MAVS NEWS:

[KillerLeft]

Gaff/Lively is your very good tandem C. I see Gaff's pay (MLE +10%) as a bit rich, but tolerable (for now).

And no I do not want to sell off good pieces because a very bad GM is forcing a very bad fit which is messing up many well-manned positions. Sell off AD and all is resolved.

Find a way to swap AD for a G who can defend, create and score (Jrue of 5 years ago, say) and I'm in. Way in. If I'm greedy, add a 3-and-D SG too.

What an interesting perspective! I think, when it comes to injury risk and age, you've got a point, and I agree that Lively/Gafford is a good center tandem. So, in a way, it makes sense to do as you suggest. 

But, on the other hand, the only center I'd want more than AD is Jokic, so it catches me off guard that you say he's a bad fit. Is it just because of the position thing? Because no matter what he says, he always ends up at center. My complaining about this is largely about the inconvenience of setting up the roster in such a way that the farce can be carried out with a straight face (as in paying Gafford MLE+10%), but it's a farce. I mean, even in 2020, the last time AD actually played a lot of 4, he spent almost half his time at center. Last year before coming to the Mavs, he had played 96% of his minutes at center. He's a center, and I promise he knows he's going to play there a ton, just like Porzingis did when he was here, regardless of what he said. 

If he doesn't play there enough...well, then I'd agree with you, only I think that's on Kidd, not AD. I mean, Davis is a real difference maker of a player if used correctly (which I admit, probably does include the willingness to play him at the 4 when that causes an advantage). I don't think Gafford has shown that he can even be a plus in a playoff series yet, and we've seen him in quite a few at this point. Davis, alternatively, is so effective that you could build an entire team around him as a concept. I think the most likely way this plays out (if successful at all) is that by the 2nd round of the playoffs, Davis is playing almost all of his minutes at center and Gafford isn't even in the rotation (assuming everyone is healthy). I do think Lively/Davis will be sooooo effective together, defensively, that they'll want to keep some stretches of them together in the playoffs, even, but I can't say I have the same hope for Gafford/Davis. 

Having said all that, I suppose having three centers does at least open the possibility that the one we'd least expect might get traded, only...for who? What guard could possibly be worth that? You'd have the same problem we've all discussed regarding how difficult it was to trade Luka without just selling him for picks, I think. I mean, what level of player would be worth it? I'd say Booker or Donovan Mitchell AT LEAST, and I think Davis (when healthy) is more impactful than either. Anyone better than those guys (a very short list) is likely unavailable in trade. "Jrue Holiday from five years ago" would be an exceptional addition, but not the finishing piece to this team without Anthony Davis, and therefore not remotely worth trading Anthony Davis to get, imho. 

Further, I personally think there's immense value in having Flagg learn every bit of defensive nuance he can from AD over the next few years. I think there's a good chance Flagg's trajectory points higher as a result. And, I think we'll reach a point soon where the combination of the two on the court is ridiculously effective. 

Still, thanks for your perspective on this. It makes quite a few things from past discussions fall into place for me.