2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[HAguiar95]

For example how much of a drop-off from J Rich to an Avery Bradley type that can be had as a bench piece pretty cheaply to chase around opposing point guards?

We can do the same for THJ. Ellington/Bullock types would be pretty cheap to hit 3's at a good level.

[cow]

We can do the same for THJ. Ellington/Bullock types would be pretty cheap to hit 3's at a good level.

[mvossman]

I want to see what he looks like in the playoffs but I think we can get a cheaper version of J Rich that is a bench guy and start Brunson. We also have Green who is being developed into a J Rich type role so I would hope he could get it together eventually.

I am still all about John Collins from talent upgrade / asset management standpoint if you can get him without giving up Brunson. I don't think I would part with Brunson at this point, he is too valuable. I'd rather just bring back THJ as my 6th guy and try to improve the bench with a couple of pieces.

It would be great if we could start Brunson, but I'm afraid he would get exposed on defense too much.  Also, as great as he has been offensively, he seems to struggle with really good defense (he looked over matched in that Clippers game).  I want to see how they both look in a playoff series, but my guess is JRich will make more sense than Brunson in that kind of environment.  Hopefully we will see.

[StepBackJay]

We can do the same for THJ. Ellington/Bullock types would be pretty cheap to hit 3's at a good level.

Ya maybe. I do think that is definitely a level down or too. THJ has put together 2 good seasons of shooting and scoring at a good clip. Mavs will have cap space so they don't need to do bargain-bin level deals for every player or we risk the bench looking pretty bad.

[StepBackJay]

It would be great if we could start Brunson, but I'm afraid he would get exposed on defense too much.  Also, as great as he has been offensively, he seems to struggle with really good defense (he looked over matched in that Clippers game).  I want to see how they both look in a playoff series, but my guess is JRich will make more sense than Brunson in that kind of environment.  Hopefully we will see.

Ya Clippers isn't the best matchup for him but then I think his defensive rating is pretty good.

[BasketballJones41]

I am of the opinion that in order to be a true contender we need to have a top 10 defense.  If we are building around Luka and KP, that means at least one quality perimeter defender and most importantly a really good defensive 4.  This is why I have generally been out on guys like Collins/Markkanen as I don't think either paired with KP makes a good enough defensive frontcourt to truly complete.

To my mind, if there is something we really need offensively, its somebody to take some of the pressure off of Luka.  Preferably a two way player than can play make and create a little for themselves.  That is the missing piece to make this team a contender.  Spending all of our assets/cap space on a player that does not meet this need is a misallocation of resources.

As for JRich, he has been disappointing.  I think some of it is luck (shooting) and some of it is due to the Covid mess.  We have the rest of the season (and hopefully some playoffs) to get a more complete assessment.  I'm anticipating that he will regress to his average as the year goes on, and he has already shown on occasion that he can bring a defensive intensity we will desperately need come playoff time.

I don’t necessarily disagree with anything you said. I completely see the need for a secondary ball handler that can take a share of the load off of Luka. That’s why I also like Devonte’ Graham, and Lonzo. Maybe Brunson is growing into that guy right in front of us? As far as defense goes I think it’s more important for us to upgrade our wing defense. And that’s one of my biggest problems with Richardson. Even if he gets his shooting back up to his career averages, he just hasn’t been that good defensively. Nothing close to as advertised. And I really believe Markkanen would be a good defender here so I don’t think signing him would be a step in the wrong direction there. If we let Hardaway and Richardson walk we can have about 34 million in Space I believe. With that we could sign Markkanen  and a wing upgrade. Plus have the MLE. So I don’t believe my plan and your plan are mutually exclusive.

[omahen]

Plus have the MLE.

If you operate under the cap, you only have the mini MLE - approximately half of the full MLE.

[BasketballJones41]

I don’t necessarily disagree with anything you said. I completely see the need for a secondary ball handler that can take a share of the load off of Luka. That’s why I also like Devonte’ Graham, and Lonzo. Maybe Brunson is growing into that guy right in front of us? As far as defense goes I think it’s more important for us to upgrade our wing defense. And that’s one of my biggest problems with Richardson. Even if he gets his shooting back up to his career averages, he just hasn’t been that good defensively. Nothing close to as advertised. And I really believe Markkanen would be a good defender here so I don’t think signing him would be a step in the wrong direction there. If we let Hardaway and Richardson walk we can have about 34 million in Space I believe. With that we could sign Markkanen  and a wing upgrade. Plus have the MLE. So I don’t believe my plan and your plan are mutually exclusive.

Another thing that occurs to me is that if we let Richardson walk that likely means a bigger role for green next year. Which I think is good for business. Green is going to be a lock down defender maybe as soon as next season. I would much rather invest that time in him over Richardson.

