Dallas, TX

3 things from the Mavericks 108-88 Summer League loss to the Memphis Grizzlies

Published

2 years ago

July 15, 2024

3 things from the Mavericks 108-88 Summer League loss to the Memphis Grizzlies

The Dallas Mavericks Summer League squad got absolutely thumped 108-88 against the Memphis Grizzlies Monday night in Las Vegas, in a game that wasn’t even as close as the score suggested.

This game was never in question, as Dallas fell behind 25-4 in the opening minutes of the first quarter and never recovered. The Mavericks had one of the sloppiest games in Summer League history with an astonishing 27 turnovers, which led to 36 points for Memphis.

The Grizzlies constant ball pressure was no match for the Mavericks overwhelmed guards, who kept coughing it up at almost every opportunity. From there the Grizzlies dominated in transition, finishing with 58 points in the paint. Memphis forward G.G. Jackson led all scorers with 23 points, while Dallas forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper led the Mavericks with 16 points.

Dallas now falls to 0-2 in Vegas, while Memphis improves to 2-0. The Mavericks have another chance.

This was an ass-kicking

I’ve watched a lot of Summer League games, and I’ve seen a lot of sloppy and disjointed basketball. It’s just the nature of throwing together a bunch of rookies, younger players, and journeymen trying to find a place in their professional careers. Even with all those qualifiers, this Mavericks loss might have been one of the ugliest Summer League performances I’ve ever seen.

I already mentioned the team started off down 25-4 in the first quarter, and it just never got any better. The Mavericks literally couldn’t dribble the ball — it was turnover after turnover after turnover. The first half felt like a Globetrotters game, with the Grizzlies skying for alley-oops almost every other possession. With about two minutes left in the third quarter the score was 80-46 and the Mavericks had 23 turnovers and only 17 made field goals.

Dallas cleaned things up a little in the fourth to make it seem respectable, and inch that made field goals number past the turnovers. But the Mavericks still finished with 27 turnovers. Memphis has one of the better Summer League rosters with NBA contributors G.G. Jackson and Scotty Pippen Jr. in their starting lineup, but this was….woof. This was difficult to watch.

More struggles for O-Max

After scoring just 11 points on 2-of-10 shooting in the Mavericks first Summer League game on Friday, Olivier Maxence-Prosper improved against the Grizzlies, but it was still a difficult game for the Mavericks first round pick from last summer.

Propser led the team with 16 points, but struggled from the floor again shooting 6-of-14. In the first half he had just two points on 1-of-6 shooting, and was struggling until garbage time in the fourth quarter, although basically 75 percent of this game was garbage time. Prosper made three straight shots in the fourth to salvage his shooting line, but he still looked a bit rough.

Thankfully for the Mavericks, his motor never shut off. Propser played hard, and he still flashes some really fun defensive potential, but his offense just isn’t suited for Summer League, where he’s being asked to take shots he just never will in an NBA setting. Prosper did rebound from three in this one, going 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Hopefully Prosper can keep improving going into the next game.

We’re all struggling

Speaking of struggles….well have you seen Mavs Moneyball lately? I kid, I kid, but if you take a gander at the home page of our website, you’ll notice the content just hasn’t been flowing like it usually is and these brutal Summer League games definitely don’t help.

It was a long season for our staff, with a frankly unexpected NBA Finals run. Most of the senior staff and editors are way too old to be blogging as a side gig or hobby (raises hand!) and I think most of us were all a little burnt out after the Finals ended since we put so much effort into doing our best to cover the playoff run. We just don’t have a lot left in the tank.

To be honest, I can’t in good conscious recommend you continue watching the Mavericks Summer League. With Dallas’ roster locked in as a contender, there just isn’t much room for any of these guys to contribute at the NBA level, and that’s even if Prosper was lighting it up. NBA contenders don’t normally need Summer League standouts to soak up minutes during the regular season, so that’s no slight to these players or the Mavericks roster construction. On the contrary: Dallas has done such a good job building its NBA roster over the last 18 months that it makes Summer League a quaint luxury.

So maybe find some time to recharge before the real games tip off again in just a few months. October is not that far away! We’ll keep writing about these games of course (unless we forget), and we’ll try to rev up the content machine in earnest before the summer ends. Sorry for the dry spell, we’ll be back at full speed soon enough. Or just keep watching these Summer League games because you’re a true sicko — no kink shaming here.

Source link

Click to comment

Dallas, TX

A look at Dallas Cowboys’ 2026 NFL draft picks after Osa Odighizuwa, Solomon Thomas trades

Published

4 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

A look at Dallas Cowboys’ 2026 NFL draft picks after Osa Odighizuwa, Solomon Thomas trades

Entering Wednesday, the Cowboys had seven selections in the upcoming draft and no Day 2 picks going into the first day of the NFL League Year.

By the end of the business day, the Cowboys gained an extra draft pick — and it will be on Day 2.

Dallas traded defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco for a third-round pick, No. 92 overall. The team also traded defensive tackle Solomon Thomas to the Tennessee Titans and swapped seventh-round selections, moving from No. 225 to No. 218.

Dallas now has eight draft picks, three in the Top 100 and two fifth-round selections that are compensatory.

The biggest thing was getting a Day 2 pick.

The Cowboys originally had picks No. 12 and No. 20 in the first round and wouldn’t pick again until No. 112 in the fourth round.

Dallas gave up Day 2 picks (second and third rounds) in trades for Quinnen Williams (New York Jets) and George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers) last year.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was determined to get back into the second or third rounds and moving Odighizuwa, a 2021 third-round selection, to the 49ers to get back into the second day of the draft has proven vital.

