2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[Jason Terry]

Really intriguing option. On paper players that work next to LeBron should be just as good next to Luka.  Just really difficult to come up with a number for his next contract. MLE, rE, BAE?

I’m going with MLE. Caruso is a winning player you can play in the playoffs. I don’t think you can go wrong paying any winning player $10 million per year

[omahen]

Really intriguing option. On paper players that work next to LeBron should be just as good next to Luka.  Just really difficult to come up with a number for his next contract. MLE, rE, BAE?

Caruso is a nice player, but as Dan said - he doesn't really solve the problems Mavs have. Mavs need a legit starter level talent. Once we solve that, I start discussing Caruso types with whatever cap or exception money is left  

Lowry next to Luka is fine, but next to Brunson?

I would think Lowry is strong enough to handle SG just fine. Of course you do this move only if you think you are close to contention. I totally agree with you that a legit SG and decent big while keeping the players under contract could really transform this team. And I agree this team has leadership issues others pointed out (I just don't blame players for that). 

One thing I wonder - is Townsend speculation about needing vet help coming from him or is that MBT way of preparing fanbase for summer results  

My perfect summer would still include trading Powell. That 10 mil could make a big difference. Example - Orlando might be totally willing for a OPJ SnT for Powell and draft compensation. Lowry+OPJ+rotation big (Olynik or Theis)+miniMLE (here we start discussing Carusos of the world  )+BaU could make this team look very differently. Of course I would be happier with Ball instead of Lowry, but we know all the risks regarding that.

Doncic, Brunson
Lowry, Green
OPJ, DFS
Olynik, Maxi
KP, BaU center

Throw in miniMLE wherever you think is the biggest weakness.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I would think Lowry is strong enough to handle SG just fine.  

One thing I wonder - is Townsend speculation about needing vet help coming from him or is that MBT way of preparing fanbase for summer results  

It worked in Toronto, but FVV is a stronger defender than Brunson.  Yes on the latter point, but Lowry is a name that I suspect casual fans will be pleased with.  So, I'm not sure how much preparing needs to happen.



My perfect summer would still include trading Powell. That 10 mil could make a big difference. Example - Orlando might be totally willing for a OPJ SnT for Powell and draft compensation. Lowry+OPJ+rotation big (Olynik or Theis) 

Doncic, Brunson
Lowry, Green
OPJ, DFS
Olynik, Maxi
KP, BaU center

My interest in putting money in a non-guaranteed 3rd year for Lowry is to get a better guy in the Olynyk/Theis role you envision.  I'd move Burke instead of Powell and see if I can get Holmes in the $15mm/$16mm range.  Lowry/Holmes would be a great off-season.  I think DFS is likely to be starter, especially if you can upgrade two other starting spots.  I was a big advocate of OPJ a few years ago, but he's entering Dipo territory for me.  I think there are some Caruso-like names out there for rMLE money who could backup DFS while we wait for Green/Bey to grow up a little

Doncic, Brunson
Lowry, Green
DFS/rMLE
KP/Maxi
Holmes/Powell
 

[omahen]

Another underestimated thing about guy like Lowry is also the ability to recruit or attract vet players. Phoenix got Crowder for MLE (I don't think they would ever get him without CP3), Galloway and Moore are both excellent vet min options. 

Looking just at big rotation - if you have Holmes/KP/Maxi rotation I think Powell at 10 is redundant. WCS at 4 mil would have same impact. Or BaE player - Bradley, Hernangomez, Hartenstein, Giles or Dieng would all be interesting back up options. So I am still for trading him. Would Sacramento accept Powell+Burke and FRP for Holmes SnT? Than use remaining cap space (around 10 mil) for bench shooter like McDermott or even THJ.

[ItsGoTime]

Caruso is a nice player, but as Dan said - he doesn't really solve the problems Mavs have. Mavs need a legit starter level talent. Once we solve that, I start discussing Caruso types with whatever cap or exception money is left  

Exactly!

