2021-2022 AROUND the NBA: GSW Champs [ARCHIVED]

[KillerLeft]

Gobert is one of the names I'm keeping an eye on for this summer.  He's a salary match for THJ + Powell.  That contract is daunting, but it might play a role in holding down the outgoing compensation needed in terms of picks.  There is a chance things get ugly in Utah come playoff time.  It would be opportunistic.  It would also be VERY expensive.

It is kind of easy to project Gobert here as being better than Gobert there.  He's just a much better version of Powell at both ends.  One difference between Gobert being able to stay on the floor here versus in Utah is Dallas just has better defenders.  We can go small if absolutely necessary and still hold our own better than Utah can.  The question isn't whether Gobert can guard the perimeter when a team goes small.  The question is whether his team can punish the opponent who tries it.  Gobert has a massively positive impact on winning when he's on the floor.  There are very few players like him.  

This is complicated...and risky. 

Gobert is AWESOME. I'm one of his biggest fans here, I believe. @"Kammrath" helped me see the light. And, I do agree he'd be an upgrade over Powell in most ways, even on offense (where Powell is harder to improve upon than people think, imo). 

But, while Gobert is more "switchable" than people think he is, he is less switchable than the Mavs might want him to be, given the plan we think we're seeing right now. Who knows, maybe it's less a plan and more just necessity with who they have left, but it feels more like they want to play quicker, 6'9"-6'11" guys, to me. 

I was ready to trade KP for Gobert a week ago (lol, man was my valuation off!) but now that he's gone? I'm feeling very unburdened not to have a high-priced, "star" center that I feel must be played down the stretch. If I feel that way, I wonder how Kidd feels?