2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[IamDougieFresh]

I know of a player who checks a lot of boxes for us, is worth a max contract, has a player option, and who's team will once again fail in the playoffs.

[Branduil]

I know of a player who checks a lot of boxes for us, is worth a max contract, has a player option, and who's team will once again fail in the playoffs.

Jrue? I feel like the ship has sailed there.

[IamDougieFresh]

Jrue? I feel like the ship has sailed there.

His ship is sailing to Dallas 

[Branduil]

His ship is sailing to Dallas 

IMO the only chance is if Milwaukee flames out in the first round. But if Jrue is as good as we think that won't happen.

[omahen]

trading to essentially move an already-traded pick is something that might be new (don't recall ever seeing it),

Milwaukee just did it in the Tucker trade, for example

[F Gump]

Milwaukee just did it in the Tucker trade, for example

Thanks for the info. I had not noticed that, but they sure did.

[Hypermav]

https://nypost.com/2021/04/03/julius-ran...cks-alone/

"Other than Toppin’s outburst and Porzingis’ so-so performance, the only other bright element was the notion Brunson will be a free agent in 2022. By then, his father might be on the Knicks bench with Thibodeau like he was in Chicago and Minnesota.
Did someone say trade? Knicks president Leon Rose is Jalen Brunson’s former agent (his father was Rose’s first client).
Brunson, who was a game-high plus-34 in 25 minutes, put up 15 points with five assists and seven rebounds, shooting 6-for-9. Brunson’s late fake-out of Immanuel Quickley for an easy layup showed his smarts more than his athleticism.
The only time Thibodeau could smile after the game was talking about Brunson.
“I am fond of Rick Brunson — his son is a terrific player and having a helluva year,’’ Thibodeau said. “I’m happy for him, watched him grow up. I remember him from the time he was coming to the Garden to watch Allan Houston and [Latrell] Sprewell play. He was 6 years old and mimicked their moves. He’s become a darn good player and become a great kid too.’’
On a terrible night, at least we can dream."

You can have him for our picks back this summer.  Maybe...

[ClutchDirk]

https://stathead.com/tiny/KK7bt

[StepBackJay]

Kemba is just too much of a liability on defense now + age, injury history. I am sure the Celtics will try to unload him for something.

[mvossman]

The way I see it, Markkanen is already better and a more valuable asset than JRich or THJ. Then you add in the fact that he’s much younger and and still has quite a bit of upside that I believe he would reach in our system. Getting getting into specifics, I’ll try my best to explain my reasoning but I’m really bad at this format so sorry in advance:

Offense: I think the potential two-man game between Luka/Lauri would be everything that we hoped we were getting with Luka/KP. He sets excellent screens and rolls hard to the basket. He can also pull up from anywhere on the floor. I also believe that he could play off of Luka and KP because he moves really well without the ball and he would give them all kinds of space. I think about the debates that we had last year over who should be starting between Maxi and DP. DP was a great screen and roll man but he provided no spacing. Maxi gave you the spacing but he didn’t consistently set quality screens and roll to the basket. Markkanen gives you both of their skill sets all rolled into one on steroids. Plus I love the idea of Luka having 2 7 ft snipers out there creating room for him.

Defense: I actually think he has a lot of untapped potential here. When I watch him play he seems to move his feet really well. And he’s got the quickness to stay in front of smaller players. that was actually even in one of his scouting reports coming out of college. Basically I think he could do a lot of what Maxi does minus the shot blocking. I also think that he would improve our rebounding. His second year in the league he grabbed 25% of available defensive rebounds. I see no reason why he can’t do that here. 

What I can’t wrap my head around is why anybody has watched the season up to this point and is still interested in running it back with Jrich. I’ve seen enough to know that I don’t want that dude back at all. So if the price of playing the restricted free agent game is losing him then I think it’s a risk worth taking. 

I’d rather work on ways to sign Markkanen and keep Hardaway.

I am of the opinion that in order to be a true contender we need to have a top 10 defense.  If we are building around Luka and KP, that means at least one quality perimeter defender and most importantly a really good defensive 4.  This is why I have generally been out on guys like Collins/Markkanen as I don't think either paired with KP makes a good enough defensive frontcourt to truly complete.

To my mind, if there is something we really need offensively, its somebody to take some of the pressure off of Luka.  Preferably a two way player than can play make and create a little for themselves.  That is the missing piece to make this team a contender.  Spending all of our assets/cap space on a player that does not meet this need is a misallocation of resources.

As for JRich, he has been disappointing.  I think some of it is luck (shooting) and some of it is due to the Covid mess.  We have the rest of the season (and hopefully some playoffs) to get a more complete assessment.  I'm anticipating that he will regress to his average as the year goes on, and he has already shown on occasion that he can bring a defensive intensity we will desperately need come playoff time.

[Kammrath]

https://stathead.com/tiny/KK7bt

It's not even close. And I hate to do "I told you so" but I was telling this board that Kemba was a HORRIBLE idea for months. 

If the Mavs really thought he was a good plan and weren't just allowing his agent to use them for leverage (as my theory was), THEN the MBT has some serious issues IMO. Prioritizing Kemba was always a massive mistake if it was real.

