Building Around Cooper: A Backward-Looking Thought Experiment

[michaeltex]

This is mostly unchanged from a couple months ago. It feels unlikely that Acuff is available for the Mavs, 'but insert Guard'.

The thing that I can see changing is the Mavs going with a Wing/Big at 9 instead. If that happens, I don't see them bringing back Middleton and I see them using that ~21M TPE to go after Aso Dosunmo or Coby White via SnT, or Gillespie with the MLE.

I wouldn't hate the world if Ament/Morez/Mara/Yaxel types were the pick at 9.

Let's go with Ament for this exercise and play out the offseason to see what it could look like:

Pick 9: Nate Ament W
Pick 30: Zuby Ejiofor F/C
Pick 48: Jaden Bradley PG


Which brings me to this at the start of free agency:
Kyrie |        | AJJ | Bradley*
Max | Klay
Flagg | Naji | Martin
PJW | Ament | Ejiofor
Gafford | Lively

With Bradley on a 2-way, I have 3 roster spots open and can easily get a 4th with waiving AJJ. Of my own free agents/options/2-way guys I like the idea of bringing back Bagley with the BAE. And Cissie on a 2-way or Min. for mandatory Big depth. I'd be looking at signing Coby White or Ayo Dosunmo with the MLE/TPE (SnT). Can you decline Nembhard's option and get him back on another 2-way? If not, just waive AJJ, if you need the roster spot... Maybe you waive him anyway and bring back BWill or a different vet Min PG.

Result:

Kyrie | Nembhard | AJJ | Bradley*
Dosunmo | Max | Klay | Poulakidas*
Flagg | Naji | Martin
PJW | Ament | Ejiofor
Lively | Gafford | Bagley | Cissie*

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. Klay would be very high on my list to trade for any asset it cost you for the Ayo SnT scenario here (SRP?). Your primary ball-handlers are now Kyrie, Flagg, Ayo, Nemby, and Naji. Don't sleep on Bradley having a real impact early on his career either...

All the above comments aside, (I do agree that scheme helps define your roster), I applaud you for your thoughts and attention to detail. FWIW, I'm not a big Ament guy, I would go for Lendenborg if available, but this is your scenario. 

I'm kind of OK with going after Dosunmo, although I'd settle the Klay situation sooner rather than later. It would be a favor to everybody, IMO. I like bringing Bagley back along with Cissie, the last two seasons show you can never have too much depth where bigs are concerned. Although, I'm kind of expecting Gaff to get dealt for draft assets of some type.

To me, one of the problems of the current FA schedule is that you can miss the boat by waiting on some wanna-be prima donna to make up their mind while seeing if they can leverage a better offer with another team. So those targets need to have a high degree of "get-ability" otherwise you have to go to Plan B.