TRADE: Tyus Jones to DAL | Branham to CHA

[vfromlmf]

I think the consensus about this draft is you have an obvious top-3 and arguably a pretty clear top-4 or 5 and then things really level off. It's an eye of the beholder draft beyond 5. Lottery odds really level off as well. The difference between having the 6th worst record and the 9th is only 4.5%.

My strong opinion is just play the games and let the chips fall where they may. It's a lottery.

I think the Mavs know what they have in their guys. They need to see what they have in Jones, Middleton, Bagley and AJJ. None of them will be expensive and understanding we're not going to be competing for a championship next year, there's a reasonable case to be made for keeping all of them. I'd be surprised if they all open next season on the roster but we have right of first refusal so it would be foolish to waive them for nothing.

I like Nembhard and I think he's proven himself to be one of the best basketball players in the world. Just maybe not in the NBA.

I like Cisse too and I wouldn't be mad if he were our 3rd big but I don't think you waive a legit NBA rotation player like Bagley or even Powell just to keep him.

At the rissk of taking this too far ... keep in mind. Bagley's PER this year is 20.6 which would rank SECOND on the Mavs behind dearly departed AD.