2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[cow]

He already is special and crazy fun to watch.  He is a basketball savant in a lot of the ways Luka is as well.  Just another one of the insanely bright young talents that the NBA will be able to build their brand on for the next two decades.

A big difference in their game is one LaMelo will never be able to close the gap on though.  LaMelo is 180 pounds...Luka is 230.  

What Luka can do in the post and in the mid range makes him the type of gravitational three level offensive talent that you don't see very often.

In 5 years a lot of Luka and LaMelo's games may be equal...but Luka will always have that size and strength that LaMelo never will.

Melo's got his own athletic gifts though that Luka will not have because of his size.  I'm not arguing for Melo over Luka, but Melo has a lot of the traits that make Luak fun to watch (3 moves ahead and an infectious joy while playing).

[dynamicalVoid]

You mean like Barea and Mejri, who were also friends with Luka? Letting 19 year olds (LaMelo) and 22 year olds manage your team is not really a smartest move, if you want to win. Does someone want to be buddy-buddy or win it all?

I dont think Bridges contract hurts that team...and they have 2 more years of it.  

I think Melo and Bridges have great chemistry.

Kinda funny that keeping a star happy only makes sense when we are talking about our team and our star player.

Does Dallas want to keep Luka happy so they can extend him and have a better chance at winning it all?  Obviously keeping a player happy is part of the equation.

At the end...was JJB producing?  Mejri?  Bobi even?  Bridges is a cheap contract and he is producing.   What doesnt make sense?

[StepBackJay]

Im not saying Bridges would take a pay cut to play with Melo...but I bet Bridges wouldnt want to play for any other PG in the league.   Melo putting alley-oop dimes on a platter for that guy.

Bridges always so pumped after those dimes too.

I dont know who is considered a better player or who has more potential between PJ and Bridges?  Is Bridges the clear cut most sensible guy to let go if Charlotte had to choose between Bridges and PJ?

Bridges has watched Luka play before right?

[StepBackJay]

If I was Bridges and I could choose I would stay put.  Already got a good thing going why mess with it

Ya'll realize Bridges doesn't have a say in the matter. He is under contract. If Hornets are like sure we'll take KP for Bridges and Rozier then that's that.

The issue would be if Hornets management doesn't want to break up that connection which would be understandable.

[StepBackJay]

Saying LaMelo is "not quite as good as Luka" is underselling it by quite a bit.

Does look like that team in Charlotte is having a lot of fun like you said though...probably a big reason why they wouldn't want KP...can't remember the last time he looked like he had fun doing anything basketball related.

KP has fun when he dunks hard. That's fun. I think he will do more in the playoffs.

[MaxiThreeba]

Melo's got his own athletic gifts though that Luka will not have because of his size.  I'm not arguing for Melo over Luka, but Melo has a lot of the traits that make Luak fun to watch (3 moves ahead and an infectious joy while playing).

I don't think LaMelo has any athletic gifts that allow him to do things that Luka can't do.  I know Luka has a physical trait that allows him to do things LaMelo can't do.

To use Mike Rhyner's phrase; "We can do what they can do...but they can't do what we can do"

Maybe I'm wrong but I don't see LaMelo as ever being on Luka's level...which is no knock on LaMelo...Luka's level is going to be pretty sparsely populated over the next decade.

[BasketballJones41]

I’m only interested in bridges if we can be sure Rick doesn’t view him as a 4. Otherwise I’d prefer to explore other options to trade KP.

[StepBackJay]

One thing that's not mentioned about the idea of trading for Rozier is that he also is a very good expiring contract to trade next year.  If you traded for Rozier/Bridges/Pick you would then have 18M in expirings to pair with the CHA pick and I believe we'd be able to trade a first of our own again (but I believe it would still be the 2027 pick).

Ya I like it from a plan powder standpoint two. Right now Mavs have KP locked up for a long time and this will be the last summer they will have cap space with Luka and KP both being on RFP maxes.

If KP goes away for players on smaller deals then carving out cap space with only RFA max Luka is feasible.

[StepBackJay]

I’m only interested in bridges if we can be sure Rick doesn’t view him as a 4. Otherwise I’d prefer to explore other options to trade KP.

My guess is Rick would try different lineups to see what combo fits the best at the PF spot. Options are playing Bridges, DFS together or benching one of them for Maxi.

[MaxiThreeba]

KP has fun when he dunks hard. That's fun. I think he will do more in the playoffs.

That's true.  Those drives through the lane that end with the one handed power flush are fun to watch and he definitely enjoys them.

Hopefully we will see more of those in the playoffs...and more of him hammering down Luka oops because he rolls hard to the rim on any one of the 798 PnR's they run a game.

[StepBackJay]

That's true.  Those drives through the lane that end with the one handed power flush are fun to watch and he definitely enjoys them.

Hopefully we will see more of those in the playoffs...and more of him hammering down Luka oops because he rolls hard to the rim on any one of the 798 PnR's they run a game.

I am 99.9% we will provided KP is healthy (obv we don't know yet). If you have watched carefully KP gets more aggressive in big matchups (as do the rest of the Mavs). I think these matchups are a preview of what we will see come playoff time. KP has been saving his body for the playoffs.

[cow]

I don't think LaMelo has any athletic gifts that allow him to do things that Luka can't do. 

Agree to disagree.  I'm not saying Melo is going to be better than Luka but he athletic traits that Luka doesn't have.

