Bullock Bust Watch

[KillerLeft]

Love the debate. Agree it’s early. But this is what the road to bust looks like. Two things worry me that small sample size isn’t the explanation:

1. Contract year. Maybe last year’s motivation ain’t never coming back?

2. Playing time. Even the coaches, who see lots of practice mins from him, haven’t used him like a prized signing. They’ve seen how he practices and adjudged him not a starter. Not a 6th man. Not really looking like a 7th man either. 

Lots of time to turn it around. But no need to act like the direction it’s heading is anything other than awful.

These are valid points. I think the difference in how Bullock's start is viewed boils down to this:

1) Some people saw that he was the biggest signing of the summer and assumed that meant the Mavs believed he would be a starter and a difference maker. Their belief that there were other options at MLE money who WOULD'VE moved the needle this way (maybe they're right) prompts them to hold Bullock to that standard. Anything less equals disappointment. 

2) Others thought he was a decent player signing on to play a slightly smaller role for a slightly better team (but one with far, far more upside), and that the MLE was simply the cost of winning a player the Mavs thought would fit well into their plans, regardless of his role. 

I don't mean to claim that either of those groups is more "correct" than the other. Those who feel the use of the MLE was a missed opportunity for a more needed/better player might very well have a legitimate complaint. I'm just pointing out that it's very possible that the Mavs don't view Bullock earning a high-minute role as the measuring stick of value in his case. It's possible that he's playing exactly the role/minutes they envisioned when signing him. Personally, I think the only way MLE money can be viewed as a negative in this conversation is when other players we think (but don't know) could've been had at a near or identical price are used comparatively. There's nothing about "he's making the MLE" that makes me assume he's gong to be a top-6 guy on any team in a vacuum. 

Then again, maybe he will be a high minute, closing type more often as the season goes. 

One thing I'm sure we can all find common ground on is that he needs to start converting on those catch-and-shoot opportunities. I believe he will, personally.