In Nico We Trust

[Jason Terry]

1 About the issue of playing for now or later, the Mavs have been prioritizing "now" for a long time, and at the cost of obtaining players who can grow into really good talent. But if we had done this 2,3,4 years ago then we would be having different conversations. At some point, they have to start the pipeline of talent that is developing, and this was a good beginning.

2 The name of the game is TALENT. Not cap room or picks or trades. It's a quest for more talent. You have to get it from somewhere. Trades are usually mine for yours. The smartest move is to grow your own, develop them, and then use them or sell them off, but still keep a pipeline going.

3 They had to start getting some in the pipeline, and they began with Hardy. Going forward, they need to add one a year at least to the pipeline, and at some point some of these will pop out and become solid players.

4 I highly applaud the draft-day trades, and don't understand the criticism, because I can't see any way they could have been reasonably expected to extract more.
Mavs trade Bertans + 10
Mavs get Holmes +12 +24

Holmes is more useful than Bertans. Overall money about the same, but more space for this season. And getting pick 24 for trading down 2 spots and still getting the same player (now at a smaller salary, which adds some spending room for elsewhere) is a really good deal.

5 I think there is still lots of opportunity to now pivot to veteran talent, because multiple teams are trying to whittle down long-term salary. Bullock (10.5M expiring), McGee (2 yrs 5.8M avg), THJ (2 yrs 17M avg), and maybe even Holmes (2 yrs 12.5M/14.5M avg*) might be seen as acceptable return salary for a team trying to whittle down a nasty payroll where the Mavs take on bigger longer salary in exchange.

*Note: While Holmes has a trade kicker, the team getting him won't have to pay any of it (although it does go on their cap). And it can be negotiated to be waived in whole or part.

Yes, pivot to veteran talent now that we took care of business. And also be opportunistic with this as well. We have those 4 very tradeable contracts. Find something with no picks going out. Add as much value as possible. Use the exceptions properly