2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[sefant]

Is it really up for debate? We all just watched a 25 year old with issues in both knees who got substantially less mobile and lost his ability to defend the rim. Crazy season coming off a short offseason or not... He isn't going to miraculously re-gain athleticism.  Fact is, he could be significantly worse defensively at 27,28 than he was last year. 

That's not to say he cant still be an effective NBA player, especially offensively but he was just essentially played off the court in the playoffs (Carlisle went zone to avoid it). Does the new regime want to have a 30+ cap hit on a player who can be played off the court? Time will tell

I think KP played at least 2 months too early. You can compare injuries or surguries, but JJJ had his meniscus surgery 2 months before KP, and he came back towards the end of the season. That is a major time difference.

Wonder if the Mavs speed up the timeline because the Mavs dropped to the last spot in the West after the Covid debacle. He was probably medically cleared at that point, but it looked like he went from rehab into playing without much preparation. Maybe they thought he would somehow play himself into shape.

Getting your legs back and doing condition work and playing games every other day, its not something that is really working together. "Destroying" your legs in the weight room and playing a game the next day. Thats not something you do during the season.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I don't hate the Poeltl idea, but to me the most important thing is to maximize the talent of your starters.  Holmes is more mobile than Poeltl and less likely to get forced off the court in the playoffs.   

It would be different if I thought we needed that extra cap for the other starter, but I don't see it.  You can squeeze Ball in there.  A Collins deal would very likely involve Maxi, which gives you enough to max him.  There is not much out there that you need that cap for (unless you are going after Lowry or Conley).   

I'm probably a charter member of the Holmes fan club (quite possibly the founder).  But, I don't think you can just throw away the extra cap room this creates by assuming Atlanta will take back Maxi.  Maybe.  Or maybe it will take a full on max offer sheet to do this.  Or, maybe Atlanta would prefer a $28mm TPE over Maxi and a $19mm TPE.  And as you mention, there are players and combos of players that are precluded by spending extra on FA Holmes (who you don't control) vs. grabbing a sure thing while dealing with SA anyway.  Plus, that financial difference could hinder us in future years in terms of the apron and trying to sign and trade for a player.

Almost every traditional center in the league gets run off the floor in the playoffs.  There is some school of thought Utah should have sat Gobert.  But, there are some guys that you just can't stop without a bigger body somewhere on your roster.  I think LAC gets this right paying $7mm to Zubac.  The article attached is probably a little over the top in its praise for its home town boy.  While true that Holmes is better on the perimeter (but not great), Poeltl is the better interior defender.

https://www.poundingtherock.com/2021/3/2...all-impact

[omahen]

A couple of names I would be interested in in a straight up JRich trade if he opts in, add minor asset if you think it is needed (2nd rounder or Terry). My goal not bring in more salary to keep that roughly 25 mil for a good player:
- Nance (could work nicely next to KP, Cleveland has plenty of bigs and saves money)
- Ross (bench scoring spark we need after we lose THJ, Orlando saves money, can flip JRich at TDL)

[david75090]

Maxi, when healthy, is our best big. Best defender. Best 3 point shooter. Don't want to see the Mavs trade him as a throw-in in a deal or trade him at a discount. His contract is team-friendly, I believe. Don't understand all the trade Maxi suggestions.

[omahen]

Another interesting: JRich for Favors and #30 pick (only makes sense if we are moving KP)

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Maxi, when healthy, is our best big. Best defender. Best 3 point shooter.

Maxi can't get a shot off in playoffs, proven now 2 years in a row. He is a decent rotation player, nothing more.

[david75090]

Another interesting: JRich for Favors and #30 pick (only makes sense if we are moving KP)

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Maxi can't get a shot off in playoffs, proven now 2 years in a row. He is a decent rotation player, nothing more.

Maxi was injured. We didn't see the regular season Maxi. Plus, who were the other bigs in the game with him? The guy blocks shots and covers out to the 3 point line. Anyone else on the team, at 6'10" doing that?

[dirkfansince1998]

I'm probably a charter member of the Holmes fan club (quite possibly the founder).  But, I don't think you can just throw away the extra cap room this creates by assuming Atlanta will take back Maxi.  Maybe.  Or maybe it will take a full on max offer sheet to do this.  Or, maybe Atlanta would prefer a $28mm TPE over Maxi and a $19mm TPE.  And as you mention, there are players and combos of players that are precluded by spending extra on FA Holmes (who you don't control) vs. grabbing a sure thing while dealing with SA anyway.  Plus, that financial difference could hinder us in future years in terms of the apron and trying to sign and trade for a player.

Almost every traditional center in the league gets run off the floor in the playoffs.  There is some school of thought Utah should have sat Gobert.  But, there are some guys that you just can't stop without a bigger body somewhere on your roster.  I think LAC gets this right paying $7mm to Zubac.  The article attached is probably a little over the top in its praise for its home town boy.  While true that Holmes is better on the perimeter (but not great), Poeltl is the better interior defender.

https://www.poundingtherock.com/2021/3/2...all-impact

We had the Poeltl/Valanciunas discussion a few month ago. I think your are making a good point right here. The Mavs need a big body on the roster but they cannot pay more than MLE money for a big that is probably unplayable in most playoff scenarios. Zubac and Poeltl are in the perfect salary range. Zubac with slightly better offense/rebounding. Poeltl probably one of the top 5 rim protectors and post defenders in the league. With underrated quickness for a player of his size.

I am still really high on the idea to go with a cheap and versatile center rotation. Something like Poeltl/Theis/Powell (Marjanovic). Combining for 30m instead of KP alone making 31m. Good options for most matchups with a defensive focus.
Creating more capspace to upgrade the guard/wing rotation.

