Trade & FA 2024-25:

[SleepingHero]

I'd be reasonably happy but I'm skeptical about its chances in a 7-game series against the Celtics or OKC.

There's 7 players in there who I expect to "do things" (Luka, Kyrie, PJW, Lively, Gafford, Klay, Grimes)... some doubtfuls who have to prove they can do things in the playoffs (Naji, Hardy).... and you probably can't count on the remainder to do anything in the playoffs due to age, injuries, inexperience or ineptness (Kleber, Exum, O-Max, Marcus, Markieff, Dwight).

The addition of just 1 of a particular player would change me from skeptical to positive about the team's chances against the best... Terance Mann. I'm being a stuck record... but I'm fixated on Mann for now, after hearing that LAC could trade him in a package for Miles Bridges... because when I look at the roster and the gaps it has or may potentially have, I think he fills most of the gaps very, very nicely. Strong and mobile defender, good all-around player, plays bigger than his 6'5"... he can fit alongside any combo of two players from Luka, Kyrie, Klay, Grimes, Hardy in 3-Guard lineups... and he can even step in to act as a temporary playmaker/scorer if Luka needs time off during the regular season to heal.

G: Irving............... Hardy
G: Grimes............. Klay
F: Luka................. Mann
F: PJW.................. Naji
C: Lively............... Gafford

Mavs will have 8 players they can count on, and it won't matter if Naji and Hardy don't have an impact.

+ Exum, Markieff, O-Max, Dwight (I'm not counting on these for much against teams like Celtics, Thunder)

1) Klay isn't coming off the bench

2) The Clippers aren't trading Mann for Kleber when they're desperate to field a competitive roster.

3) That's why they're trying to get Miles Bridges for Mann, who by all accounts, is much better than Kleber 

4) You've taken away minutes from Grimes/Hardy/Klay with this trade. How do you expect them all to get any sort of time in a playoff series if Mann is supposed to be getting 20-25mpg?

5) You've also taken away realistically the last expendable piece for the Clippers to get a player that can somewhat replicate what PG13 brought. They want DeRozan, they want Bridges. 

6) Their fans already said this idea is BS and that they overwhelming need to keep Mann for all the reasons you've provided. Plus they aren't too keen on trading for a wife beater.