2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[F Gump]

I don’t get how MacMahon’s playoff rotation wing has turned into big wing or DFS backup here. 

For starters, I don’t think DFS plays that position. Seems like he’s guarding a PG nearly half the time. And he never posts up. What is big wingy about his role? 

Second, Luka is everything I think of as a big wing except that he also can handle the rock. He is so not a point guard that the team prioritized having 2 PGs on the roster beside him so he can always have at least one of them on the floor with him. Plus the dude is a monster on the boards. Do you think MacMahon was saying the Mavs’ priority now is Luka’s backup? Surely not, right? 

Third, I don’t get needing another wing anyway unless somebody’s about to be packing. Add a health Tim and newly arrived Christian to the 6-man playoff rotation and the rotation is already 8 deep. And there’s only room for 2 wings to play next to Luka and (a) 1 of Wood/Kleber plus (b) 1 of Brunson/Dinwiddie. Why isn’t Reggie, Doe-Doe, Tim, Josh, Frank enough to plug that 96-minute hole? Is a Hardaway to Orlando for Jonathan Isaac trade already in the makings? 

Fourth, why can’t Dinwiddie play wing in a pinch? Dude is 6’6. Plus there’s Maxi, who others have already pointed out can play next to a center. Why a wing rather than best player obtainable? I really don’t understand the conviction at all.

Unless, again, there’s already an outgoing wing deal waiting to be announced.

The "playoff-playable" roster looked like this:
   
         Starter      Backup

BIG       Maxi     _________

2-WAY WING   
           
            DFS
                        __________
     
            Bullock

POINT/CREATOR  

            Luka
                         Dinwiddie

            Brunson


Wood will fill the 1st opening, and might be the starter.

As for the 2nd opening, it's the backup to DFS/Bullock, where you need to be able to defend and you shoot 3s. THJ is the right size, and can shoot, but has question marks, because of his defense. But he might be the answer, and will certainly get opportunity to show it, if he's here. We can't assume he will make it, and most doubt the Mavs are satisfied at this point.

Some have theorized that the wing backup could be partly filled by THJ and partly by another player. We'll see.

*TM's ideas on needs are the same as the ideas here.
*Your thought of a THJ-for-Isaac swap is interesting.
*Luka is not a wing. He's an elite Point/Creator of Offense, who just happens to be much bigger than most who do that. Like Magic Johnson.
*Dinwiddie is great where he is, badly needed there (alternating with Luka and Brunson so there are always 2 on the court), and isn't the defender they want for a 2-way wing.
*Maxi likewise, he has his own role to fill so isn't the wing answer at this point. If they found a different playoff-playable big, who can provide both offense and defense, perhaps Maxi could become an answer for the wing, but not yet an option.