MAVS NEWS:

[Nowitzki Way]

I’m not advocating for tanking as of now but I’m gonna say it: DONT ever disrespect the tank.

JUST. DONT.

If i could have given this post multiple likes, i would have given it 100. I am a huge fan of team tank. I'll never understand fans (but i respect them) that would prefer their team winning meaningless games when they KNOW their team has no shot at playoffs or a championship.  This goes for all sports, not just the NBA. 

We have a great example with the Mavs. The Luka draft year (we almost messed that up) and the Lively draft year (excellent execution).

With all of that being said, we're still not there yet with this team. But we're close. Injuries haver killed this team. I'm not sure the Mavs have ever had a deeper, more versatile team. I had high hopes after the championship run.  A full year of Gafford and P.J.  We got rid of THJ. We added Klay freaking Thompson. Grimes was a solid get.  And Naji Marshall was such an underrated move, and excellent pivot after the Derrick Jones Jr. fiasco. Spencer Dinwiiddie on a minimum contract to be a 3rd or 4th ballhandler was crucial because we knew Luka and Kyrie would miss games here and there.

But we could have never imagined the injuries being this bad. Starting with Exum being out from the beginning. If everyone else was healthily i think we could have sustained a long term Luka injury like this. But no Luka combined with Kyrie bulging disc, No Exum, Hardy, Marshall having weird illnesses, Lively made of glass. We cant even keep our beloved Dwight Powell healthy. 

This season might just be doomed. But we are not there yet folks. Maybe Luka comes back in a few weeks. The All-Star break gives the whole team a chance to get healthy and re-set. Lively only misses a month instead of 3. Exum expected back this season?

Maybe we can figure out how to turn the corpse of Maxi Kleber and something else into a serviceable piece at the deadline. I'm thinking a 4/5 combo who can play some 5, but also stretch the defense and hit some 3s. Take some minutes from Gafford while Lively and Powell are out. But also play with Gafford at times.  You know like a prime Maxi Kleber, but better rebounder. My thoughts keep taking me to John Collins. Jerami Grant would be nice  but they would want more than we should give. But at this point i'd settle for a Kelly Olynk or Chris Boucher. Wild card trade option, how about Marvin Bagley? He's been out awhile with his own injury, but should be back soon. Salary matches with Maxi. Just a thought. 

Lets hold on another month and see where we are, but if things are looking bad i'm jumping on team tank with James Conway. And i expect the tank to get full with passengers.