10-13-2024, 02:50 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-13-2024, 02:53 AM by DL2RimRocker.)
(10-13-2024, 01:50 AM)F Gump Wrote: "He is a wonderful luxury to have in our current situation" and "we may not necessarily need a backup the caliber of Gaff if Lively's minutes go up significantly."-- I jump way off this train with this. I understand the thinking, but I just don't see Gafford as a "luxury" in any way. I think the Mavs need TWO who can do the things Gafford and Lively can do, for all kinds of reasons that are easy to ignore, and while it's sometimes hard to even find one, I don't think that changes the fact they actually need two.
I think the model is 1a, 1b, and 3, and DG + DL cover 42-44 mpg with neither getting overloaded. Their current mix at C feels about right to me. That doesn't mean DG and DL have to be the names, but I expect reasonably similar quality if they aren't.
I get the idea of Sharp working his way into the mix and up the ladder, but to offer an analogy, imo he's in the remedial 2nd grade class right now and we're talking about having people to do college level work. Maybe some day he enters as the 3rd guy, in place of Powell? But as much as we diss DP, DP is probably 10x the contributor at this stage if need arises.
I think where we differ is the value of Gafford and maybe Lively's ceiling. I think Gaff will be too expensive to keep and too good to accept a backup role.
I absolutely hope you are right and we can keep him as long as it doesn't compromise other positions.
I could agree Gaff is a necessity right now, but I'm betting by the time his contract is up, he will be a luxury because Lively will be a star and a 32-35 minute player.
And Sharp is a complete toss of a coin at this point. Like I said, he could easily be the next Moses Brown or Tacko Fall. If Wemby wasn't in our division, Sharp would have never been in the conversation. Powell shouldn't be on the team in 2026 because he doesn't bring anything now and obviously has no upside.