Building Around Cooper: A Backward-Looking Thought Experiment

[KillerLeft]

I agree with fit I just think this team has bigger problems than PJ’s fit. One of those problems is PJ is playing like crap right now and I don’t think it’s Cooper Flagg’s fault. The other big and probably related problem is they’re playing borderline NBA guards. And yet another problem is Lively is hurt, Gafford is playing like crap and we’ve run Powell and a two-way for rotation minutes over most of the year. And yet another problem bigger than PJ is Klay and Martin are getting major rotation minutes.

When I think about fit and look at the 6 rotation wings, who “fits” best next to Flagg?

You might say Christie because he shoots 3s. But I might counter that Christie looks like Luke Kennard.

PJ has been a high minute starter on a Finals team. I know he has it in him. You can try to upgrade him but there are bigger fish to fry IMHO.

I don't disagree on any particular point, really. 

I just think (with respect) you might still be in a touch of denial about how LONG it's going to take to fix all of that. Now, they truly have a 19 year old best player - the AD trade made it triple official. I just think we were all in the bargaining phase of mourning when we convinced ourselves rookie Flagg could be dropped into an already assembled team and they could compete, healthy or not. I think the reality is that when your best player changes, your team starts over, at least in some key ways. 

PJW, Gafford, Thompson, Marshall, Kyrie...none of them are "too old" to be good right now, today, but I think they might ALL be too old to be part of the NEXT great Mavs team. There are reasons to keep good, key vets around, sure - no argument with that, whatsoever. But, the key vets I'd be in favor of keeping around would at least be able to form synergistic lineups with Flagg to close games. Otherwise, they'd all just be Dwight Powell types, right? The rest, once you're thinking like I'm thinking (not that you have to, I'm just saying "if") really need to be turned into more helpful tools (younger players, draft capital, whatever) at the HIGHEST possible point in their value. 

Since I don't think PJW, Marshall or possibly even Gafford fit here like they used to, my strong instinct is that they're going to lose value, and pretty quickly. 

I think, personally, the smart thing is to find a way to completely remake the team around Flagg. I think there might be shortcuts available, but for me the AD trade signals the end of hope for the kind of EXTREME shortcut we were hoping to see. I doubt the Mavs win a championship with any of those guys on the roster - straight up. I could be wrong, obviously, but I've reached the conclusion that trying to remake a team built around Luka with as little turnover as some are hoping might be a little like trying to turn the Titanic away from the iceberg at top speed.

EDIT: I'm also reminded of a bold prediction Kammrath made during his final days in this community that ultimately ended up being true. He predicted that Harrison would almost completely turnover the roster within the first two years of his tenure, citing his observation that many new GM's tried to make teams more "theirs" when they got the jobs. I thought he was crazy at the time, but he was right. That's exactly what happened. I see no reason not to expect the same from the next GM, no matter who it is...even if they're already here, frankly.