04-12-2024, 04:06 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-12-2024, 04:06 PM by Scott41theMavs.)
(04-12-2024, 03:48 PM)mvossman Wrote: When you have two elite creators in your starting lineup, I don't know that it is as important to have a third. I do look at Exum as the third creator on this team. I agree that his fragility is a concern, but I'm not worried about his struggles several years ago. As for his contract in 25, we will have early bird rights and be able to pay him roughly MLE. Too early to know if that is going to be enough or not, but I doubt he would go for more than that this coming offseason if he were available.
The third creator issue is pretty simple, and it's Kyrie - have his "injury struggles" over the years been real struggles, or just his way of taking personal vacations? If the latter, bad for his character, and great for us - he certainly won't be taking vacations during this run, as he very obviously believes in the team. If his past fragility has been genuine, the Mavs are likely screwed with regard to a deep playoff run, unless we get really, really lucky in that respect.
As far as Exum and contract, I would say that, were he a one-year like DJJ, any team that wouldn't offer him north of the MLE this summer didn't watch the Mavs play this year. If he has as good of a year or better next year, he'll be a $15 AAV man at least.