help our team. Uh, you know, put us
in a in a really good seatif he's up for six Man of the
Year. And I think he's capableof doing that. But you look at
Josh and Maxie. Again we talkedabout the center position. We have three
guys there. When you talk abouthomes DP and in the rook d Live,
(26:07):
I think again, we have alot of weapons and it should be
exciting our last few moments here withMavericks coach Jason Kidd on ninety seven one
the Freak. I guess maybe thebiggest issue you guys might face is the
West is a beast again. Itseems like several teams have gotten stronger,
(26:30):
obviously the defending champs in Denver.How much attention are you paying to what
the competition has done this summer?Yeah, I think you bring up a
very good point. The West hasgotten better but I think you know,
here early and often, we justhave to focus on ourselves and again get
(26:52):
get what you know, what wewant to do on both ends, not
just the offensive end. We feelvery talented on the offensive end the defensive
end, being able to get stopsor you know, last year we felt
we got missus. We just couldn'tfinish the play with rebounding. And so
that's something that we'll talk about alot here early in camp in preseason.
(27:15):
But again, if our health andwe're playing the way that we're capable or
know that we can, we havea chance to you know, be successful,
not just in the West, butin this league. And so I'm
really excited about this opportunity with thisteam. Two practices Wednesday, two practices
(27:36):
Thursday, than media Day Friday.I think you got another two days and
then you guys get on that flightto Abu Dhabi. I am not ready
for two days. Luckily, thoughI don't think I have to do any
running. I'm sure you're ready,and I'm sure you're you're excited to get
back out there. Yeah, we'reexcited. This is again a little different
(27:57):
with the you know, normally Idon't have two days, but just the
way the schedule is set up totry to get as much as we can
before we do take off on Octoberfirst. So the guys again, are
they know about the two days here, so everybody's excited. I will see
(28:18):
you soon after that first practice onWednesday, Coach, thanks to mil for
joining us and helping us get readyfor the season, because I know and
the listen it was a long fivemonths for the listeners. They're ready,
They're they're the most ready. Iappreciate Stansy for having me on the show.
I know the Maths fans are readyand we will be ready to there.
(28:38):
He goes Jason Kidd, the Maverickscoach. Practice now just four days
away, stick around, lots moreto come here on the Saturday Steine Line
on ninety seven one, The Freak. This is dirty whiskey and you're listening
to the Saturday Stein Line with myguys Steiny on ninety seven one The Freak.
Thanks everyone for stick with us hereon the Saturday Stein Line. I
(29:03):
think by now we've made it clearthat Wednesday will be the Mavericks first practice
of the new season, and thispast Wednesday, to celebrate the one week
away Marker, I joined Ben andSkin for some MAVs heavy discussion. They
(29:25):
are the faces of the franchise hereat ninety seven one the freak, well,
actually Mike Reiner is, but Ihave to pretend when I talk to
those guys because Ben and Skin havesuch fragile egos. Anyway, I spend
a good half hour with them theother day because on their expansive show they've
got more time to stretch their legsand really chop it up. We've got
(29:49):
to we've got to be a littlebit more economical here on the Saturday Steine
Line presented by Panini America, alittle bit more economical about how we do
things. So we're going to bringback about half of that conversation from Wednesday.
That's all the space we have forhere. But here it is the
mediat part of my visit with Benand Skin, leading off with what else
(30:14):
Ben Rogers in a full on panicbefore a single ball has been dribbled,
full on panic of course, aboutnumber seventy seven. Mark. You know,
going into this mav season, thenumber one thing on my mind is
what the same thing it is inJune March January, What is Luca Luca
(30:41):
I'm worried, Stine, I'm worriedabout Luca. Yes, we know,
we know, Ben Okay, solet's check the validity meter on my fear.
Is it? Is it valid fearright now? Or no? Is
there anything I could say that wouldmake you not worry? Yeah, because
I because you're my leader and Iand I value your opinion so much,
(31:06):
and I know you're in the nose. So if you tell me there's nothing
to work, well, look,I mean, look, hey, I
mean I'm not I can't sugarcoat this. I mean Luca himself at the Feeble
World Cup. You know, hewas the leading scorer in the tournament.
