2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[DallasBasketball]

I have so many thoughts and they are all muddled right now.   I think where i am at now, is the Mavs can't try to improve around the edges.  They can't think they are one final piece and this team is a championship contender.  They need to go big game hunting.  Find the best talent...even if it is not the best fit.   If Luka and Rick are as good as we hope, they can figure it out.  If not, you have a attractive asset.   With the trouble over the last two offseasons, they probably will not have a championship level team next year and that would put them behind schedule on my timeline (but I will reserve my right after the summer).   But can they improve where they are in the next tier of teams with flexibility and attractive assets to make that final move in time?

What is big game hunting?  That gets tricky.    Can you go big game hunting if you resign Hardaway?   Are the restrictive free agents even legit targets?  Is it best to sell low on KP now or take a more long range view?   If Brunson cannot get and earn 30 minutes a night he is probably not a long term player here, so does that change your plan for this summer?

I am feeling like you, starting to think we are at the cross roads of ‘big game hunting’ vs. ‘continuity’ and I don’t think big game hunting this year involves free agency. So my question is what can we get in return for our best players on good contracts:

DFS
Brunson
Klieber

Is there a star player out there we can get in exchange for these 3 guys?

[mvossman]

Malcolm Brogdon is the next best thing IMO. Guys like Devonte Graham are a retread of Wright/JRich.

Brogdon would probably be my first choice as well, but calling Graham a retread of Wright/JRich is off the mark.  He has been shooting above average 3s with a very high volume for the last two years.  He is also a very good distributor that could easily lead your second unit.  He is in a different league offensively both in quality and fit than Wright and JRich.  The concern with him would be defensive due to his size.  He actually has great on/off numbers defensively for the last two years, but he is small and I am not sure he has the strength to make up for it like some others (Lowery, Conley, FVV).

[omahen]

Is there a star player out there we can get in exchange for these 3 guys?

no, unless you think Kemba is still a star

The concern with him would be defensive due to his size.  He actually has great on/off numbers defensively for the last two years

I would be concerned about his fit with Brunson. But if Brunson is gone... I guess our defense can survive one smaller guy due to size of other players

[StepBackJay]

I would take capspace and one of the younger guys over DeRozan but the Mavs cannot be picky. Spurs have the capspace to absorb KPs salary and if they send out 10-15m they could probably resign DeRozan as well. If they really want to go for it makes sense to build around DeRozan/KP and their solid role cast of role players.

I think a Spurs DeRozan/KP based deal would make a lot of sense for both teams.

[omahen]

I think a Spurs DeRozan/KP based deal would make a lot of sense for both teams.

Why would you trade for someone you can sign outright? It makes little sense. It is basically dumping KP for cap space. If we speak about SA, Wright would make way more sense in a KP trade. Perhaps with an asset attached.

[cjeter24]

Or a team that will use him as a trade asset again to gain more capital for their need.

I am huge fan of DFS, but it is his contract year and if he replicated his performance this season, he is at least a legit full MLE type of guy. 
Do we want to give him such pay raise? Or do we cash on his bargain deal

Fair points. You have me convinced that if given fair value it’s a good idea to trade him.

[Chicagojk]

I am very interested to hear Carlisle, Donnie and Mark have an extended interview about this season.  I hope all are grilled hard.   I, for one, don't want to see Carlisle leave, but I think everyone has to ask and answer really difficult, uncomfortable questions.    Donnie typically says very little.  Sometimes Cuban will be more candid.   Hopefully they are pinned down and are really grilled of their failures over the past two years.

I have little confidence in our front office now.  Although, I think it is clear they all have heat on them now.   In their misses the past few years, they could always say we want to keep our options open and not make a long term mistake.   They can't say that anymore.  I think they all realize putting a new wrapper and bow and bringing this same team back is not going to work.   I for one, would vote to make Donnie a consultant and give him a bigger title, but have someone else coordinate the offseason plan.   I don't see that happening though.   The owner and front office have been way too comfortable.   They need some pressure on them.   Lets see if they step up to the moment.

[loki]

Mavs should keep an eye on Toronto and FVV this offseason. If they decide to move him and go young, I'd love to see KP to a 3rd team for a draft pick, the pick and Brunson to TOR, and FVV to Dallas. Maybe the Mavs have to eat a bad contract like Bertans as well.

[hakeemfaan]

How about Dragic? He can still play, fills an important need, and more importantly is one of the few who might legit be available(if Mia is looking to get a bit younger after their debacle) that Luka actually will listen to.

[StepBackJay]

You might be right but i have always been super low on DeRozan. One of the worst defenders in the league. So bad that Pop moved him to the PF spot. Desperately trying to hide him on defense.

I call that position flex! I think you can hide him if your other positions are good defenders. Modern NBA offenses have at least one catch and shoot guy these days that you can hide him on. If he can rotate then he can play okay team defense. 

It's not great but honestly this playoff series was more about offense than defense. Mavs didn't have a guy that could make plays or shoot with confidence outside of Luka. Rick was able to compensate on defense some by using big bodies and doing a fair bit of zone. You can do some scheming to mitigate defensive issues especially if we upgrade the personnel in the other 3 spots. You can only scheme so much on offense if guys are scared to shoot.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Why would you trade for someone you can sign outright? It makes little sense. It is basically dumping KP for cap space. If we speak about SA, Wright would make way more sense in a KP trade. Perhaps with an asset attached.

