MAVS NEWS:

[Smitty]

I've been trying, my guy! 

As to the first paragraph...I think how players synergize (not sure that's a real word, but I'm rolling with it) with each other matters. I wouldn't even know how to put these players in a box, because the nuances of what they're planning completely escape me. I keep waiting for some type of move that will indicate their direction somehow, and they keep just keeping everyone like Luka is still here. 

Essentially, this team is still set up to play pick and roll basketball - you'd just have to swap AD and Luka. Then, Gafford makes sense again instantly. I know what I need from Lively, from PJW and all the rest. But, we factually know THEY think they're building around AD (Harrison said as much in the presser, and I can't believe more people didn't freak out - it was my biggest takeaway).

I think the roster is 1995, personally. This roster would DOMINATE that era. In 2026??? I don't see it yet.

I’m not a big fan of AD, even before the trade. But I still see this team being a heavy PnR team. No where near the rate with Luka. Flagg was an excellent PnR ball handler at Duke and you have 2 PnR Bigs. I think they’ll add Russell to the guard position also, and he’s above average there, if not him, then Paul, who we know is good. I think we’ll see more PnP with AD. What really worries me is late game situations and the inevitable AD iso’s leading to a pull up middy. That’s going to be a lot less successful than letting Luka going to work from the perimeter. 

Ultimately, I see this team being more “team ball”. I don’t know that it’ll look pretty, but Kidd has been consistent on getting players to push their limits offensively and I see multiple Wings scoring in different ways based on what the defensive gives them.