10-12-2019, 04:32 PM
(10-12-2019, 03:43 PM)j0Shi Wrote: I wouldn't agree that the preseason added to my personal concerns. It's obvious this team lacks a quality wing, rebounding, and shooting. I still hope Mavs progressed in all three areas, but based on what we've seen sop far (which is really not a lot), there's unfortunately little evidence. Fortunately however, preseason is not reliable whatsoever. It's additionally unfortunate that DP can't gel with the potential other starters. He is a huge part of what the Mavs are trying to do offensively. They need an elite roll man.
The two spots you can upgrade the most are wing and backup center. With Curry, Wright, Brunson, and Luka we have quality guards as well as KP/Maxi duo at PF. Now Powell is our center and as much as I like Boban, you ideally want someone a little more mobile. But that's easier said than done for sure. Wing is our weak spot. We have tons of players under contract on mostly cheap deals except THJ. Dodo, Jackson, Roby. I think so far JJ has the best chances to actually grow into a starting caliber player, I also still like Dodo. But tbh. that's a long shot and acquiring a quality wing has to be the next step.
Issue is, don'T get your hopes up for this or next year. We have little to no cap space and unless somebody is willing to take on THJ.
At this point we have PG covered with Luka and Brunson. Center is covered with KP, back up really is not an issue., always plenty of cheap options available Although I was wondering yesterday why we didn't give a shot with Bender - he would actually be cheaper than Bobi and has much higher upside.
The rest we don't have starter level talent, from what we have seen so far (Powell remains to be seen).
SG: From what was seen in this three games, Curry and Wright are back up level. Let's give them a bit more time, but it is not encouraging.
SF: JJ has the highest upside, if only he would be more aggresive. He has a killer floater and decent 3 point shot. DFS is just average on both sides of the floor (or a little bit above average defender). So he can be a decent back up, but that's it.
PF: Maxi is definitely not a starter. He was killed on the defensive end in all three games by Adams, Griffin and Freak. On the other side of the floor he is average at best. We definitely need a better player as a starter. I have some hopes that Powell and his high energy play will give a boost to everybody.
Looking at the roster as a whole we have just too many average players paid too much money (Curry, Wright, Maxi, Powell, DFS, not counting Lee and THJ). Contenders are mostly covering back up roles by minimum salary guys. So we need to convert some of our average players for better ones, which is difficult to do without assets. So we will need to first convert some of our average players for assets and worse players, which will later enable us to upgrade the rest.
Regarding 2020 summer, cap space is not the only way, as we were taught this summer. I see sign and trade as an option and there are definitely some interesting options available: Hield, Saric, Bogdanovic, Brown would all be interesting for us from the RFA crop. Harris and Bertans would be interesting UFA options. I really wouldn't want to put all hope in the "Freak or similar" 2021 pipedreams. If this kind of player would want to come to us, there are always ways to make it happen, no matter what kind of contracts we will have.
I still hope they can convert Lee and/or TE into any kind of asset at the TDL. I am still deeply pissed by our summer and all the opportunities missed.