Game 31 Dirkie Thread: Cooper Flagg!!!

[KillerLeft]

If Gafford is too good to not play him, maybe we could use a lesser center in his place.  One more deserving of 16-20 minutes when AD sits.  Stein has been saying for quite a while that Gafford is the most likely Mav to be traded.   

Locked on did a Gafford to Chicago for White pod the other day.  What if it was Gafford plus Martin/D'Lo for White and Jalen Smith.  AD/Smith are your C's for now adding some stretch ability to the position.  Smith is serviceable, but not so good (or highly paid) that you can't sit him when Lively is available.

People have varying opinions on White, but mainly as the centerpiece of an AD trade.  In a Gafford deal, Chicago gets a starting level center who is under contract beyond April.  Dallas gets a starting level guard who is not.  I don't think either team gets picks here.  Dallas has to get something to offset the White flight risk.  So, they get to move some salary to Chicago.  Hardy (as a poor man's White) could be in place of D'Lo

Gafford for White was the exact example I used all summer as the type of thing I hoped the Mavs were angling towards. I'd make that trade with zero hesitation. I also think Smith is a better fit as a backup center with Flagg than Gafford, though Gafford is CLEARLY a much, much better player.

I'd be a little concerned with White's impending contractual situation, but then again, it's an audition. If you don't like how he looks here with Flagg, AD and hopefully enough time to evaluate with Kyrie, you just let him go. A more workable tax situation doesn't seem like a great return for a player of Gafford's caliber, I know, but they've got to save in some area soon, right? And hey, if White is so good you want to pay him more than Gafford is making, that would require some doing, too, but at least the contract would go to someone in your top 6 who has synergy with the others. 

Right now, they're paying extremely premium backup center money to a guy whose strengths don't align with the team's approach anymore, and is the 3rd best center on the roster, when the roster is healthy. I know, I know...when is that? But sorry, I just can't get past it. Not when they're giving the ball to an undrafted two-way player and another guy who just escaped that status and could end up back there soon unless he makes the most of this opportunity. THAT's the position (or the 2, or the 3, really - not sure they have clear starters anywhere but the 4 or 5 right now) where Gafford's salary will make a difference.