TRADE: PJ Washington+ 2 2nds To DAL | G. Williams+ Curry+ 2027 FRP (top 2 protected)

[michaeltex]

My biggest issue is just that we usually gladly overpay.  I generally don't think we have been very good at asset management.  I also believe we undervalue draft picks relative to almost every other organization in the NBA.  We trade a lot of draft picks to acquire talent then we pay even more to get rid of those players. We have churned over our roster far quicker than almost any other good team since 2011.  We always seem to be the team giving up picks rather than acquiring them.  I think that's a problem. 

The ironic thing is that the 3 best moves we've made since 2011 have been via the draft.  Luka, Brunson and Lively were all huge hits.  We acquired them with draft picks.  Josh Green and Hardy were really good picks as well.  We've been really good at drafting.  I don't understand why the Mavericks organization seems to hate draft picks so much.  So, we generally don't value the draft even though we're good at it.  Then, we overpay in draft compensation to acquire players then to get rid of them.  

The churn must go on.

I sometimes wonder if the "grow through trades" philosophy doesn't go back to the pre-championship years. That team was (almost?) all acquired through trades and FA signings. Some of it may be the rumored aversion of RC to rookie and rookie development. Some of it may have been to get players on Dirk's timeline. Some of it may have been to get talent proven effective in the pro game (draft picks still are a crap shoot.) Of course, there were some picks that were WTF as soon as they were announced. 

I agree that, starting with JB and Luka, drafting has produced some excellent talent. That may be the cheapest way to grow talent, but trading for vets is more about instant gratification.