05-25-2022, 05:52 AM
dirkfansince1998 Wrote:I like Saric and he would fit the Mavs style. If the Mavs could get the 20/21 small ball center version it would be a steal but trading for injured players is always risky.
Would add that Saric is an underrated defender. Obviously not a rim protector but once the Suns started to use him exclusively at center his on/off numbers looked great. In 20/21 the Suns defense was 4.5 points better with him on the floor. If he hasn´t lost his mobility he would fit into Kidd´s switch and rotation heavy scheme
Yeah it´s a risk, but not really, since it´s an expiring contract, too. Ideally though you don´t use the TPE, but rather salaries to get some cap and luxury tax relief. And there is a strategic component to such acquisitions, too. Saric will be 29 years old, so if he´s healthy, he still has a good 3-4 years at the top level left. He´s not such a high demand player that he´ll be expensive or is likely to bail on the Mavs. So basically you can test him, and if he succeeds you have a valuable roleplayer in his prime. Call it the Bobby Portis special.
Since I believe this will tie into the Ayton extension, maybe you can even get a pick out of this considering that he´s still injured as we speak and might not be available at the start of the next season.