[SleepingHero]

It's not even close. And I hate to do "I told you so" but I was telling this board that Kemba was a HORRIBLE idea for months. 

If the Mavs really thought he was a good plan and weren't just allowing his agent to use them for leverage (as my theory was), THEN the MBT has some serious issues IMO. Prioritizing Kemba was always a massive mistake if it was real.

I mean Kemba is injured right now, you know that right? Last year, Kemba wiped the floor in almost every statistical category next to Brunson. 

I don't see why we have to tear another player down to prop another one up. Brunson is having a great year. Our clear cut 3rd best player. He won us that NYK game last night. We don't really need to compare him to an injured Kemba to say "Look how great Brunson is" 

But a healthy Kemba in his role would still probably be the better option today and that isn't a knock on Brunson. In 2 years that statement will likely not be true.

[Kammrath]

I mean Kemba is injured right now, you know that right?

I stated the summer of Kemba's free agency that he was going to be an injury liability for the rest of his career, over and over, and that he was going to decline rapidly once he hit 30 and 22,000+ mins for his career.

[Kammrath]

I don't see why we have to tear another player down to prop another one up.

I am not tearing down Kemba, his own play and health has torn him down. I am just trying to put the truth in its context.

Also, it was frustrating to be constantly berated as being an idiot for not wanting the Mavs to chase Kemba.

[SleepingHero]

I stated the summer of Kemba's free agency that he was going to be an injury liability for the rest of his career, over and over, and that he was going to decline rapidly once he hit 30 and 22,000+ mins for his career.

That's a fair point. Small athletic guards usually hit a wall in their early thirties. I do remember vividly you saying that so kudos. 

Perhaps Kemba is an injury liability for the rest of his career, but there is a chance he isn't. And right now today Kemba is the better player uninjured. But that doesn't have to be a knock against Brunson because Kemba is an all-star in his 10th season. Maybe Brunson will get there eventually. 

But I will say if I have to choose a player today for the next 3 years my answer is Brunson.

[StepBackJay]

I am not sold on J Rich. He just looks like JAG out there. Are we sure Mavs shouldn't start Brunson? I wonder ab a Luka/Brunson/DFS/Maxi/KP lineup.

Also is Brunson our third core young piece that's been overlooked? I know he is seen as more of a scorer but at 25 mpg he still gets out 3 apg. CJ and Dame have been able to co-exist for many years.

[SleepingHero]

I am not sold on J Rich. He just looks like JAG out there. Are we sure Mavs shouldn't start Brunson? I wonder ab a Luka/Brunson/DFS/Maxi/KP lineup.

Also is Brunson our third core young piece that's been overlooked? I know he is seen as more of a scorer but at 25 mpg he still gets out 3 apg. CJ and Dame have been able to co-exist for many years.

I'm kinda getting there on JRich. At times he looks like JAG, but others he actually puts the ball down and makes a play.

He isn't a prolific scorer, but he's shooting nearly 54% on 2 pointers. He had some great drives in that NYK game last night. Plus his defense is needed. 

I don't think he's playing himself into a big contract (which is fine by me), but I also don't think he's unvaluable.

[StepBackJay]

There is actually a lot of symmetry between the Blazers and Mavs when you look at the two teams. Stotts has been there a long time, former Rick assistant.

Roster:

• Damien / Luka - comparable MVP guards with ice in their veins.
  
• McCollum / Brunson could slide into that second scorer creator role. Already is doing that in the 4th quarter many nights and allowing Luka to do more off-ball movement.
  
• Powell / THJ - Powell is a better scorer but also has been inconsistent. I like the Mavs going with defense in Maxi and bringing THJ of the bench
  
• RoCo / DFS - Similar roles, RoCo does it better and is shooting better but DFS does a lot of good things for the Mavs. I think DFS is an important glue guy.
  
• Nurkic / KP - Games are a little bit different. Both guys are injury prone. I think KP is a much better all-around player.
  

Brunson is having an amazing year and making a case to be more involved. With more minutes he could at least be a 15/4 guy, maybe up to 18/4 or somewhere in between at pretty decent efficiency.

[StepBackJay]

I'm kinda getting there on JRich. At times he looks like JAG, but others he actually puts the ball down and makes a play.

He isn't a prolific scorer, but he's shooting nearly 54% on 2 pointers. He had some great drives in that NYK game last night. Plus his defense is needed. 

I don't think he's playing himself into a big contract (which is fine by me), but I also don't think he's unvaluable.

I want to see what he looks like in the playoffs but I think we can get a cheaper version of J Rich that is a bench guy and start Brunson. We also have Green who is being developed into a J Rich type role so I would hope he could get it together eventually.

I am still all about John Collins from talent upgrade / asset management standpoint if you can get him without giving up Brunson. I don't think I would part with Brunson at this point, he is too valuable. I'd rather just bring back THJ as my 6th guy and try to improve the bench with a couple of pieces.

[StepBackJay]

For example how much of a drop-off from J Rich to an Avery Bradley type that can be had as a bench piece pretty cheaply to chase around opposing point guards?