IN:
Morez Johnson Jr.
Sergio De Larrea
Santi Aldama
Zaccharie Risacher
Marcus Sasser
Tarik Biberovic
Tobi Lawal*
Jett Howard*
2026 SRP (#56) Vsevolod Ishchenko
OUT:
Klay Thompson
Khris Middleton
Marvin Bagley
Brandon Williams
Ryan Nembhard
AJ Johnson
Dwight Powell
Tyler Smith*
2030 Top-20 protected FRP
2027 SRP
2029 SRP
2030 SRP
2032 SRP
2033 SRP
The back end of the roster has certainly been turned over. There was a "cost" to do so. The only player in the 'OUT' category that's worthy of being in a Top 10 rotation is Klay, but I'd take nearly every 'IN' player over him for next season and beyond at this point.
Of the 'IN' players, only Aldama and Risacher are proven Top 10 rotation worthy NBA players. Of course, I like the upside/potential of everyone on the list...
To be competitive the Mavs will have to play their best players (duh). That's clearly: Kyrie, Flagg, Lively, PJW, Naji, Gafford, Max, Aldama, & Risacher. Safe to assume there is an expectation that Morez, a top 10 pick in a loaded draft, will/should be good.
The remaining 5 are: Sergio, Sasser, Tarik, Cisse, & Martin.
Of the deep bench guys, I actually think Sasser has the best chance to show that he's the 'best of the rest' this season. At least the most consistent of the bunch. I think Sergio and Tarik will show flashes.
The problem, something nobody enjoys talking about, isn't even the lack of elite guard play as much as it is 2 of your top 3 players are some of the most injury riddled players in the league the last 2 seasons. If Kyrie and Lively don't play in a lot of games, the Mavs have no chance of being good. No NBA teams without their best players do. Doesn't matter what Wing/Big you trade away for another Guard.
That's why I take very little from last year, when the top 10 players in minutes were: Flagg, Max, Naji, PJW, Klay, BWill, Gafford, Nembhard, Powell, & Martin. Of course they were bad! Their best 3 players entering the season aren't even on the list, when they need to be the top 3!
Morez Johnson Jr.
Sergio De Larrea
Santi Aldama
Zaccharie Risacher
Marcus Sasser
Tarik Biberovic
Tobi Lawal*
Jett Howard*
2026 SRP (#56) Vsevolod Ishchenko
OUT:
Klay Thompson
Khris Middleton
Marvin Bagley
Brandon Williams
Ryan Nembhard
AJ Johnson
Dwight Powell
Tyler Smith*
2030 Top-20 protected FRP
2027 SRP
2029 SRP
2030 SRP
2032 SRP
2033 SRP
The back end of the roster has certainly been turned over. There was a "cost" to do so. The only player in the 'OUT' category that's worthy of being in a Top 10 rotation is Klay, but I'd take nearly every 'IN' player over him for next season and beyond at this point.
Of the 'IN' players, only Aldama and Risacher are proven Top 10 rotation worthy NBA players. Of course, I like the upside/potential of everyone on the list...
To be competitive the Mavs will have to play their best players (duh). That's clearly: Kyrie, Flagg, Lively, PJW, Naji, Gafford, Max, Aldama, & Risacher. Safe to assume there is an expectation that Morez, a top 10 pick in a loaded draft, will/should be good.
The remaining 5 are: Sergio, Sasser, Tarik, Cisse, & Martin.
Of the deep bench guys, I actually think Sasser has the best chance to show that he's the 'best of the rest' this season. At least the most consistent of the bunch. I think Sergio and Tarik will show flashes.
The problem, something nobody enjoys talking about, isn't even the lack of elite guard play as much as it is 2 of your top 3 players are some of the most injury riddled players in the league the last 2 seasons. If Kyrie and Lively don't play in a lot of games, the Mavs have no chance of being good. No NBA teams without their best players do. Doesn't matter what Wing/Big you trade away for another Guard.
That's why I take very little from last year, when the top 10 players in minutes were: Flagg, Max, Naji, PJW, Klay, BWill, Gafford, Nembhard, Powell, & Martin. Of course they were bad! Their best 3 players entering the season aren't even on the list, when they need to be the top 3!