Already mentioned this example:

KP for Poeltl
Burke + 2nd salary dump

Would leave the Mavs with:

Doncic / Brunson / Terry
Green (THJ)
DFS
Kleber
Poeltl / Powell

And 60m in capspace. Or with THJ (15m first year, 4/67m) and 45m.

More than enough to upgrade the guard/wing starters.

[omahen]

Mavs, don't mess with us if you don't mean it

https://twitter.com/All_Things_Mavs/stat...wcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fdallas-mavericks

[SleepingHero]

Mavs, don't mess with us if you don't mean it

https://twitter.com/All_Things_Mavs/stat...wcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fdallas-mavericks

Oh wow.

KOC said that, which makes me think he heard some legit news. 

It's pretty pie in the sky to think about signing Kawhi but getting him means the Mavs are instant contenders. I am worried about his knee and how long he'd be out next season, but perhaps the talent of Luka+KP is enough to get the Mavs into the playoffs. There Luka+Kawhi can take over.

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https://twitter.com/All_Things_Mavs/stat...9329968136

[KillerLeft]

Mavs, don't mess with us if you don't mean it

https://twitter.com/All_Things_Mavs/stat...wcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fdallas-mavericks

I doubt this is coming from Dallas, unfortunately. 

I bet it's Kawhi's camp, negotiating through public panic. Something to the effect of "get rid of this guy I don't like" or "get a real point guard in here" or "replace the entire medical staff" or whatever else...

I think signing Leonard is 100x more likely than landing Lillard in trade, but I still can't get excited for it yet. It just doesn't seem like he'd tuck tail and run from LA after all the crazy Reebok campaign and everything else that caused him to sign there.

[omahen]

I still can't get excited for it yet

Sure not, neither do I. But if you are a recruiter, this is a goal. You don't need to be much of a recruiter to get DeRozan to sign with Mavs - at least I hope so.

[KillerLeft]

Sure not, neither do I. But if you are a recruiter, this is a goal.

Oh, for sure! Totally agree. 

Everything they've done since drafting Luka (truly, almost everything) has been about getting to this great free agent class with room and a young, attractive playoff team. Those free agents signing early, one after the other, has really sucked the wind out of that plan, but here we are, and IF Leonard is actually on the auction block, they have to try. Otherwise, what has it all been about? 

Obviously, signing Leonard would be something like the 2nd best outcome of this plan possible, if we were to poll our 2018 or 2019 selves.

[omahen]

Obviously, signing Leonard would be something like the 2nd best outcome of this plan possible, if we were to poll our 2018 or 2019 selves.

Still I am prepared Mavs will do their best, spend max effort on Kawhi who will make a reality show offseason mating ritual and then chose to resign with Clippers, while Mavs come out with Oubre and OPJ as big FA aquisitions

So if this is the result, do you fire recruiter immediately?

[Chicagojk]

Congrats to the Suns.   I don't know why I have been rooting against them.   There coach has such an heartbreaking story and I am glad to see him have success as a coach.   Ayton appears to be a good dude who has found a role and has really flourished.   Chris Paul can be a lightning rod at times but he is an all time great and he deserves a chance to win a championship so he can cement his legacy as one of the all time best point guards.   I also really like how the Suns play.  Very good ball movement and they are a team that is better as a whole then the sum of their parts....and the parts are pretty good too.

Also, I am so glad we missed out on Beverely.    I understand we all root for jerseys and Beverley has fought and clawed to make a dent in the NBA.  But after talking all series and end it  to push a player from the back when the game was determined is total bush league.   Plus, he always seems to do questionable things that at times lead to injuries to other players.    

Clippers had a respectable showing though.    It is crazy how fast windows can close though.  A clippers team with a healthy Kawai is still a title contender, but if they can't keep Jackson and Batum they will have trouble.  It is tough to replace those guys with limited avenues to do so and get comparable production.  They are an attractive place though, so maybe they can scramble and put something together while not losing much.   I know Paul George missed two big free throws in game two and had a few other up and down moments, but he stepped up all through the playoffs and played like one of the better players in the league the last few rounds.

[KillerLeft]

Still I am prepared Mavs will do their best, spend max effort on Kawhi who will make a reality show offseason mating ritual and then chose to resign with Clippers, while Mavs come out with Oubre and OPJ as big FA aquisitions

Yeah, I think that's kind of a good call.

[Hypermav]

Drama robot.

[Chicagojk]

Ryen Rusillo says if anyone tells you they know what Kawai is thinking, they are lying.   No one knows.   You know he is not going to say anything, probably take a few meetings and in all likelihood say at 3 AM a week after free agency begins that he is staying with the Clippers.   But he is a game changer if you could get him.

[VintagePejav2]

In the extremely unlikely scenario of Kawhi coming to Dallas, it is easy to imagine the desperate Clippers taking back Porzingis in a sign-and-trade. The Mavs would then have room to sign a veteran point guard like Lowry or Conley. There’s Cuban’s dream, every offseason. It ain’t gonna happen.

[Okstate819]

In an ideal world Poetl at 8.75 mill plus Holmes at 13 mill would be a very nice combo ( can we still say bullpen?) for the Center spot. Poetl the better interior defender and banger against teams who feature a big. Holmes the better option against small lineups.

[IamDougieFresh]

Maxi, when healthy, is our best big. Best defender. Best 3 point shooter. Don't want to see the Mavs trade him as a throw-in in a deal or trade him at a discount. His contract is team-friendly, I believe. Don't understand all the trade Maxi suggestions.