Preseason Game 4: Dallas Mavericks (2-1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (1-3) | 9:30pm EST

[Dahlsim]

Alright, so I've watched every preseason game (at least as long as the starters were playing), and here are my observations:

- It feels like our lineups work better if we only play one center (Dereck Lively or AD), which actually makes AD kind of expendable because...

- I already officially hate AD’s game. He feels too soft to do the dirty work and attack inside. He just settles for long 2s or 3s — and he simply can’t shoot them (career best was 34%, and most seasons he’s below 30%).

- Sure, AD looks pretty much unstoppable inside, but he rarely goes there (afraid of injury?). I almost had to puke when he brought the ball up at the end of the first half and jacked up a 3 like he was Luka or something.

- Yes, I would trade AD because I don’t trust his game — and I definitely don’t trust his body. But I know that’s never going to happen, because Nico would basically be admitting defeat. So, on to the positives:....
....

This is the reality.  AD is expendable.  AD is not really in NBA basketball shape right now.  Eye surgery, recovery from last year's injury, whatever the reason, he's playing himself into condition now. 

Given the 2-timeline age distribution on the roster, the ideal scenario for Dallas right now is to get AD into peak shape, which depends on health and then flip him into assets in sync with the younger Coop timeline.  IF AD can have a healthy season, you have the trade deadline target or more likely get a max performance out of him this season then look for a youth oriented trade similar to the Durant trade that reset the Suns.