[ItsGoTime]

My interest in putting money in a non-guaranteed 3rd year for Lowry is to get a better guy in the Olynyk/Theis role you envision.  I'd move Burke instead of Powell and see if I can get Holmes in the $15mm/$16mm range.  Lowry/Holmes would be a great off-season.  I think DFS is likely to be starter, especially if you can upgrade two other starting spots.  I was a big advocate of OPJ a few years ago, but he's entering Dipo territory for me.  I think there are some Caruso-like names out there for rMLE money who could backup DFS while we wait for Green/Bey to grow up a little

Man, I gotta say, I think DFS is a bench player. Most nights he's 1 dimensional with the occasional good shooting night where he ups his season 3%. If he starts cutting to the basket more like I've seen the last couple games that might redeem him a bit, but I really dislike his almost inability to put the ball on the floor on top of the up and down 3 shooting.

I much prefer Theis to Olynik (I see Theis as a much more mobile defender than Olynik, which I believe is much more needed next to KP), but I think OPJ is the clear starter we should want since he'll be at a price we can get him at.

Would love to find a way to get both OPJ and Holmes on top of Lowry. 

Would Lowry accept an $18M for 3 year offer? Would we want to do that to save some money? I like the idea of the not fully guaranteed 3rd year. I also wonder if Tor would accept a Powell, Burke and picks trade to facilitate a Lowry SnT (is something like that possible where salaries would be uneven?). Let Powell finish out his career in his native country?

[dirkfansince1998]

Caruso is a nice player, but as Dan said - he doesn't really solve the problems Mavs have. Mavs need a legit starter level talent. Once we solve that, I start discussing Caruso types with whatever cap or exception money is left

Don´t think any player in the Caruso salary range solves any of the Mavs problems and the we need to focus on starters/stars approach is one of the reasons why the Mavs tend to screw up free agency. If Dallas thinks that a guy like Caruso is a good fit next to Luka and a talent upgrade over one of the current rotation players they should go for it.
Obviously need to think about positional need. If they add a vet guard like Lowry or go all in on a younger guy like Lonzo they should use the excpetion/s on a big or wing.

[KillerLeft]

Man, I gotta say, I think DFS is a bench player

[ClutchDirk]

I’m going with MLE. Caruso is a winning player you can play in the playoffs. I don’t think you can go wrong paying any winning player $10 million per year

https://media.giphy.com/media/3xIxeP2udF.../giphy.gif

[ItsGoTime]

Let me clarify, he's probably best used as a starter, but a starter for a better team than what we have. Lakers/Nets/GS (with Klay), teams that can fully hide him on O and utilize him on the D end. Like I said, he's so inconsistent at 3's and has very little else in his offensive game to be of much use on that side. One way players (like him) mostly should be used as change of pace guys off the bench to break up what is happening at that time on the court.

[ItsGoTime]

BTW, slightly younger Dirk would have been a great mentor for Luka, if only he was a tad bit older and came out in a draft where we got him...Oh well.

[Kammrath]

good stuff happens when Caruso is in the game.

Caruso is a straight up winner...he is an asset to ANY team and would fit great in DAL.

[cow]

THT had a pretty rough game last night. He showed some flashed but I wouldn't write him off for having a hard time handling Luka. Luka eats guys like Paul George for break fest, so he's naturally going to feast on a puppy. I think more concerning was when JRich was able to take away his driving ability. He ended up hitting a crazy, Dirk-like shot, but JRich denied his path to the rim two or three times on that possession. I still love the ease at which he handles the ball and the vision he shows. It's too bad AD is back as his minutes tanked

I'm still fully on board for investing on his upside which is massive. I think his floor is somewhat safe but to get him here, it would be a pretty hefty overpay if he doesn't continue to develop.

I thought Kuzma (even with foul trouble) and KCP were excellent against us.

[StepBackJay]

Caruso is a straight up winner...he is an asset to ANY team and would fit great in DAL.

He is good. I imagine Lakers will hang onto him though.