He got a shorthanded Slovenia team tothe quarterfinals, which was a fantastic effort.
But obviously the Canada game in whichhe got ejected. You know,
(31:27):
there's been a lot of criticism thrownhis way over that. But I mean
that to me is a secondary ora third dairy addition or third? Uh,
what's the word I'm looking. It'shard without an editor. I'm so
much. I'm so much. I'mso much better with a just a keyboard
than the basta. It's a third, it's a secondary or third issue.
(31:51):
Compared to Luca announcing to the assembledmedia at the Feeble World Cup, he
was asked, how is your leg? How is your health? And he
said not okay. So the extentof what is quote not okay, we
don't know that yet. Luca isyou know, camp is a week away.
(32:12):
He will be back before camp starts, and then the Mavericks get to
bring him back into the fold andyou know, get to test him,
evaluate him and see him. TheMavericks obviously, Nico Harrison did make the
trip to see a little bit ofthe World Cup. I think he saw
one game, and Jason Kidd wentto Slovenia before the World Cup started to
(32:35):
check in on Luca. But theyreally haven't had him in the building for
more than five months, so thatwill be happening soon and then we have
more data to try to allay yourtwenty four seven, three sixty five concerns.
I can't do it today. I'msorry. Well Stein, We know
that the Mavericks wanted to address theircenter position, and they did address it.
(33:00):
Whether they addressed it enough, that'scertainly a different thing. I think
most people would agree they probably haveit. But aside from the issue at
the center position. How do youfeel about the other moves and the rest
of the roster. I think theyhad a solid summer. I think there
was probably too much excitement in themoment. They did have a very good
draft night. And look, Iyou know that they went after Clint Capella.
(33:23):
They had trade talks with Atlanta andthe decision they made was Atlanta wanted
the number ten pick and Josh Greento send Clint Capella here. And I
tend to agree with the way theMavericks saw it, that was too high
a price. If you trade numberten and Josh Green, not only have
(33:46):
you surrendered Josh Green, who's youknow, a key part of what you're
trying to do, you know withoutthat number ten pick, you know,
does it all work out that,you know, you can get Lively and
Omax and do do the other stuffthat they did on draft night? I
don't think so. So I understandwhy they took that hardline there and felt
like they couldn't make that trade becausein the West is such a monster again
(34:13):
after a brief low, but Ithink if you guys look at the West
and see all the moves that somany other teams that have made and how
stacked the West could be. Yes, I think Clint Capella is a clear
upgrade on what they have at Centerright now. But how far up the
west ladder is? You know,would he have really sent the mass And
(34:34):
I think that's a fair question.It's also an unanswerable question because they didn't
make the trade. But I thinkthey are still you know, I've been
saying this on the Saturday Show forweeks. You know, they're still looking
there. You know, if Atlantawants to revisit those talks, the Mavericks
would obviously love to revisit those talks. I don't think they're done looking for
(34:58):
a Center upgrade. But trades don'thappen at this time of year, really,
you know. Obviously, Damian Lillardhas asked to be traded, James
Harden has asked to be traded.Those situations are different, but basically everybody
this is their team going. Youknow, Camp starts next week, so
you're not going to see a tradenow most likely. Okay, so we're
(35:19):
talking to the goat, Mark Stein, the best of the best. We're
a week away from camp opening.Super excited about that. So many delicious
storylines with the Mavericks. And yeah, I'm worried about Luca Levin. I'm
worried about, you know, himbeing unhappy, demanding trade, worried about
even started. I'm worried about hisinjury. I'm worried about all this.
But that said, it's worried aboutthe end. You can worry about the
(35:40):
injury. I'm not gonna you know, you know again that it's from We
don't know much, but from hisown mouth he said not, you know,
it's not okay. So you know, with with rest and treatment and
getting back here, can it getback to okay? I mean, that's
what we'll soon find out. Yeah, that's scary because look, they have
to get off to a great start, I think, because if they don't
(36:00):
get off to a good start,then you know, it starts getting really
tense about what is he going todo? Is he's going to request a
trade, how is that going togo? And so there's been so much
turnover on the roster, so manynew guys that and he's hurt, and
they're going to be playing overseas andso and he hasn't really had time to
rest, and so how important isit that they get off to a fast
(36:23):
start with all these storylines percolating,and is it a good thing or a
bad thing that they're going to beon the other side of the globe as
they get ready to start. No, I do think that is a legit
source of concern because they are goingto be gone for basically two weeks.
