2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[KillerLeft]

WCS is the only one that resembles a starting injury replacement center for Porzingis.

I agree with this. 

But, it’s unfair to suggest that Kleber starting the season THIS ineffectively was easy to see coming. I’ll give you Powell. But Kleber is obviously in a funk. I definitely agree that he is only a situational center, even when playing well, and not a full time solution for that position, but I think his start is a little bit of a surprise. I didn’t foresee a -18 in game 1 from him, personally.

With WCS, call me crazy, but I see signs that Carlisle agrees with you. He played in game 1 over Boban, so that’s one hurdle cleared. There were multiple possessions on offense in which Luka was literally having to point him towards spots on the floor - he clearly didn’t know those particular sets well enough yet. Still, Carlisle spoke highly of him in the post-presser, calling his minutes “highly productive.” In game 2, he came off the bench before Johnson did and played more minutes. Idk...I just have a feeling he’s slowly working WCS to a place where he can be relied on to do more. I hope so.

[cow]

WCS wasn't good yesterday, but he and Johnson seem to be the least bad options we have at the moment. The issue is that none of our guys solve our rebounding issues.

[JamesConway]

Btw Johnson does not look like a PF who will be any good here. He drives the ball a lot which RC probably doesn’t care about yet doesn’t really space the floor.

I fully expect them to trade him or let him walk in FA. Once we have Kleber and KP on board I expect one DNP-CD after another.

[Mavs2019]

Btw Johnson does not look like a PF who will be any good here. He drives the ball a lot which RC probably doesn’t care about yet doesn’t really space the floor.

I fully expect them to trade him or let him walk in FA. Once we have Kleber and KP on board I expect one DNP-CD after another.

I think they only care about Jkohnson for two reasons.

1. He´s expiring.
2. He´s sufficiently large to create an opportunity to match any contract in the league.

[Scott41theMavs]

I think we’re seeing the ripple effect from adding JRich to the starting lineup. Richardson seems like a fantastic complimentary player — maybe the Mavs’ best. But he’s not a featured player, so running him at SG alongside DFS and THJ means Luka is really the only dominant playmaker on the floor.

Again, JRich can make plays, but he’s not going to take the ball out of Luka’s hands for long stretches like a guy like Kemba Walker would.

The debate will continue about what is most needed - a true PF or a dynamic scoring guard. I think the Mavs need both so KP can play C and Luka can slide into more of a long-term Lebron-type role.

You nailed it, sir.

[KillerLeft]

I think they only care about Jkohnson for two reasons.

1. He´s expiring.
2. He´s sufficiently large to create an opportunity to match any contract in the league.

I agree those are two points of interest with Johnson, and maybe the biggest two. But, I hope they’re not the only ones. 

I think he’s versatile, and has been pretty effective at times. I believe there’s a role for him on this team that could be really helpful. It might take some time to find it, though.

[cow]

We need to get Johnson shots/he needs to pull the trigger. He has one attempt in two games with 26 minutes logged. He played some nice defense on LeBron yesterday.

[StepBackJay]

Mavs must trade Powell this year.

[KillerLeft]

We need to get Johnson shots/he needs to pull the trigger.  He has one attempt in two games with 26 minutes logged.  He played some nice defense on LeBron yesterday.

Personally, I like that he can handle the ball. I bet Carlisle can work that in usefully, given some time.

[BigDirk41]

I don't believe we have the assets, but I would love a trade with the Bulls for Lavine and Markkanen. If we could add them to Luka and KP, I think we could compete for a championship as soon as this year. I would also love either player by themselves, but both would be a great fit imo. Markkanen could play the 5 when KP needs to take games off. I know some people dislike Lavine, but he has all the talent in the world to excel around the right team/players/coaches.

[KillerLeft]

I don't believe we have the assets, but I would love a trade with the Bulls for Lavine and Markkanen. If we could add them to Luka and KP, I think we could compete for a championship as soon as this year. I would also love either player by themselves, but both would be a great fit imo. Markkanen could play the 5 when KP needs to take games off. I know some people dislike Lavine, but he has all the talent in the world to excel around the right team/players/coaches.

