(12-21-2021, 12:44 PM)omahen Wrote: First two mean they have to improve the team. If they are bad at adding talent, rebuild won't solve anything at all. It will just lead to bad years sooner. The solution is they have to get better at adding talent, not rebuild.
I agree with this. Don't think rebuilding when you have a transcendent talent is smart. Luka is not going to want to take a step back. Who knows what he will be in 3 years. I am not sure if Luka will ever exert the power he has, but it wouldn't surprise me as he gets older if he does. Lebron has done it since his early Cleveland years. You remember when Lebron freaked out because Miami didn't resign a few bench players due to tax considerations? I wonder if Luka and his camp does the same thing and make it known that they don't want us to lose any player due to tax reasons. Maybe him and his team also make it known that they expect to play for a championship every year and don't want to take a 2-3 break from competing. And that as long as he is here, he wants a team who shows the same commitment.
So, first matter of business is to get your player investments from this offseason playing to the expectation you envisioned. This is mainly Hardaway and Bullock. Sterling Brown was a small signing and I am hopeful our young guys win his minutes. But getting the 20/21 Hardaway back and the solid 3 and D Bullock needs to be a priority. Mavs need to make both attractive assets...for both here and for any potential trades in the future.
Second, Dallas needs to speed up the developmental process with their youngsters. I am a proponent of having guys earn minutes, but I think giving extended runs to our young guys is not going to kill us. If you get to the point where you decide a young player is not in your future, then move on. It is better to move early before the rest of the league finds out.
Third, Dallas needs to get better improving around the edges. When you have a transcendent player this is possible to get better on the edges. For instance, look at Milwaukee. Brook Lopez was signed for 3 million. Bobby Portis was signed for a low $ last offseason. Grayson Allen was a cheap trade. Etc. Milwaukee hasn't drafted well but they have made smart signings at value deals.
If you do the above, Dallas will be in a much better spot. Then you can go for your "all in" Jrue Holiday/Chris Paul trade. If you don't do the above, that trade could be an improvement to our roster but probably not the final step.