2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[Branduil]

Dragic was a net positive in the playoffs (I know, 4 games and only 79 minutes). Was Dinwiddie a net positive?  Was he a net positive in his playoff minutes with Luka?  Was he a net positive in his playoff minutes with Brunson?  The answer to all of those questions is No BTW.  So, how is that one of our biggest strengths?  Dinwiddie was Luka's only negative pairing among the main rotation guys in the playoffs (Bullock, DFS, Brunson, Maxi, Powell and Bertans).  Brunson was negative when paired with Dinwiddie and Maxi amongst those top guys.

I've spent some time researching Wood's effectiveness at C and PF the last three seasons (especially the two seasons before this last one in Houston).  There is a huge improvement in team defensive numbers when Wood plays PF vs. when Wood plays C.  The issue seems to be the corresponding drop in O.  The issue both places isn't that Wood can't play PF offensively.  It is that Houston and Detroit just couldn't manufacture any O with a non-shooting center on the floor (mainly because they played at least one other non-shooter at the same time).  Will lack of O be an issue with Luka, Brunson, DFS and Wood on the floor together?  I don't think so.  

To be a champion, you have to win four series against all sorts of different lineups.  I think you have to be able to play big and you have to be able to play five-out.  We aren't there yet, but a deal like this gets us closer.  I don't think the cost is that great.

Dinwiddie had his struggles in the playoffs, but he was also one of our most clutch performers, both late in games and late in series. More importantly, Dinwiddie is only 29, while Dragic is 36. Father time is undefeated, as the saying goes.

I don't doubt bigger lineups can be useful at times, but we do have a guy who is already a good fit there in Maxi. In the long run, it's possible the Mavs will want to find a starting "big wing" who can split the difference as a perimeter defender and helpside shotblocker, but it's probably a good idea to see what Wood looks like as a solution here first.