Trade & FA 2024-25:

[KillerLeft]

See, so many after the Finals think the Mavs are far away on offense - need at least one more player who can score on a very high level - and, as you have said, not damage the defense in the process. 

Yes, I agree that playmaking from the forward position would be a big plus, but to me the ideal guy off the bench is someone with Jamal Crawford's vintage scoring ability and Marcus Smart's vintage defensive ability (in other words, the Celtics' White, who is strangely unavailable). Not sure how the Mavs acquire such a player. But remember how you and I had that back and forth about the Mavs becoming a true contender and I said, "What more do they need to do to qualify?" The Finals answered my own question - "Quite a bit." The Mavs may have to rely on OMax for whatever while using their external improvement possibilities on other areas.

They WERE far away on offense, but another heliocentric scoring guard wouldn't fix it. Good insurance against an injury, and a good thing to have to lessen the regular season work load for Luka and Kyrie, but not a solution to THAT problem. 

The solution is a guy in the top 6 of the rotation who plays big minutes, including a ton of minutes WITH Luka AND Kyrie. Last 5 minutes of the game type of minutes, so he needs to be from a different position, and needs to be competent enough on defense to be trusted in high leverage moments. Basically, the immediate solution to that problem would need to be one of the team's five best players.

Lively is going to be the center. 

The 3 MUST be a POA defender. Non-negotiable. Last season taught us that, though some are trying to forget. The Mavs are about to re-sign Jones AND have now added Grimes. They've DOUBLED DOWN on what they think works from that position. 

That leaves the 4. That's why they are into Grant. That's why I'M into grant. He would make them so much more complete as a team, and is a two-way guy who can play 30+ per in a playoff series. These guys don't grow on trees. Having said that, the Grimes path was chosen (I'm not mad, I'm thrilled) so Grant's contract makes him a long shot. 

So, I think unless you're a Kyle Kuzma fan, we're back to hoping for enough quick improvement from PJ Washington to fix that, specific problem the finals exposed. I just don't see any other getable difference makers out there who fit. Grant was it.