In recent years, the Cowboys have struggled to get good value with their second-round picks.

Taking a gamble on players coming off injury or with troubled backgrounds was something the Cowboys wanted to do in the second round.

Jones said at the NFL scouting combine that the team was no longer planning on doing that, considering the issues the defense had last season.

The third round has proved a little more successful. Cooper Beebe (2023) is a starting center and DeMarvion Overshown (2023) at linebacker is a reliable performer. Injuries, however, have slowed Overshown’s development in his brief time in the NFL.

Dallas is hopeful last year’s Day 2 picks, Donovan Ezeiruaku (second round) and Shavon Revel (third round), emerge as starters in 2026.

Revel recovered from knee surgery and played in seven games. Ezeiruaku played 17 games with nine starts at defensive end. Ezeiruaku, who underwent offseason hip surgery, will move to outside linebacker in the new 3-4 defensive scheme.

Also, the Cowboys have the ability to use one of their two first-round picks to move up in the draft or package the third-rounder acquired in the Odighizuwa trade to gain more picks.

Cowboys 2026 draft picks

Round	Overall
First round	No. 12
First round	No. 20
Third round	No. 92
Fourth round	No. 112
Fifth round	No. 152
Fifth round	No. 177*
Fifth round	No. 180*
Seventh round	No. 218
*Comp pick

Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Source link

Dallas, TX

Cowboys Team Doctor Played Role in Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Debacle

Published

16 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Cowboys Team Doctor Played Role in Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Debacle

The Dallas Cowboys were initially in the mix for Las Vegas Raiders superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby ahead of NFL free agency, and were believed to be one of the finalists in trade talks. However, he was ultimately traded to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks.

Now, the NFL world has been turned on its head with the Ravens deciding to pull out of the trade agreement with Las Vegas.

On Tuesday night, NFL insider Adam Schefter was among the experts discussing what went wrong between the Raiders and Ravens, revealing that Cowboys team physician Dr. Daniel Cooper, one of the premier knee specialists, played a role in the Ravens’ evaluation of Crosby.

Schefter discussed how Dr. Cooper was among the doctors who reviewed scans on Crosby’s knee, which ultimately spooked the Ravens and triggered the end of the deal.

Dallas Cowboys team physician Dr. Daniel Cooper on the sidelines before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

“The Baltimore Ravens essentially failed him on their physical, and my understanding is there were multiple doctors that reviewed his MRI scans,” Schefter said. “There were doctors that examined him, including Dr. Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys doctor that performed surgery on Patrick Mahomes and Malik Nabers.

“Many teams and players rely on Dr. Cooper’s expertise, and Dr. Cooper was one of the doctors who reviewed the images where the Ravens then felt compelled to back out of this trade.”

It’s hard not to connect the dots that Dr. Cooper’s involvement in the medical review of Crosby led to the team deciding against re-engaging in trade discussions. Though that could change, currently, the Cowboys are expected to move forward with Pro Bowl EDGE Rashan Gary, who the team agreed to acquire from the Green Bay Packers for a 2027 fourth-round pick on the first day of legal tampering.

It will be interesting to continue monitoring the situation and its fallout, which has left the Raiders in a terrible position.

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby on the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

But, with the Raiders now forced to re-examine the money they committed to free agents on Wednesday evening, they may have to pull out of one of their own agreements, which could open the door for the Cowboys to reopen their pursuit of a linebacker like Nakobe Dean or Quay Walker.

The 2026 NFL calendar year officially begins on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET, so get your popcorn ready, because it’s going to be a wild ride.

— Sign up for the Cowboys Daily Digest newsletter for more free coverage from Dallas Cowboys on SI —

Source link

Dallas, TX

Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Dead, Opening Perfect Cowboys Opportunity

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Dead, Opening Perfect Cowboys Opportunity

Dallas Cowboys Nation’s hopes of landing superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby were dashed last weekend when it was announced that he was being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. However, less than 24 hours before the new year, the trade has fallen apart.

On Tuesday night, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that the Ravens have backed out of the trade.

“The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby,” the statement read. “We will have no further comment at this time.”

The news sends a major ripple for the league, with the Crosby sweepstakes once again open. Before his trade to the Ravens, the Cowboys were considered one of the teams closely monitoring the situation and a team that made a legitimate offer for Crosby.

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby leaves the field following a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

At this time, there is no word on why the trade between Las Vegas and Baltimore fell through. When the trade was first reported, the Raiders were set to receive a 2026 and 2027 first-round pick from the Ravens.

Now, his future is in limbo. Before he was traded to the Ravens, it was believed that the Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Rams were the top candidates to land him. In fact, the Cowboys were “considered runner-ups” in the sweepstakes.

Dallas’ Original Trade Offer

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby reacts during the second half at SoFi Stadium. | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys initially offered the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 draft, a 2027 second-round pick, and an unnamed veteran player.

“Dallas kept a hard line throughout. The franchise wasn’t willing to part with two first-round picks, hoping its 12th pick in April’s draft, plus a future second-rounder, would be enough to entice Las Vegas. Dallas was also willing to package a veteran player to sweeten the deal, but Vegas wasn’t interested in that. The Raiders prioritized picks,” Fowler wrote.

Last season, Crosby recorded 73 total tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 20 quarterback hits, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.

We’ll have to see if Dallas ends up being his new home, now that the team has a second chance to make something special happen, but there will be some serious competition. The 2026 NFL calendar year officially begins on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET.