2019-2020 Mavs Trade Discussion + Salary Chart

[dirkfansince1998]

Now that he's distanced himself from his father, I wonder if Lonzo would be a good fit here? Good defender, good secondary ball handler and distributor, picked up his 3% very well this year (37.5% on 6.3 att). Only real complaints I have looking at his numbers is his TOVs, FT% and overall FG%, which are all pretty dang bad. 

He'll be 23 to start next season so he fits our timeline. That also says he's still developing which is good to mold him with our coaching staff still. If he's available for somewhat cheap (seems he'd be easier to pry from them than Jrue would be, esp if his team has a problem with him, which is a red flag though) and passes some type of inquiry on why this report came out I think I'd be all for that. Those who are looking to add Dunn, I'd think they'd be all over this too

I'd be all over trying to add Lonzo for the right price. He seems like the perfect guard to lead the 2nd unit off the bench, while at the same time being perfectly suited to play the off ball role and be a secondary playmaker. He can't really score consistently, but his playmaking is well documented and he can defend well. 

And one of his biggest assets is his size (pun intended). Him being 6'6 means the Mavs shortest person on the court theoretically would be Lonzo. I don't know what the Pels would even want, but the Mavs do have a replacement guard in Wright that is locked up on a much cheaper deal. I wouldn't go all out trying to get him but it'd be an interesting avenue. 

There are some legit worries however. Lonzo naturally comes with a lot of drama. His dad, his reality tv show, etc. Mavs historically do not like guys like that. Lonzo also has a QO of 14.5 million. I don't think he's worth anything more than 10-12 a year. Who's to say Lonzo doesn't just take the QO and then wield the power of veto for any trade? Risky stuff.

Still think that Lonzo is at least an above average starter in the modern NBA. Right now he basically plays like an oldman JKidd with less veteran leadership and experience.
His biggest weakness is the lack of on ball shot creation and finishing ability at the rim. Next to Luka he wouldn´t need both and could focus on his strengths:
- Spot up shooting. 39% from 3 on over 4 attempts.
- Transition offense
- Team/Help defense and rebounding


If the Pelicans really want to trade him the Mavs should be all over it. Maybe they could even expand the trade to include Favors (sign and trade/ seperate deal) or Holiday. The Mavs add win now pieces while the Pelicans rebuild around Ingram and Zion.

Curry + THJ + 18 + 31 + 2025 1st for Lonzo + Holiday

Curry + THJ + 18 + 31 for Lonzo + Favors

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I know we criticize the Mavs for FA hunting but could they actually deliver in 2021? Mavs will be presumably coming off back-to-back playoff appearances (absent injury this is a good probability) and back-to-back Luka MVP nods (again with good health). Mavs will have Luka pre-max contract at around 23 yrs old I guess? Plus KP who will be around 27 locked up. I am sure Mavs will have a max-slot open. The only chance that doesn't happen is if they find their third star this summer. 

Is there any reason that team couldn't actually attract a top star? Giannis would be the dream, albeit a lower-percentage chance. Your other top tier stars already have a home in LA. The main issue to me is that there just aren't many guys that are worth a max slot that would be actually available.

I don't know that Dirk was ever in this situation in his prime like Luka + KP will be in. They will be in their prime with a max slot available to add a third star (should said star actually be available?).

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Am I the only one who really likes WCS, Burke, and MKG for our bench next year and is afraid that the Mavs will find a way not to retain any of them?

Burke and MKG would be deep bench guys, number 11 and 12, but could serve certain uses quite well - MKG as situational defensive stopper, Burke as a microwave. The one who really pisses me off (in advance) is WCS. I know he's away from the bubble for reasonable family issues, but I have a sense that he and the Mavs have given up on each other, that there's a sense that "the experiment didn't work out." Horse pucky. Look at his numbers here. He was a rich man's Powell in the best way, whereas Powell is going to be a poor man's Powell coming off of injury. But let's pay Powell five times as much to be one fifth as good.

I didn't understand why Burke was so expendable last year when his play on the court was reasonably good. We love our AARP JJB.

Agree on MKG. Not sure about Burke. Out on WCS.

Vet min for MKG and extended shooting practice during the offseason. Maybe even start from scratch and completly rebuild his jumper. If possible bring in Dirk or even Holger to help him. MKG as a defender and hustle player is useful as a 10 mins of the bench guy. MKG with an at least average jumper is a starter. Classic low risk high reward move.

Burke is hit or miss every single game. Basically a smaller THJ. Just as streaky but on a good night he can carry the scoring load. I just don´t see any minutes for him. Brunson is younger and better. Curry is better. Mavs don´t have enough minutes for another undersized guard. If he is willing to sit on the bench as the 3rd or 4th option at PG sure. Otherwise no. Obviously on a vet min deal.

WCS won´t be as cheap as the other two. He also is easily replaced by any average rim runner. Wright, Powell...doesn´t matter. Whoever plays that role in RCs offense looks good. Would rather add a cheap in free agency or the draft. Also don´t think that the Mavs will move Powell or Boban. No roster spot for another pricy non shooting big.

MKG is not even really an NBA player. I think that experiment has failed. I get the feeling WCS won't be back but I still like his game. Powell will be back in some capacity and Rick I think finally has some use for Boban so I would be surprised if the MBT gets any more true bigs. It's more likely he goes small with tweener PFs that can play the 4 or 5. MKG is kind of that but has zero offensive ability so I think you can do much better.

Burke is fine as a 3rd PG but if Brunson is back does he have a spot? Maybe, we know Rick loves guards and Brunson also plays SG. JJB might retire at some point. Who knows.

MKG has been really good in the limited minutes he played in the bubble. Pre bubble he wasn´t in the rotation. Mostly because he was out of shape. He is still working on his conditioning but I wouldn´t consider it a failed experiment. He certainly outplayed the other available end of the bench options (Jackson, Reaves, Cleveland).
In his 3 bubble games he played a total of 28 minutes. Mavs are +28 with him on the floor. Against Utah he anchored the defense during the game winning run. Against Portland he prevented Melo from abusing the Mavs in the post. Jackson and DFS were helpless.
If I had to choose between another undersized PG like Burke or a defensive specialist like MKG I would go for the SF/PF that can guard the best opposing player evey single time.