(Yesterday, 06:55 PM)Smitty Wrote: Green is one of my favorite Mavs players. Can reach DFS status even. I can’t understand why Mavs fans dislike him. He’s DFS lite and just turned 23. DFS was 23 his first season as a Mav. Anyway, talking about trading anyone in the 8-man rotation while we’re in the Finals just feels wrong to me is all.
I agree that your team being in the NBA finals is a strange time to discuss the off season, but learned long ago that I'm in the minority of fans for whom player movement isn't the most interesting part of the sport. This place doesn't stop dreaming of trades or wondering how to improve the roster. It is what it is.
As for Green, I like him, too, but it's more and more frustrating to me that he can't seem to find a toehold on the team. On one hand, he has emerged from the swamp of THJ/Exum as the most useful backup wing on the team this season, but on the other, I'm not seeing a clear, difference making role for him, and while yes, he's 23, he has been here a WHILE. It's just tiring.
I like his shooting, but he goes through stretches where he won't shoot. I like his playmaking, but he goes through stretches when he plays totally out of control (I actually think we're watching Hardy pass him in that category in these playoffs, right before our eyes, with much less experience). I like his hustle and energy, and at times, his defense, but the impact of all of that seems to come and go, from my perspective, and we're going on months of a sample size of DJJ being far, far superior as a defender you can depend on.
I have no burning desire to give up on Green yet, and I'm not super annoyed by his extension price yet, either. But, the tax ramifications are what they are, and something is gonna have to give in the near future. Just like I said on "Gafford Day" last week, I expect THJ to be the thing that gives, but if they want to re-sign DJJ AND add another piece, the idea of using Green (or Gafford) as a means of doing that kind of must be at least considered, right? Gotta give something up to get something, after all, and to me it doesn't even feel like Green is playing that many minutes in this postseason, despite being the only bench wing getting consistent burn. That tells me quite a bit about what Jason Kidd thinks of him. He's also one of only three remaining rotation players, along with Luka and Kleber, who were not brought in by Harrison's team. I would put him squarely in 3rd on that list in terms of impact, personally, though it's reasonable if some disagree. I know Kleber's availability is a huge concern for some and that's a legitimate point.
For the record, and this isn't even contingent on anything that happens during this next series, my goal would be to do juuuuuuust enough (dumping Hardaway, probably) to re-sign DJJ (whom I officially do not believe is this year's Al Farouq Amino, but actually an integral piece of this team) and RUN IT BACK. I think the improvement for next season comes from Washington, DJJ, Lively, Gafford, Hardy, O-Max and YES - even Green, who is still only 23. All I'm saying is that if you back me into a corner and tell me they can't get the DJJ thing done by using Hardaway, alone, logic dictates that Gafford or Green are next on that list possibilities, because they're the least essential of anyone making real money. Between those two, I'm more sold on keeping Gafford than Green. But man, I hope they don't have to move either of them - just cannot, ABSOLUTELY CANNOT let DJJ get away.