If you told me we turned KP into cap space without giving up assets I would call that a win at this point to be honest.

Question about DFS and Brunson extensions.  Sounds like we can extend both for up to 55 mil over 4 years, I'm trying to understand if that would affect this offseason's space.  It seems like it wouldn't as those extensions wouldn't kick in for another year correct?

If it doesn't affect it I would argue it's better to lock them up (unless they think they can get more next offseason) because I would think those are still both tradeable contracts if signed.  Feels like we're better off embracing the over the cap movements at this point.

If you think Hardaway is the super 6th man then you resign him and use the rest of the space to bring in another hopeful contributor on what would have to be a team friendly deal at that point and/or retain WCS, extend Luka/Brunson/DFS and then just start calling EVERYONE.

[StepBackJay]

Given your arguments above about Luka's maturity, CP3 might be exactly what he needs, but the likelihood is that he doesn't see it that way and demands a trade at the deadline next season if we force-feed him that strong of medicine.

I love CP3 but he gets injured every playoffs so pass. We need availability. If he can survive this playoff run it would be a miracle, plus the Suns will just pay him to stay anyway. No reason for him to leave.

[StepBackJay]

He signed an extension so his cap impact will be 17,073,171 next year and 17,926,289 the year after. KP will be getting paid 32 mil next year alone. 

So Adams at 35 mil over 2 years doesn't seem so bad, at least to me. Even if he gets played off the floor in the playoffs which I don't think it'd happen so easily.

I would only do Adams as the price for a Ball S&T.

[Chicagojk]

20 minute Richaun Holmes 20/21 highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsoP_an00zI&t=460s

20 minutes of DeMar Derozan 20/21 highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8TEDEzIdzk&t=808s

[dirkfansince1998]

I call that position flex! I think you can hide him if your other positions are good defenders. Modern NBA offenses have at least one catch and shoot guy these days that you can hide him on. If he can rotate then he can play okay team defense. 

It's not great but honestly this playoff series was more about offense than defense. Mavs didn't have a guy that could make plays or shoot with confidence outside of Luka. Rick was able to compensate on defense some by using big bodies and doing a fair bit of zone. You can do some scheming to mitigate defensive issues especially if we upgrade the personnel in the other 3 spots. You can only scheme so much on offense if guys are scared to shoot.

More like the Mavs defense was broken beyond repair and the Mavs tried to turn games into scoring contests. 116.5 O-Rating. 122.2 D-Rating. One is above average. The other is terrible. Playing zone was a desperate move. Basically waving the white flag. We cannot stop them and they are shooting 70% in the paint. Might as well give them open 3s on every possession and hope that they miss. Turns out that they shoot 45% + on open 3s.
You cannot hide multiple bad defenders and the Mavs already have Luka (not bad but he should get the easiest matchup). Come playoff time the matchup hunting starts and just like Luka and the Mavs forced guys of the floor opposing teams would attack DeRozan.

[StepBackJay]

One of the big problems we have is we have so many holes to fill it's hard to know where to start, we have very little assets, and yet also have very little cap room. It's incredible how bad this front office is.

You are too negative on this front. Mavs have pieces and cap space. They really sucked the last couple of years but I do think they can improve the team this offseason.

[StepBackJay]

The only good thing I can think of in relation to KP is that he did not get injured during the playoffs.

Yes and that's a really good thing. I am telling ya'll he will fetch a good package. Superstar package? No, but a package that is better than KP.

[StepBackJay]

Off season ideas:

1. Sign THJ for 20M per year for 3 years,
2. Sign Dragic for MLE,
3. Trade for Daniel Theis via S and T using JRich.

I like Dragic and Theis as ideas but you need to thinking bigger

[StepBackJay]

Smart could be great for that "PG1" spot, but I am seriously affraid offense would remain a total all Luka show, unless we can get a PF who can create for himself. But is there one available? Could we survive with a smaller PF, like DeRozan in this case, again sacrificing defense? Sorry, but for positions PG and PF in column 1 I only have a lot of questions and dilemmas, but not many answers.

Smart is one of my favorite targets. Mavs have tried 2 seasons in a row to find someone like Smart but Smart is the archetype of what you want. He averaged 5.7 assists even on a team that had Kemba and 2 all-stars that could create their own shots. I think he would be that playmaker, defender Mavs need. I do think Smart will take a KP-centered package, that is my operating assumption.

DeRozan is my other top target. I would pay him a lot of money and send SA (or someone) Maxi to clear some space for a 30 mil/yr contract.

Mitchell Robinson for Brunson is my other target. I am not sure if you would do all 3 considering there is some playmaking overlap with DR and Smart.

Luka
Smart
DeRozan
DFS
Robinson

I doubt this is the direction Mavs would go but hey why not...

[StepBackJay]

I think this whole thing is well put.  We've tried for two summers to get a guy who can handle the point of attack defensively, but neither has been able to work in our system offensively.  What we need is Drew Holiday...without it actually being Drew Holiday.  Get me that guy and I bet we can make the rest of this work.

FYI it's "Jrue Holiday" but this is the number one thing. Luka needs a guard/wing to ride shotgun with him. I think this is more important than a playmaking big. At center its much more important that we have a good to great defensive center that can either shoot or rim-roll or both.

For the "Jrue" slot to me Smart and Lonzo are the closest fits and Smart is more likely to materialize.