Trade & FA 2023-24: Vezenkov+Kings Are Done

[KillerLeft]

I think the difference between Lively and Gafford will be less this series as the biggest difference between the two is 5 out defense and this is the one team we are going to face that can't do 5 out.

Gafford may be an insurance policy, but Lively missed 29 games this season and Maxi missed 39 plus over half the playoff games.  Its an insurance policy we are going to cash in a lot.  You can make the argument that he is a luxury, but its one we have needed.

Agree with the second point, it's just that I can envision a cheaper Gafford replacement (for the millionth time, IF NECESSARY TO RE-SIGN JONES) being just fine, and there are some cheaper guys who could even be as good, or better. 

For the first point, this is the series in which I believe the Mavs will miss the opportunity to play 5-out with Kleber/Washington the MOST, not the least. It's not about matching your opponent's strategy, it's about exploiting it. Minnesota is BIG, but they're SLOW. We have literally SEEN with our own eyes what happens when you play Kleber at the 5 against Gobert. The Mavs won that series BECAUSE of Gobert, and his team traded him THAT SUMMER. 

But, I agree, having the choice between Gafford and Kleber is great and a luxury. All of this was about finding money for DJJ. They're not going to get better by letting DJJ get away, I feel confident about that, at this point. Again, if you can do it another way, I'm all for it. Maybe he will sign the TMLE, but if he doesn't...