Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Smitty]

I'm caught up on this thread now, and had to go back and search this one out. Too interesting to pass up. I think this helps me understand a lot of what causes you and I to disagree on some of this stuff, despite my general feeling that you really get the game. 

The only thing I agree with from the list above is the Kleber part. He's a 5, has been a 5, and it's pretty undeniable. I agree with the shooting point you're making (uncommon range at the 5 turns to "way too slow of a release" at the 4 in the blink of an eye), and would actually double down and say that foot speed goes from being a huge positive on defense as 5 to a slight negative as 4, too. 

The other three assertions intrigue me. In each case, I'd have said the opposite. 

I don't think ANYONE is "a PG" anymore, at least not in the way that (I think) you mean. To my way of thinking, a guard who can't handle the ball, and I don't just mean bringing it up, but actually able to floor the ball to create an advantage for himself (and yes, for others) isn't useful in today's NBA. We are watching guys like Hield, Hardaway, Robinson, Redick, etc, fade away in live time. That's kind of dying breed now - those who are flourishing in that role are now 6'6"-6'9" and play forward. What some argue is the Mavs "trying to make Hardy a PG" is really just "trying to make Hardy play NBA basketball as a guard" to me. It's interesting to me that so many have a problem with this. 

And THAT'S probably why I see Green as a 3. I think he's a 3/2, to be fair, but I'd FOR SURE put the 3 first. He's really fast...for a 3. Speed doesn't pop at the 2. He's got a great handle and is a great passer...for a 3. Sub-par dribbling/playmaking skills for a guard, imo. He has become a decent shooter...for a 3. His release looks better every year, but he's still passing up way too many shots, and in the blink of an eye, it seems that EVERY guard out there can string complex dribble moves together to create a long jumper (off of the dribble) out of some type of step back or side step. I think he can (or should be able to) GAURD other guards, and I LOVE that about him (in theory). 

Totally agree that DJJ, on offense, is under qualified as a starter. However, he did better than I expected him to do with his shooting this season. Like, way better. Are we sure he can't get even more comfortable as a catch and shoot guy, now that he's FINALLY getting a chance? I'm not, but I do see where you're coming from here. Still, did you see the list I posted the other day about "league leaders in % of their minutes being spent defending the opponent's best scoring ball-handler?" DJJ was in first place by a mile, at 54%. I really, really think we've become a little desensitized to just HOW GOOD the dude was on defense this season. This is no small thing, imho. If you can make the team better by replacing him as a starter, cool, and it's not like he's so good I don't think that's possible. And, I think he'd still be impactful off the bench. But, he was INTEGRAL to the team's success down the stretch and in the playoffs, so it's not like I'm going to be disappointed if he's the opening night starter, know what I mean?

This is a lot to unpack. I talk ball all the time in by day to day life but don’t get into the X’s and O’s on here because it’s difficult to have a real discussion on the specifics. Too much nuance and people tend to argue past each other when there’s almost always some middle ground. I’m sure if you and I had a drink at the bar we’d agree much more than we disagree whereas typing my detailed opinions on a message board can get lost in translation.

As for where you think we disagree. 

Hardy - when I say PG I don’t mean 90’s PG. I mean initiate the offense, on ball PnR as the ball handler, making decisions out of double teams, etc.. I’d call Kyrie a PG even though he’s a SG here. But Hardy is a carbon copy of Tim Hardaway Jr to me. Play exclusively off ball, CnS threes, a bit of two dribble pull up in the mid range. I never want Tim to be a decision maker in the same way I don’t want Hardy to be one.

Green - he is undersized as a forward, on switches he’s not big enough to have any real impact on the opponent’s shot. Because he’s so bad at screen navigation, he gets matched up on forwards regardless but he needs to get better at it. On offense I think he’s more than capable of being a decision maker, running some PnR actions, moving off the ball/slashing and being a traditional 2 but LuKai are here so naturally his role will only be an undersized forward. Still not his natural position, which is my point.

DJJ- his defense was massive and one of the many reasons the Mavs made it through the WCF gauntlet. I just think he’s so limited offensively that he can’t be a 36 mpg guy. I’ve pointed out how bad he was from 3 (96% of all his attempts were Wide Open and he shot 35%) that’s incredibly bad. He’s a vertical threat also and I love that part of his game but the finals showed us that this team needs more offense and the weakest link is DJJ. In a 20-24 mpg role where his defense can be a difference maker and you can overcome his O, that’s where I see the fit moving forward. This team can’t overcome 36+ minutes of limited to bad O, IMO.

Bottom line, I said I would be just fine running it back but my post was about the weakness of the roster and how it can be better. Are the Mavs better with a more polished offensive player at the 3 but give up the PoA defense that DJJ provides? I don’t know, but DJJ is too limited for me to feel good about him playing starter minutes in the finals.