2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[omahen]

I'm not sure they are going to do anything more than try to retain Brunson this summer.

A safe bet would be like this. Also just trying (and fail) to retain Brunson would sadly be also a very Mavs like move based on experience in past years  However, I trully hope we will see more.

I think a lot depends on the playoffs. We are hyped now but Mavs didn't even win the first round yet. If Mavs win it all or come very close, than there is not much need to do anything, of course. Although even in that case the best teams are always looking for improvements. THJ and Bertans certainly look like contracts that could get upgraded for more significant players. While Ntilikina and Chriss are cheap youngsters with theoretical upside, Brown and Burke are basically dead weight. Their role in regular season could be probably easily replaced by cheaper and younger or better players (or both) - either some youngsters or vet min vets.

But what if Mavs exit in next round or even WCF? Wouldn't that be just another indicator that simply working around the edges is not enough to transform this team into true contender? That bigger upgrades are needed? I would be really dissapointed if Mavs would just run it back in such a scenario.

Powell and Maxi might work good enough now, but they have considerable limitations. Maxi has been basically a zero offensively in 2 out of 5 games against Utah and had a bad game 1 in addition. Unless the opponent chooses to leave him completely open, he can't contribute much. Powell didn't provide much offensively without Luka. I totally agree they are great defensively and sure the team is winning and their plus/minus is positive. But how can we claim a better player in their place wouldn't have even higher +- and the wins wouldn't be even bigger? They both entered their thirties and are on expiring contracts. I would say this might be best time to upgrade one or both, if the opportunity comes.

Playoffs also show that we desperately need another wing in the mix as Bullock and DFS are playing crazy minutes. I can't really see THJ as an adequate replacement of any of them. Sure we can hope Green will improve more, but is that really enough? Couldn't we be much better if we upgrade one of them? 

Another thing to consider. Utah is a team without a true dangerous big wing with Bogi coming closely to that. Even he was a problem in a couple of games. How are the Mavs equipped to fight against some of those teams with big wings? Clippers for example, Denver will be huge with Jokic-MPJ-Gordon trio. 

These are all the reasons I would look very hard to upgrade the team. Doesn't have to be a star, but a better center (Turner, Holmes and perhaps Wood would fit the prototype that would fit the Mavs system) and a big two way wing would certainly be among offseason goals for me.