[StepBackJay]

Agree to disagree.  I'm not saying Melo is going to be better than Luka but he athletic traits that Luka doesn't have.

Not sure why we are arguing ab this bc its immaterial to any kind of KP/Charlotte related trade idea.

[MaxiThreeba]

I am 99.9% we will provided KP is healthy (obv we don't know yet). If you have watched carefully KP gets more aggressive in big matchups (as do the rest of the Mavs). I think these matchups are a preview of what we will see come playoff time. KP has been saving his body for the playoffs.

If 2020 Bubble/Playoffs KP is what we get in the playoffs then sign me up and I will stop trying to trade him to Charlotte.

Regardless of what they get out of KP down the stretch and in the playoffs...they have got to find a way to increase the talent level and take some of the load off Luka consistently and not just in the 60% of games KP plays.

[MaxiThreeba]

Not sure why we are arguing ab this bc its immaterial to any kind of KP/Charlotte related trade idea.

Just a friendly conversation about two immensely talented players that are incredibly fun to watch...and totally unrelated to the idea that Bridges somehow has a say or LaMelo is somehow the Charlotte GM now.

[dynamicalVoid]

Ya'll realize Bridges doesn't have a say in the matter. He is under contract. If Hornets are like sure we'll take KP for Bridges and Rozier then that's that.

The issue would be if Hornets management doesn't want to break up that connection which would be understandable.

I dont think anyone is suggesting that Bridges or Melo have the actual power to push the button/veto a trade...

I just dont see why Charlotte would do it.

Do they have a Center issue.  Yes.  Do they want a 30+M Unicorn Center with injury concerns while also breaking up what seems to be good chemistry amongst two of their young stars on cheap contracts?  

If Im Charlotte...PJ and Miles are off limits.  Rozier and some other guys not named Miles and PJ.   Not because I am over inflating their talent...but because who else do they have in the front court if KP gets hurt....and because of the chemistry.

Maybe Im wrong...but trading both PJ and Miles for KP would disrupt that team quite a bit right(they talk about their chemistry)?  They would then have to make another move to bring in other front court players that they would hope work out next to KP(when KP plays).  

I get that they arent contenders and you have to make moves to come up...but two cheap starters for an expensive injury prone Unicorn while also disturbing team chemistry?  Seems risky

[cow]

Not sure why we are arguing ab this bc its immaterial to any kind of KP/Charlotte related trade idea.

A conversation isn't arguing.  Sharing varying viewpoints is the best part of message boards and something I very much appreciate.

[MaxiThreeba]

Agree to disagree.  I'm not saying Melo is going to be better than Luka but he athletic traits that Luka doesn't have.

I tend to agree with you on that...I just don't think they allow him to do anything that Luka can't...though the one intrigue there for me would be if LaMelo works himself into a top notch perimeter defender (not talking about steals but on ball defense).  I don't think Luka will ever clamp PGs, though his defense when he engages is highly underrated.

LaMelo could bring that to the table.

The 25 and under talent in the league is absolutely bonkers!

[cow]

I tend to agree with you on that...I just don't think they allow him to do anything that Luka can't...though the one intrigue there for me would be if LaMelo works himself into a top notch perimeter defender (not talking about steals but on ball defense).  I don't think Luka will ever clamp PGs, though his defense when he engages is highly underrated.

LaMelo could bring that to the table.

The 25 and under talent in the league is absolutely bonkers!

That's where I'd skew.  He'd speed and quickness give him some potential on defense, but right now that's all it is, potential.  There are also some beneficial elements to that speed and quickness on the offensive end.  Luka plays at his own pace masterfully because that's what his athleticism allows him to do.  Melo just has another gear or two.

[Scott41theMavs]

I dont think anyone is suggesting that Bridges or Melo have the actual power to push the button/veto a trade...

I just dont see why Charlotte would do it.

Do they have a Center issue.  Yes.  Do they want a 30+M Unicorn Center with injury concerns while also breaking up what seems to be good chemistry amongst two of their young stars on cheap contracts?  

If Im Charlotte...PJ and Miles are off limits.  Rozier and some other guys not named Miles and PJ.   Not because I am over inflating their talent...but because who else do they have in the front court if KP gets hurt....and because of the chemistry.

Maybe Im wrong...but trading both PJ and Miles for KP would disrupt that team quite a bit right(they talk about their chemistry)?  They would then have to make another move to bring in other front court players that they would hope work out next to KP(when KP plays).  

I get that they arent contenders and you have to make moves to come up...but two cheap starters for an expensive injury prone Unicorn while also disturbing team chemistry?  Seems risky

It's interesting that to some, the proposed deal, with Miles or PJ being involved, is "selling low" on Porzingis. I think that one of those two guys, with Rozier, Graham, and 23, would be a nice haul for the Mavs, and probably better than what we sent out for him (even given that THJ was a plus for us overall, until lately). 

I wouldn't deal with Charlotte for KP without one of those two guys being included. Rozier is a good player, but overpaid. I would consider it if we got 23 and 25, and would pull the trigger for sure if we got 3 picks. Although that's a dicey deal given the Mavs' usage of picks other than Luka and Brunson.

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That's where I'd skew.  He'd speed and quickness give him some potential on defense, but right now that's all it is, potential.  There are also some beneficial elements to that speed and quickness on the offensive end.  Luka plays at his own pace masterfully because that's what his athleticism allows him to do.  Melo just has another gear or two.

I think Melo could be top 10 in the league someday. Luka is, or at least very close to, top 5 today.