[embellisher]

If you operate under the cap, you only have the mini MLE - approximately half of the full MLE.

To operate over the cap, we have to keep one of them, and sign them last, correct? I think THJ is the keeper, if we're only keeping one of them.

[omahen]

To operate over the cap, we have to keep one of them, and sign them last, correct? I think THJ is the keeper, if we're only keeping one of them.

Not sure if I understand your example. Over the cap means we don't sign anyone with cap space. Basically we resign our guys and others are brought by trade (with the exception of MLE and BAE).

[BasketballJones41]

If you operate under the cap, you only have the mini MLE - approximately half of the full MLE.

Gotcha. Thank you for the clarification. I know next to nothing about the salary cap and such. That’s why I rely on you guys.

[embellisher]

Not sure if I understand your example. Over the cap means we don't sign anyone with cap space. Basically we resign our guys and others are brought by trade (with the exception of MLE and BAE).

I'm no cap expert, but I think you can keep one of their cap holds and sign another player into the remaining cap space. Obviously THJ has the larger hold, so if you keep his hold, you wouldn't have as much space as if you had kept Rich instead. 

To gain full cap space, you have to renounce all of your free agents, but then you run the risk of losing them all. 

If you keep a cap hold, you can sign that player last and go over the cap using their bird rights. You can't go over the cap to sign a free agent to whom you have no cap hold.

[omahen]

If you keep a cap hold

Sure you can, but that is still exactly what I said. If you keep cap holds, you can't use cap space.

[embellisher]

Sure you can, but that is still exactly what I said. If you keep cap holds, you can't use cap space.

Cap holds count against your cap space, but you don't have to renounce all of them to use cap space. Each one you renounce gives you space equal to that hold.

[StepBackJay]

J Rich to me looks like clearly an MLE player. Doesn't mean he will opt in because his opt in number is pretty close to a year 1 MLE contract. He could opt out and still get a 1 year or multi-year from Mavs or elsewhere. Absent an injury I don't think there's a risk of him losing money by opting out.

I just think he's an okay player that a team might be fine with doing a 3-4 year MLE contract for. Before the season I really thought he was a rung above that level of player. He is a top 7 rotation type of guy but like a bubble starter. If Mavs do end up signing him in that range I think his contract would be easy to move later. 

THJ is harder to pin down for me in terms of his market value. I think he can make more money, ie starter money but I don't see him getting many years. His 3% and PPG will help him get a decent contract. He has shown even as a 6th man he brings good production so I believe. JJ Reddick as an example got 13/yr for 2 years from the Pels even at 34 a year ago. I could see a team like that who is desperate for shooting be interested in THJ in that range.

[F Gump]

To operate over the cap, we have to keep one of them, and sign them last, correct? I think THJ is the keeper, if we're only keeping one of them.

That's not a required way to operate over the cap. But it's a possible choice you might prefer in some scenarios.

[Mavs03]

For someone who was a throw in, Melli has been a pleasant surprise.  My hope is Redick can contribute and all of a sudden our bench looks pretty strong.

Brunson
Redick
THJ
Melli
Powell or WCS

I'm ok with that bench.

On a side note, I liked what I saw out of Josh Green.  Could he eventually fill the J-Rich or DFS role moving forward?

[embellisher]

On a side note, I liked what I saw out of Josh Green.  Could he eventually fill the J-Rich or DFS role moving forward?

I think that's the hope of most of us, and the reason the Mavs drafted him. If he can develop an NBA jump shot, he has a chance to be a very good 3 & D guy. The defense is already better than DFS or J-Rich either one to my eyes, and he's played less than half a season's worth of games. 

I doubt he'll ever be the facilitator that J-Rich is, but if he can become even as good of a jump shooter as DFS, he'll be in the league for a long time.

[omahen]

On a side note, I liked what I saw out of Josh Green.  Could he eventually fill the J-Rich or DFS role moving forward?

That is certainly a goal. Still a long way to get there

[omahen]

Interesting bit for all Holmes afficionados

1. The Sacramento Kings are only working with his Early Bird rights, which allow them to offer him 105 percent of the league's average salary before they have to use cap space. Here's the thing: They don't forecast as a cap-space team.And here's the other thing: Starting Holmes at 105 percent of the league's average salary should amount to around $10.5 million—barely more than the non-taxpayer's mid-level exception ($9.5 million). That's not going to cut it.

Holmes would be speeding toward a more lucrative jackpot if he could make an entire defense. He can't. But he's a dependable rim protector with operable mobility when yanked away from the basket. His starting-salary floor should be more than the Kings can offer. That doesn't mean he's definitely leaving. It does, however, mean they'll have to clear money off their cap sheet if they want him to stay.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2939...-offseason