[DanSchwartzgan]

THT had a pretty rough game last night.  He showed some flashed but I wouldn't write him off for having a hard time handling Luka.  Luka eats guys like Paul George for break fest, so he's naturally going to feast on a puppy.  I think more concerning was when JRich was able to take away his driving ability.  He ended up hitting a crazy, Dirk-like shot, but JRich denied his path to the rim two or three times on that possession.  I still love the ease at which he handles the ball and the vision he shows.  It's too bad AD is back as his minutes tanked

I'm still fully on board for investing on his upside which is massive.  I think his floor is somewhat safe but to get him here, it would be a pretty hefty overpay if he doesn't continue to develop. 

The quote below is from Mike Schmidt.  He and Kevin Pelton did a piece for ESPN rating the Sophomore class.  THT was rated 10th in the class by Pelton and Schmidt has him 8th.  I thought the last sentence of Schmidt's statement below was the most interesting:


"Horton-Tucker is one of the most fascinating young players in the NBA to me, and I ranked him ahead of both Dort and Thybulle because I think he has a chance to be more than just a role player someday due to his unique tools and ability to create offense out of both pick- and-roll and isolation. 

I loved Horton-Tucker's talent when I first evaluated him in July 2018 at a USA Basketball camp that also featured names like Cole Anthony, Tyrese Maxey, Coby White, Kevin Porter Jr., Jaden McDaniels and Kira Lewis Jr. Horton-Tucker was one of the best players there, handling the ball like a point guard, creating for others, knocking down step-backs, putting pressure on the rim and even defending with energy more than we've seen in the NBA and college.


Horton-Tucker's confidence -- along with his skill set -- can be his superpower if channeled correctly, and I'd be interested to see what type of numbers he'd be putting up if he was getting consistent volume on a developing team like OKC.

I rounded out my top 10 with defensive stalwarts Dort and Thybulle." 


https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_...-potential

[cow]

The quote below is from Mike Schmidt.  He and Kevin Pelton did a piece for ESPN rating the Sophomore class.  THT was rated 10th in the class by Pelton and Schmidt has him 8th.  I thought the last sentence of Schmidt's statement below was the most interesting:


"Horton-Tucker is one of the most fascinating young players in the NBA to me, and I ranked him ahead of both Dort and Thybulle because I think he has a chance to be more than just a role player someday due to his unique tools and ability to create offense out of both pick- and-roll and isolation. 

I loved Horton-Tucker's talent when I first evaluated him in July 2018 at a USA Basketball camp that also featured names like Cole Anthony, Tyrese Maxey, Coby White, Kevin Porter Jr., Jaden McDaniels and Kira Lewis Jr. Horton-Tucker was one of the best players there, handling the ball like a point guard, creating for others, knocking down step-backs, putting pressure on the rim and even defending with energy more than we've seen in the NBA and college.


Horton-Tucker's confidence -- along with his skill set -- can be his superpower if channeled correctly, and I'd be interested to see what type of numbers he'd be putting up if he was getting consistent volume on a developing team like OKC.

I rounded out my top 10 with defensive stalwarts Dort and Thybulle." 


https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_...-potential

I'm glad other people are seeing what my lying eyes are seeing.  I seriously doubt the MBT have interest in THT, but I think he's going to develop into starting talent that can be a "fit" on any team and especially beneficial to our Super Duper Star (the Pippen to our Jordan).  If OKC shows interest in him this offseason it will cement my feelings that he's truly something special and the MBT should run, not walk, to get a deal done.

[StepBackJay]

I would like to be the first to thank THJ for his time of service and wish him well in his future endeavors.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I would like to be the first to thank THJ for his time of service and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Is he going somewhere?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Some of you are clamoring for OPJ. He hasn't been good since he signed that albatross contract. Stays hurt a lot as well. I think he has one foot out the NBA door. My opinion though.

[StepBackJay]

Is he going somewhere?

Somewhere that isn't Dallas and I wish him well.