Okay, let me preface that I know this is a horrific hypothetical, but alas, here it goes...
The thing I keep thinking about these trades that linger in perpetuity is how much they hang in the balance based on, well, life.
Kyle Lowry signed a 90 million contract to his dream team/location. But for it to still happen, Goran Dragic has to go the Raptors. What happens if tomorrow Dragic is hit by a stray meteor and dies? I mean, it seems like all the teams' dance cards are already filled. I don't see a way to redo the deal. So is it just, "Gee, sorry, Kyle. Goran shoulda ducked."
It just seems like based on everything riding on Dragic being okay, Lowry should have hired a team of guys to follow Goran around with pillows. Am I wrong?
https://images.app.goo.gl/MSJSxCPSbzRj4rcKA
Mavs got hit by the VAJ meteor several tears ago.
(08-05-2021, 05:53 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not sure why the Mavs would be pressured to get Goran. We haven't really raised the ceiling for this team. We are a lower seed playoff team that could be a 1st or 2nd round exit. Dragic isn't going to raise that ceiling either and certainly not enough to squander the few assets we have. I'd rather dust off Zoran than give up anything for Goran.
The only leap this team can make is if a healthy KP can return to form and Kidd can figure out a way to make him and Luka work well together on the court. That's what all of our moves have pointed to, giving KP one last season to fit in Dallas.
It's not just about competing. It's about giving Luka a break. We literally have nobody on this team that can lead an offense, either when Luka is off the court, or to relive some pressure when he is on the court. Regardless of whether we are true contenders, we are going to try next year, and it will be painful to everyone involved if Luka has no playmaking help at all. It does not have to be Dragic, but its got to be somebody.
Opine away all you want about Schroder, both positively and negatively. But know that as you do, it's a waste of breath. Cuban will not give him a contract, no matter how much you like him. That door is completely closed.
And as you opine about whether that's a smart or stupid decision by Cuban, know that that reaction is also a waste of breath. The door is still closed to Schroder.
(08-05-2021, 08:52 PM)mvossman Wrote: [ -> ]It's not just about competing. It's about giving Luka a break. We literally have nobody on this team that can lead an offense, either when Luka is off the court, or to relive some pressure when he is on the court. Regardless of whether we are true contenders, we are going to try next year, and it will be painful to everyone involved if Luka has no playmaking help at all. It does not have to be Dragic, but its got to be somebody.
A secondary playmaker would be nice, I'm not arguing against it. What I will argue against is that the Mavs should feel pressured to get Goran. There are other options and sooner or later there is a good chance Goran is going to be free.
(08-05-2021, 09:28 PM)F Gump Wrote: [ -> ]Opine away all you want about Schroder, both positively and negatively. But know that as you do, it's a waste of breath. Cuban will not give him a contract, no matter how much you like him. That door is completely closed.
And as you opine about whether that's a smart or stupid decision by Cuban, know that that reaction is also a waste of breath. The door is still closed to Schroder.
Last I checked, message boards are about opining and wasting your breath. I don't feel strongly one way or another about Schroder. Much like Goran, there are other options available.
(08-05-2021, 04:53 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ]You may be right about Dragic, Killer. He may really be as good as Lowry and Conley and so forth. If that is really the case, then it seems like you should be willing for the Mavs to pay $19M for him. Maybe you are. At that level, it's surprising he hasn't drawn more interest, since his salary wouldn't be out of line.
Anyway, if you're right, a push to get him, even at a high cost, would seem to be desirable.
Even if he's more in decline than I believe, he's still a veteran PG with tons of experience. I actually think that would make a significant difference for this team. This time last year I wasn't at all interested in vets, but I'll be damned if Luka and the Mavs didn't almost beat the Clippers. I'm more inclined to believe Luka is ready to truly compete than I was a year ago. I think he's
very close, in fact.
The TEAM is not. But, I'm not expecting them to fix that overnight. I'm not normally a doom and gloom type of poster (at least I don't see myself that way) but imo, adding some playoff-tested, smart players is a clear way to make the team Dallas already has significantly better in a short amount of time. It would accelerate the education guys like Luka, DFS, Brunson, THJ are getting about what it takes to compete in the NBA on a consistent basis. I've said many, many times that I think the great players and teams have just as much of an advantage between the ears as they do athletically.
I was STOKED about the idea of Lowry for this reason, and I would've been thrilled with Chris Paul, too, had there been a chance. Conley would have been good, though I don't know if he screams "leader" to me, for whatever reason (I might be way off on that). Dragic isn't the best on that list - but, he's ON the list. Schroder isn't. Reggie Jackson isn't. There really aren't a lot of guys who could possibly step right into the role I expected Dragic to have here, imho.
