MAVS NEWS:

[mvossman]

As we head into the dead days of the nba, I was thinking who has the most to prove next year.  I sort of view next year as a developmental year to set up the following year.  Maybe they surprise or disappoint and continues can be made.

1) Anthony Davis- can he stay healthy.  Can he be a majnly power forward.  Can he really amplify our centers.  Lively and Gafford are not long in the tooth Dwight Howard or fringe rotation player Jace McGee.  They are both good to really good players.  Can AD really shine with these type of players.  Can he be the best player on a contender?  My guess is no, but it will be a year for him to shine.

2) pj washington- I hope he signs his extension.  His role this year will be different.  He may only play half of his minutes at PF.  I don’t think he is a small forward but can he play it effectively for solid minutes?  On defense he probably is not going to be asked to defend a lot of bigger players.  So can he guard the quick wings or guards on the perimeter.  I think he is better defending pf types.  So it will be key how he guards smaller players.  Lastly can he match his three point percentage from last year.  I still feel like teams are perfectly willing to let him shoot despite a better than average percentage.

Nico- he gets no respite for an injured Kyrie.  He was gifted Flagg.  They are still really short on creation.  If this team is where I expect them to be next year, Nico’s job should be on the line.  He thinks this team is a contender.  Time to show it.  No big trade to try to prove him right either.

I had Kidd on my list earlier in the summer but he was able to get an extension by some shrewd moves.  I still think he has a lot to show with this odd group of good players.

Nico has the most to lose.  He turned a finals team into a lottery team while alienating the fanbase.  If this team misses the playoffs again after falling backasswards into Flagg, can he really keep his job?

AD has the most questions which you laid out.  I'm afraid the answer to most of them will be no.

I don't think Kidd has much to prove at this point.  He has overachieved when Nico doesn't tank his roster.