2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[F Gump]

2. I don't see much need for another backup. Luka, Brunson, Dinwiddie, Ntilikina can all take minutes at the 1. All of those guys plus Hardaway, Green, Brown, and Pinson can take minutes at the 2. Depending on who they draft you might be able to add another name to that list. I'm really struggling to see the downside of losing a guy who appears in half the games for 10 minutes. 

 

I would also prioritize upgrading the top end of the roster rather than "upgrading Burke". However, that doesn't mean that the bottom half of the roster is somehow untouchable. I certainly expect them to try landing an upgrade at center through trade, but I think they are going to have a hard time pulling it off. If no major deal happens, it seems unavoidable that guys like Burke and Brown will be on the chopping block.

*"I don't see much need for another backup. Luka, Brunson, Dinwiddie, Ntilikina can all take minutes at the 1. All of those guys plus Hardaway, Green, Brown, and Pinson can take minutes at the 2." ..... That's not the way the Mavs want to run their O. They want to have two on the floor who can create offense.

Luka, JB, SD -- that trio is perfect. Play 2, sit 1.

But if one of those 3 is out, they end up struggling unless they have another player to use to create offense. That has been Burke. They wouldn't expect it to be Franky, Green, THJ, Brown, or Pinson (they would like for Franky or Green to be able to be that guy, but tried last year and it didn't work; they don't have the skills, at least not yet).

That doesn't mean Burke has to be that extra guy. But he's already here, and no one else can do it. His contract is guaranteed so he won't be waived. It's mot much over the minimum. I don't think they would expend effort or assets to make a change.

*"that doesn't mean that the bottom half of the roster is somehow untouchable." ...Who said it was? Certainly not me. But I think guys who have a proven ability to fill a certain need (like Burke) are more likely to be kept than those who do neither. The fact that Burke is your insurance policy for THREE players makes him (or someone like him) important to have.