Building Around Cooper: A Backward-Looking Thought Experiment

[DanSchwartzgan]

With three roster spots open, I have a need for a 3rd PG, 3rd Big, and another 3/4 Wing. Without getting into all the trade options, I'll pick from the list above. Gillespie (MLE range), Middleton (1-yr), Bagley and bring back Nembhard and Cisse on another 2-Way. Leaving me with:

Kyrie | Acuff | Gillespie |     Nembhard*
Max | Evans | Klay | AJJ
Flagg | Naji | Martin
PJW | Middleton
Gafford | Lively | Bagley |     Cisse* | Veesaar*

I would extend Naji at 4/$64M and Max at 4/$70M. I would not extend Lively. Just wait until he hits RFA the following summer. You end up having a team full of guys around that MLE range, outside of Kyrie, who has a $42.4M PO the following year. Your positive trade value guys through the summer and the following TDL are now Klay (expiring), PJW, Gafford. You also have your $21M TPE to use instead of maybe just bringing back Middleton?

I think a lot of those guys have some position flex. Naji, Klay, Evans are G/F. Flagg, PJW, Middleton, Martin are 3/4 types depending on matchups and certain lineup combinations. I don't think it's a contender in the West next year, but I like a lot of the young guys in the start of a Flagg rebuild: 

PG: 6'3 Acuff (19)
SG: 6'5 Christie (23)
SF: 6'6 Evans (20)
PF: 6'9 Flagg (19)
C: 7'1 Lively (22)

Thanks for the synopsis.  For the most part we are on the same page.  I'm not sure I spend assets on Gillespie if I have Irving and Acuff on the team.  I'd probably look for a sweet shooting forward to put in the rotation either by trade or by free agency.

I think the main thing I want to point out is I'm trying to also think of this from the perspective that Dallas doesn't draft a guard.  Maybe its because we move up and Wilson or Dybasta (please Lord) makes more sense.  Or, maybe its because Ament is higher on their board than whatever guard is left by the time we draft at 8/9/10.  Whatever the reason, we need a plan should that be the path.  To me, that's the point at which a Gillespie or Dosunmo or Ivey makes sense.  Your draft pick rotates with Flagg and whoever is still here at the forward spots and you need someone to rotate with Kyrie and Christie in the guard rotation.  I'm mainly focused on top 8/9.  I think expansion draft has to enter our thinking at some point also.