06-20-2022, 05:57 PM
(06-20-2022, 03:05 PM)F Gump Wrote: I moved your backups in your chart to where I think they really fit. In the wrong places, it blurs the situation. You had Maxi sliding down to the 4, but if you think about it, that makes your big wing "hole" even smaller -- so I moved him to the backup big. I moved THJ up to the wings only - he's not a point, and won't be replacing any of the Mavs' big 3 there.
I don't disagree with a meritocracy idea. There are certainly some specific players I would love to have by using the txMLE, and good enough that I would just figure it out later on the minutes. Not sure any of them would want txMLE, but I don't mind letting them know we like them enough to offer every penny we can offer, and we can see them having a real place to contribute next to Luka and friends. Some are PF-ish wings with some defensive grit and who can make 3s; others are traditional centers who rebound/defend enough to be worth having a 4th big on the roster, where you end up having to use Wood or Maxi at the 4 with some regularity.
OTOH, I still don't think there's much of a minutes hole at the "big wing" behind DFS. DFS played 33 mpg last season, and if/when you also will be giving some PF minutes to Bertans when you need a sniper (and in a meritocracy, you will need that and he will be the guy), what's left? The big wing "problem" is really just a sliver of minutes, with plenty of other in-house ways to fill them.
I also think they will have an ongoing secondary agenda to cover, which is to spur development and trade values, for future needs. That's one reason I think it makes sense to give enough backup minutes to THJ and Bertans, so that their value to you gets better but also the perception of their desirability and trade value is enhanced. I suspect the Mavs will be shopping again at the TDL and then in summer 2023, and better assets to trade brings suitors with things you need.
I would argue that Maxi is backing up both Wood and Dorian. In a playoff setting, those three are going to split almost all of the frontcourt minutes. In the regular season we have Powell and Bertans as depth.
From a playoff standpoint, I see Bullock starting and Timmy coming in when Wood goes out to keep 2 of Maxi/Dorian/Bullock on the court. That is not a lot of minutes for THJ. If Green takes another step that is even less minutes.
I find myself leaning towards needing to send Timmy out if we are going to invest anything into another wing. I love the idea of sending him out for Hart or Trent, but I don't think that happens. I would be ok with Timmy plus Bertans/Powell for Tobias or Hayward but I can see the arguments against and I don't know if that happens either. I hate to even suggest this because I am not a fan of the player, but an argument could be made for some kind of Timmy for Oubre trade. Timmy is the better player but Oubre is the better fit and he is expiring.