It's a little bit shy of twoweeks and what happened. We went into
(36:45):
this in depth on Saturday Show.The Mavericks have been promising Luca for years
that they're going to play a gameat Real Madrid. Real Madrid is the
club that Luca joined as a thirteenyear old. He made his pro debut
at sixteen. You know, obviouslyhas huge fondness for Real Madrid and playing
an exhibition game there so Luca canmake a grand return. That obviously made
(37:08):
a ton of scents. But thereality is in the NBA, you know,
Spain is not high up on thelist anymore of places that they want
to have preseason games. Abu Dhabi, that's a place that the league is
really focused on trying to grow it'sMiddle East presence. So the league basically
told the MAVs, you can goto Madrid, but you're going to have
(37:30):
to be one of our two teamsin Abu Dhabi this year, and so
that makes the trip much longer.It's a three game trip now they're going
to have. Because of the waythe league rules work, teams that start
the season, teams that have exhibitiongames abroad get to start earlier. So
Dallas and Minnesota they're the only twoteams in the league that get to start
practice a week from today. Andin the Mavericks case, I think they
(37:52):
have scheduled six or seven practices beforethey leave for abroad. So that's the
good news. But obviously, onceyou go on those trips, you know
you're making appearances, you've got todo stuff for the league. You know
you've got the game, the actualexhibition games, there's not gonna be a
ton of practice time once they're abroad. They will practice, but it's just
(38:14):
it's not the same as training camppractices in your own gym. So yeah,
I do think that it is abig ask for this team to have
to go abroad for almost two weeksnow. The way, what the Mavericks
are surely going to say is it'sbonding to you know, we've got all
these new faces. This is extrabonding time to go abroad and really get
(38:35):
to know each other with this allnew group. You know, let's see
if it works out that way.His skin was was like seventeen and eighteen
year old Ben. Was he ahuge because I thought I was a world
class warrior, but he is likehe is, he might have be beat.
I think that been. The worryingRogers has been a development in his
late twenties. I think it's moreof a later in life been. I
(39:00):
think I think he was fine untilhe discovered the Internet, and then I
think it was like, oh mygod, there's so many bad things in
the world. It's unbelievable. Ididn't know all this bad. You guys
really should be able to get somesort of there really should be some sort
of sponsor that can play into hisworrying like there it should be a segment
or a I don't know, justthinking out loud, trying to realize one
(39:22):
of my biggest fears is going toprison. I think he just knocked him
off the phone line. Here's here'swhat's crazy about that. Skin's like,
just don't do anything illegal and youwon't have to go to prison. But
dude, if you saw the fugitive. Then you saw what happened Harrison Ford,
you might get framed for something youdidn't do. Like I said,
(39:46):
I am a world class warrior,which I inherited from my father, and
I really thought like if the threeof us were hanging out that I could
out worry the both of you.But every single time we get to get
o you are jittery and pat Imean, and this is not like a
new thing. This is whatever yearI met you, guys, this is
(40:07):
about year twenty of it. You'rejust you're always worried. He just he
doesn't about the masks. You're alwaysyou're always worried about the mass He just
doesn't handle adversity well, Stein,I mean, he's he's a he's a
champion. But again, Ken Kenny, adversity happened first. I mean that
Bryan, adversity hasn't happened yet.It's his number one fear is the adversity.
(40:29):
That's true. It's true. Ido well with adversity. What's it
happens? It's crippling for me onthe way to it happening. All right,
everyone that is going to do itfor the latest edition of the Saturday
Steinline, if you want to hearthat whole convo with Bennon's Skin from Wednesday,
check it out on the benn andSkin podcast page. I will be
(40:52):
back in studio, fully present nextSaturday, back on the thin line text
line, Back, perhaps with aPanini card giveaway. If everything proceeds smoothly.
The NBA season, folks, theNBA's seventy eighth season. It really
(41:14):
does start Wednesday. You did it, You made it.
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