2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[Davemo]

My thinking with Bertans is that the real role for KP was found by Rick. He's an outside spot up that can stretch the floor. KP has reached a point where the knee injuries are taking their toll. It's not just that he's injured all the time. But, now we are seeing it become a detriment to his mobility on D. He's not the same player he was even in the Bubble at this point. He could still block shots due to height and play some anchor in spots. But, he wasn't consistently more than just help D.

Bertans is a better spot up shooter than KP. He isn't awful on D. He's probably average at best. However, he can play help D as shown in his time with the Spurs. Most importantly he knows his role.

I would much rather have a slightly overpaid role player that knows his role and doesn't complain about touches. KP was considerably overpaid and doesn't want to admit that he's a role player. He didn't like the role Rick put him in even though the team was better for it. He liked that Kidd considered him as part of the offense. But, the offense has struggled this year vs last.

Now with KP gone and Bertans in that spot up role that Rick had KP in they can move into more of a flowing offense that will stretch the floor and create space. The spacing this year has been tight because of KP. Defense is more about scheme and team than individual great defenders. Look at Pop's Spurs all these years. Even when they don't have great defenders they can still defend. Dallas has proven they can play D just fine without KP. Now they can also spread the floor and try to open up the Offense.

These are all good thoughts.  My primary reason for hoping Davis and SD work out is that it creates more opportunities for the Mavs to be creative.  If they (SD and DB)  are even a neutral trade asset then the FO (Nico and Baker) will have so many more options than they would with the KP contract.   Even one of them resurrecting their career to a degree helps immensely.   I think in a new system, and with hopefully a determination to become good players again (which is tad iffy) either or both can be 80% of the players they were in their best year.   If this happens, we win the trade, period.  KP is never, ever going to be a neutral trade asset with those knees and that salary........and will be difficult to trade.   If it does not happen, we still have more cap flexibility than we had.  The trade, I think, was probably heavily influenced by the capologist on the Mavs (Baker).   As mentioned previously, I think this trade was about the future.  It MIGHT impact this year, due to losing rim protection....we will see.   These new additions might also be able to offset the increased lack of rim protection with good depth.