2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[F Gump]

Brown/Pinson/Burke/Frankie/Chriss are all nightly DNP-CD guys, or at least were last season.(I skipped Boban because, well he's Boban.) I know there were injuries and what not, but is there really any upside to these guys other than towel waving?

Bobi and Pinson are chemistry/occasional player types, but since that's what the FO wants to do, it is what it is. It leaves 13 other slots to fill with players of various usefulness.

But let me opine about those bottom 5 players.

The fact that they don't play all 15 on a regular basis, or even 13, shouldn't be a cause for alarm. That's how it works in the NBA - teams have about 9-10 guys who get the minutes, and the others are deep backups who rarely play. So the fact the Mavs have 5 guys who rarely play is NBA business as usual. And it's a catch-22 in getting good players into those slots, because the player who can play wants to go someplace where he can regular minutes (in someones top 10) and better pay than you offer for those last 5 slots (which should be at or near the minimum salary, except for young developing draftees).

As for whether they have the correct bottom 5-6, they obviously will be weeding out some, just because of numbers. Theo is getting promoted, and pick 26 (who won't be NBA ready, when picked that low) is being added, so 2 have to go. Because of the cost (including a high tax), they are not likely to want to just cut anyones, unless they simply have no choice. IOW attrition will weed out a couple anyhow.

Bobi and Theo will be 2 of those bottom 5-6 players retunring. Pick 26 will presumably make the team and squeeze out someone, and he will be one of the bottom 5-6 also.

Franky seems like a keeper because he's cheap with upside, with use at times as a good defensive wing or a point (needing more work on his offense). Green is similar. Both are young and on cheap deals. But it's possible they pick one to keep, and swap one.

Burke imo is actually a very good fit in this sort of slot and likely to be kept. He knows the offense, has some skill, is willing to wait his turn, and is a backup for THREE key players (ie, if you're missing any of Luka, Brunson, or Dinwiddie, he's needed as a ball-handling playmaker). He's probably slightly overpaid, but not by enough to quibble about. (He will make 3.3, and his minimum is over 2.6.)

Chriss is on a minimum, looks like he has some upside and might make sense as the emergency big on a cheap deal, but could be supplanted by pick 26 or someone else added in free agency. We won't count Bobi as an emergency C since he isn't ever really used, and he isn't young with upside either, so there's probably an opening for Chriss or someone else to be the 3rd string, developing C. Why not Chriss, unless they end up with more than 2 other C's (right now, it's DP and Maxi).

Brown has shown us nothing and obviously should go (unless they see something in practice that he hasn't had a chance to show in games).

Trades could change the mix, of course. But unless they have more than 15 and are backed into a corner, don't see them waiving a bunch, and certainly don't expect they will be starting over on the bottom all at once. They do need to have in the mix some that they feel can emerge eventually into regulars, and that are being developed. It looks like they do have room for maybe 3 of those (however, hopefully 1 or more of those who develop into regulars in time might already be there, among Chriss, Franky, and Green.)