I wouldn't care a bit about the price tag on this player. It's a one year deal, and it doesn't work without Powell outgoing, so what's the possible issue with that? The extra $5M this year (that saves money the next)? I actually think there's a better than average chance he
earns that money here, tbh.
I really like the Bullock and Brown deals, and I think THJ being back at a slight discount is dynamite. Like I wrote earlier, I just never dreamed the Mavs would go into next season with LESS playmaking than they had last season. Like, that wasn't a possibility that even crossed my mind.
(08-05-2021, 10:42 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]I just never dreamed the Mavs would go into next season with LESS playmaking than they had last season.
Is this in reference to the loss of JR's playmaking?
(08-05-2021, 10:50 PM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]Is this in reference to the loss of JR's playmaking?
He was one of our better ball handlers and was okay at getting looks for himself driving towards the basket.
(08-05-2021, 10:42 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]Even if he's more in decline than I believe, he's still a veteran PG with tons of experience. I actually think that would make a significant difference for this team. This time last year I wasn't at all interested in vets, but I'll be damned if Luka and the Mavs didn't almost beat the Clippers. I'm more inclined to believe Luka is close to being ready to rise to the level needed to truly compete than I thought a year ago. I think he's very close, in fact.
The TEAM is not. But, I'm not expecting them to fix that over night. I'm not normally a doom and gloom type of poster (at least I don't see myself that way) but imo, adding some playoff-tested, smart players is a clear way to make the team Dallas already has significantly better in a short amount of time. It would accelerate the education guys like Luka, DFS, Brunson, THJ are getting about what it takes to compete in the NBA on a consistent basis. I've said many, many times that I think the great players and teams have just as much of an advantage between the ears as they do athletically.
I was STOKED about the idea of Lowry for this reason, and I would've been thrilled with Chris Paul, too, had there been a chance. Conley would have been good, though I don't know if he screams "leader" to me, for whatever reason (I might be way off on that). Dragic isn't the best on that list - but, he's ON the list. Schroder isn't. Reggie Jackson isn't. There really aren't a lot of guys who could possibly step right into the role I expected Dragic to have here, imho.
I wouldn't care a bit about the price tag on this player. It's a one year deal, and it doesn't work without Powell outgoing, so what's the possible issue with that? The extra $5M this year (that saves money the next)? I actually think there's a better than average chance he earns that money here, tbh.
I really like the Bullock and Brown deals, and I think THJ being back at a slight discount is dynamite. Like I wrote earlier, I just never dreamed the Mavs would go into next season with LESS playmaking than they had last season. Like, that wasn't a possibility that even crossed my mind.
Just curious, is it less playmaking based on JR being gone? Trying to think of who else is outgoing compared to last year and I think it's JR, JJ, and Melli.
Definitely agree that we need more playmaking, just drawing a blank on why it's currently less than last season rather than the same.
Richardson's ballhandling under defensive pressure was atrocious, more so when he dribbled to the basket. It was almost always a live ball turnover.
(08-05-2021, 10:50 PM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]Is this in reference to the loss of JR's playmaking?
Yes. Meager, ineffective and frustrating as it was, he WAS the third best handler/creator on this team last year.
I get that he was a negative (nobody gets that more than me - trust me), and I am SOOOOOOO glad he's gone. Even without replacing him, that makes the team better in a few important ways.
But, what I did not hate was the IDEA of him. Someone good enough to run the offense for stretches while Luka takes a play off here and there. Someone who drives at a different speed than Luka, creating different passing angles. Someone who can provide an outlet when the other team blitzes or doubles and can easily defeat a 4 on 3. Someone who can CREATE offense, in short.
Just because Richardson was a failure in these areas (and defense, ironically) doesn't mean they aren't areas of need.
Luka is going to be run into the ground even MORE this season, because frustrating as it was, they kept
trying to get Richardson's on-ball game going all season, pretty much right up to the playoffs. Was it successful? No. Did Luka get some breaks, and some opportunity to take advantage of his off-ball skills? Yes!
Options are getting pretty thin. I didn't realize Lou Williams re-upped with Atlanta. It will be hard to get Reggie away from the Clippers. Schroder is more than likely a no-go. I'd say expand Jalen's role but his growth in minutes lead more to his own scoring than assists (maybe our improved depth for the second unit will help that).
Why not try to trade for Ricky Rubio? He facilitates, can defend, can score a little. He played great for the Spain National team as their number one player. He can play with Brunson as the scoring guard.
(08-05-2021, 11:12 PM)RedFlag41 Wrote: [ -> ]Why not try to trade for Ricky Rubio? He facilitates, can defend, can score a little. He played great for the Spain National team as their number one player. He can play with Brunson as the scoring guard.
I would absolutely adore that.
I have been prepared for that since last summer.
Cavs just traded for him and are PG needy.
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