Jalen 'Can He Play Alongside Luka?' Brunson

[fifteenth]

Two things that make that incomparable:

1) Luka/KP have been +0.1 better than the team overall (so +5.8) in 790 minutes. They also play VERY different roles and positions that just need time to harmonize.

2) Luka/Jalen have played over 1000 minutes together over the course of two seasons, with training camp and practices in addition. They play the same role and same position, so when they play together one of them is asked to be something he is not.

Those are both great points.

Here are my thoughts:

1. We need a good pg to run the offense when Luka is on the bench.
2. I think Brunson does a great job of that.
3. The team has begun to use other initiators while Luka is on the floor, which keeps Luka fresh, involves more players in the offense, varries the offense, and allows Luka to attack in other ways.
4. If Brunson's play warrants more minutes I think this recent expansion of the offense provides an opportunity for the Brunson/Luka back court to work.
5. I'd rather explore that possibility first before deciding that our good back up point guard is more valuable to someone else.
6. I think if we trade Brunson then we create an immediate need to a back up point guard.
7. My position would change if the Mavs picked up a better point guard than Jalen who could share the court with Luka and run the team with Luka on the bench (like guards in whom we've had rumored interest in the past).