2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[mvossman]

I think that is the main philosophical question. Does Mavs with the Doncic lead offense (and Brunson as second scorer) really need and can really integrate another "star". With a star being a player that demands the ball. Or is it more that we need high level role players, that are not really stars. Doncic and four guys that are treated more or less equally as the numbers of offensive opportunities they get. For example - are JRue and Middleton stars? Would they flourish as first options on any team? I don't think so. Was Jrue worth all those picks for Milwaukee? Absolutely.

In this light Grant certainly fits the description of a high end role player and fills the one crucial need the team has - big wing. So if one believes he is the one missing piece to lift this team to true contender status, I don't really care if his price is 2 FRP (without any other important rotation player going out). I go for it and try to win it all. Of course I can't judge about Grant wanting to be featured. Featured Grant does not fit on a contender - high level role player Grant fits a lot.

Perhaps if we look another way. I think line-up of Luka-Brunson-DFS-Bullock-Wood is not good enough to win it all, whoever we put on the bench behind them. So one of them needs to be replaced with another player coming in. Assuming Wood works out decently, our key pieces for next couple of years are Luka, Brunson, DFS and Wood, while Bullock can work perfectly from bench with Maxi, Powell and 6th man (lets say this is SD). Even if Brunson is the one going out, the big wing remains the true need for optimal roster construction, imho. So which player in the league would fit in that fourth roster spot perfectly, if there are no limitations? Everything else would require a much bigger overhaul of the roster.

My list of ideal 5th guy (big wing) to our core:
- Giannis
- Durant
- Kawhi
- LeBron
- Tatum
- JJJ
- Siakam
- S.Barnes
- Grant
- Hunter
- Aaron Gordon
- Harris
- Barnes
- Draymond Green
- RoCo
- Morris

So, how realistic it is we ever get one of the guys that are better than Grant?

We are replacing Bullock in the starting lineup, so I don't think it needs to be a big wing (although that is probably preferable).  Some other guys I would have ahead of Grant:

Jrue
Middleton
George
Brown
Fred (awkward fit with Brunson, but perfect fit with Luka)
Smart
Bane (ouch)
Mikal Bridges
Miles Bridges
Edwards
Ingram
Wiggins
Mobley
Anunoby
Wagner

Thats a lot of guys, a lot of them significantly better than Grant or younger.  Including your list that is over 20 guys.  A lot of them will not be available, but a couple should be.  This list could also grow with young guys taking a big step this coming season.