(12-15-2020, 05:30 PM)Hypermav Wrote: Save me a seat.

(12-15-2020, 05:41 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: He said it recently in an interview he did while at camp.

(12-15-2020, 05:51 PM)Kammrath Wrote: Can you please point me to that interview? Because I have listened to them all and do not remember that.

(12-15-2020, 05:57 PM)Branduil Wrote: Right now the Mavs have 6 guys they want to start in Luka/KP/JRich/THJ/Powell/DFS. To me it would make a lot of sense if we could somehow consolidate THJ and DFS into one player. I wonder if the Bulls would be interested in a THJ+DFS swap for OPJ by the trade deadline.

(12-15-2020, 06:12 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I really think either Jerami Grant or Christian Wood is going to wind up being the closest thing to an opportunity missed as the Mavs traversed this plan. I'm just not sure which. I feel like one of them is going to keep ascending.

(12-15-2020, 06:16 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: I wonder if Grant will be available down the line.

(12-15-2020, 06:20 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Maybe, but my guess is that if he is, then we probably won't want him. If he takes the next step, that contract will be a bargain and they'll want to dump Griffin. If he doesn't, then it's another pricey deal people won't want to touch.

(12-15-2020, 06:07 PM)KillerLeft Wrote:

(12-15-2020, 05:57 PM)Branduil Wrote: Right now the Mavs have 6 guys they want to start in Luka/KP/JRich/THJ/Powell/DFS. To me it would make a lot of sense if we could somehow consolidate THJ and DFS into one player. I wonder if the Bulls would be interested in a THJ+DFS swap for OPJ by the trade deadline.

Love the OPJ idea, but not if it's to play the 3.

Loads of people will disagree, but to me, that guy is a 4. I would straight up rather just bet on DFS to take another step if we're thinking of OPJ as a 3.

Now, I have altered my thinking today, in part because of how Richardson has looked, and in part because of the prize coming off the board. I said during the off-season that I wouldn't be in favor of THJ for OPJ under any circumstances. With Richardson here, and my willingness to bet on DFS moving forward, I would now be in favor of consolidating THJ/Powell into OPJ.

I like Luka/Richardson/DFS/OPJ/KP a lot, and there are others I'd look into for that spot, too.

I'm ok if the move ends up being THJ/DFS for a 3, too (I think Kleber can be a long term starter here at the 4), but I don't think OPJ is that guy. Just my opinion.

(12-15-2020, 06:07 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Love the OPJ idea, but not if it's to play the 3. 

Loads of people will disagree, but to me, that guy is a 4. I would straight up rather just bet on DFS to take another step if we're thinking of OPJ as a 3. 

Now, I have altered my thinking today, in part because of how Richardson has looked, and in part because of the prize coming off the board. I said during the off-season that I wouldn't be in favor of THJ for OPJ under any circumstances. With Richardson here, and my willingness to bet on DFS moving forward, I would now be in favor of consolidating THJ/Powell into OPJ. 

I like Luka/Richardson/DFS/OPJ/KP a lot, and there are others I'd look into for that spot, too. 

I'm ok if the move ends up being THJ/DFS for a 3, too (I think Kleber can be a long term starter here at the 4), but I don't think OPJ is that guy. Just my opinion.

(12-15-2020, 06:40 PM)Branduil Wrote: Is there a reason you think he's better off as a 4 than a 3?

(12-15-2020, 06:57 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: So, you know how Kamm is hellbent on maximizing size at every position? I am the same way, only about foot speed, agility and skills. 

I don't want to put words in his mouth, but I've learned over the years that he believes you start your search at each position with the ideal body style, height and wingspan and then narrow the list according to skill-set and fit. If two ideally sized players are available, he'd want the more skilled one. He's no dummy. 

I'm the opposite. I figure out which guys I think can DO what I want them to be able to do at each position, and then I narrow the list (or ranking) down based on ideal size and length. If two adequately skilled players are available, I want the bigger, longer, stronger one. But, it starts with skillset for me. 

Neither angle is right/wrong, imo, and usually, the VERY top guys will be the same at the end of either process. 

I would just rather err on the side of having a guy who's really fast, quick and smart. What I want to avoid at pretty much any cost is trying to make a guy who's too slow or not skilled enough work out of position. Examples: Harrison Barnes is a 4, not a 3. You can say he's not a good 4, and that's fine, but playing him at the 3 doesn't solve the problem. If he's not good enough for you at the 4 because of his size, then he's simply not good enough, period.

I'm not an OPJ expert, but I think if the Mavs are going to make a move for a true SF, then he needs to be able to handle the ball, and his foot speed needs to give them an athletic advantage at that position, not ONLY his size and length. The game is about covering ground quickly, nowadays. Does OPJ have an athletic advantage or a skills advantage over Paul George? I would say no, so why bother? Just keep developing DFS and hope for the best.

I COULD see OPJ making Kawhi Leonard or Lebron have to RUN in transition to keep up...idk, I just think he has what it would take to play the 4 against any team in crunch time, the small ones and the big ones. And, I think he could hold his own there most nights. 

I think OPJ could play SOME 3, I just don't see that as being a good plan for the default crunch time lineup.

(12-15-2020, 05:57 PM)Branduil Wrote: Right now the Mavs have 6 guys they want to start in Luka/KP/JRich/THJ/Powell/DFS. To me it would make a lot of sense if we could somehow consolidate THJ and DFS into one player. I wonder if the Bulls would be interested in a THJ+DFS swap for OPJ by the trade deadline.

(12-15-2020, 07:19 PM)cow Wrote: Gross.  DFS is on a cheap contract.  Don't give that up for an expiring.

(12-15-2020, 07:09 PM)aguiar95 Wrote: I'm just so in love with our roster I'd have a hard time including anyone but THJ/Johnson in the deal (I don't think we should spend major assets to dump Powell as well) . THJ + Johnson + 2 2nd rounders for OPJ + Felicio (CHI would probably be on tank mode) seems fair.

(12-15-2020, 07:19 PM)cow Wrote: You probably can't get off of Powell's contract.

(12-15-2020, 07:34 PM)omahen Wrote: Why would you say that? He will have just 2 years left after this season and he is starting on a playoff western team. Is that really a useless player? I am not saying his contract is positive, but it certainly looks much better than it did a couple of months ago. High culture, great locker room guy with elite skill... I don't see much problem including his contract in a deal. And he is certainly a player we have many options to replace in the starting line-up

(12-15-2020, 07:38 PM)cow Wrote: He's pretty expensive and that recent injury is going to give anyone pause.  A lot of the value he brings to the Mavs isn't an easy sell to other teams.  I think the soonest you could move him is the TDL in 21/22.