Trade & FA 2023-24: ATL Open to Trading Trae Much More Now After Lottery

[F Gump]

I don't understand Olynik and Drummond ideas. Both are bad defenders and Mavs don't need a back-up center for offense. They need someone to be able to play defense. And in any case, I just don't believe Olynik, Drummond or any other back-up center makes us a contender.

I think Mavs need that 3-D guy. I don't agree they are not around or available. Good franchises get them and become contenders, the others don't. Guys like Grant, Siakam, OG and perhaps some more might become available. Get one of those while keeping the core and this team gets serious.

1 Re Olynyk, you are ignoring the situation. The point is that he has an expiring contract, and the Mavs could really use one who can be acquired for Holmes plus something small. Agree he's not the perfect center but tell me where you are getting a perfect center to be your backup, without paying an arm and a leg. Also, with Maxi so iffy all the time, having a stretch center has value. That's my view.

2 Re 3-and-D's, they need more than 1, but they have already been starting to stockpile guys who can help, perhaps. That's who they have in Green, DWill, Exum, and DJJ.

They tend to cost about the MLE. You ignore the reality that the Mavs MUST do something to turn somebody (preferably Holmes) into an expiring contract, if they are going to maintain or improve their 3-and-D corps in the summer. I offered my idea. What's yours?

The guys you mention aren't 3-and-D, but rather are high-profile starters. Their acquisition cost would be significant. But you would still want to add a 3-and-D at a small cost, if you can land that guy.

I think DJJ works, and has needed skills in other areas too. His ability to hit 3's is vastly more of a factor in Dallas than in his past, and hopefully will continue to improve. (In 2 years in CHI, he only had one game where he made more than 2 3's. In a 1/3 of a season in Dallas, he already has had 7 games with 3-or-more 3's.) But if you have a better one, you still can't get him without opening up MLE room (which they lack).