I’m not super up on the Bulls’ day to day, but it seems like Markkanen isn’t living up to expectations there. Does anyone know the details of his recent history. 

I really like what I’ve seen early on from Patrick Williams. He’s much more skilled than I thought going into the draft.

[SleepingHero]

I’m not super up on the Bulls’ day to day, but it seems like Markkanen isn’t living up to expectations there. Does anyone know the details of his recent history. 

Basically all the bad things in Chicago could be boiled down to one guy, Boylen. After Lauri's amazing sophomore season where he averaged 19/9, Boylen came in and changed the entire offense up. Boylen's offense had no motion, and didn't highlight Lauri's strengths. He turned him into a weird post player that never got the ball in the spots he liked. He was relegated to a flex option where often times he'd take only 10-12 shots a game, the same amount as Satoransky, Porter Jr, and Thad Young most nights. 

Add in a bunch of nagging injuries that kept him out like his hip, ankle, and a heart scare. But he's still the finnish sniper that everyone projected him to be. If the Mavs could be so lucky, Lauri in Maxi's role would be a huge win.

[ItsGoTime]

I don't believe we have the assets, but I would love a trade with the Bulls for Lavine and Markkanen.

If you're talking one of the two to come off the bench, I think that is fine. The 2 together starting? Defensive disaster with what would be on the court alongside them. We HAVE to have 3 + defenders in the starting unit and Luka isn't 1. KP and JRich are so that's why 1 of Lavine or Mark works IMO.

[SleepingHero]

If you're talking one of the two to come off the bench, I think that is fine. The 2 together starting? Defensive disaster with what would be on the court alongside them. We HAVE to have 3 + defenders in the starting unit and Luka isn't 1. KP and JRich are so that's why 1 of Lavine or Mark works IMO.

Are Lauri and Lavine that much of a defensive drop off in the starting lineup compared to THJ+Powell?

[ItsGoTime]

Are Lauri and Lavine that much of a defensive drop off in the starting lineup compared to THJ+Powell?

If we're trying to be better, why would we compare our current team to our potential team?

[ItsGoTime]

In other words, the thought I put out there is regardless of what we have today. I think we need 3 + defending starters, we have 2 right now. We shouldn't be comparing our team to ourselves. W eshould be comparing our team to the contenders.

[BigDirk41]

I think Lavine can be a really good defender with the right coach. He has all world athleticism and he's long. I don't really think you can gauge a players defense accurately when they are on a bad team. Bad teams can have toxic environments. The competition isn't the same. I'm not saying for sure he would be a great defender, but it's definitely possible if he wants to become one.

[jesusshuttlesworth82]

I think Lavine can be a really good defender with the right coach. He has all world athleticism and he's long. I don't really think you can gauge a players defense accurately when they are on a bad team.  Bad teams can have toxic environments. The competition isn't the same. I'm not saying for sure he would be a great defender, but it's definitely possible if he wants to become one.

Thats sound verbatim what everyone said about Wiggins going from Min to GSW.

[BigDirk41]

Thats sound verbatim what everyone said about Wiggins going from Min to GSW.

I guess that settles that then. Lavine sucks.

[Mavs03]

I like what I've seen so far from Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner.  It appears Oladipo is wanting out of Indiana and the Pacers would love to get an asset from another team.  Of course, that team would take on a risk because Oladipo could bolt this summer.  The Pacers have been shopping Myles Turner for months now.  Could we package expiring contracts in Tim Hardaway Jr, James Johnson, Tyrell Terry (young asset), and future 1st round pick for Oladipo and Turner?  The fact that we're a Western Conference team helps our case as well.  Assuming the trade goes through, how does this roster look?

Luka
Oladipo
JRich
Turner
KP

Brunson
Burke
DFS
Kleber
Powell

Green, WCS, Boban, Iwundu rounding out the bench.  Hinton and Bey are our two-way players

I love the versatility and youth of that team.  When KP needs to rest on a 2nd night of a back-to-back...you bring DFS and move him to the PF position and slide Myles Turner to C.  The question is...can Turner and KP play together?  I say yes.