(07-28-2022, 09:09 AM)omahen Wrote: I am saying Dallas didn't improve and has weak chances to improve in the future compared to competition. Teams in front of Dallas stayed the same and several other teams that were just a bit behind Dallas last season improved significantly. I am saying, Mavs are not able to build a contender.
While I agree with your general assessment of this FO incompetence since the Luka draft, I think your outlook is a little pessimistic. Looking at some of the teams on your list:
Suns: I don't think Booker can lead a team by himself and Pual is running into father time. Add a disgruntled Ayton on his max and I don't think this team has long term staying power as a contender
Warriors: Given the injury history and age, it is a minor miracle their big three stayed healthy throughout the playoffs. That may never happen again, and now Draymond is looking for his max.
Clippers: This team is getting old across the board and you have to wonder about Kawhi's long term health. They might have one ring in them if they can stay healthy.
When I look at the future landscape in Luka's prime years, I see Memphis and Dallas (if we don't continue to completely screw it up) as the most likely contenders, and maybe Denver if they can stay healthy (that's a big if). Memphis has definitely built a better team around Morant, but I think Luka will always be the better player. Lets also not forget that for all the mistakes this FO has made, the single most important decision in last 5 years in the NBA was the Luka trade, and that was with Memphis ahead of us in the draft order.
In less than a year we will have access to all of our picks and plenty of salary filling contracts for a big trade. That should be enough to land a top 40 player, which is all I think we need next to Luka along with a group of quality role players to be a contender. We completely screwed this up with KP, and I think we have one more chance to get it right.