04-16-2022, 11:36 AM
(04-16-2022, 11:00 AM)cow Wrote: At least until they knew what they had with Luka and had a better feeling for what would work well around him. We still have a long way to go until we are free of the ransom we gave up for getting and jettisoning KP. Cuban is impatient, that can't be argued.
As a person, I could see preferring THJ and even Spencer. Then again, we don't get an up close and personal look at CJ on the regular as Mavs fans. As a player, CJ is a tier or two above Spencer/THJ. There are health concerns to go around with all of the players now.
They got a center who if healthy was a great 3D center. Just the type of guy you wanted around Luka. Plus he could be the focal point for stretches when Luka was on the bench or hurt.
What no one could forecast was if he would stay healthy, if he could develop a 2 man game with Luka, if he was ok playing a 3D role and being just one of the other 4 options when Luka was on the floor, if he could grow other aspects of his game closer to the bucket. But even with just a 3D base skill he would have been great but even the D was affected by his injuries. Anthony Edwards recently made a comment about how everyone praises Gobert but KP was the most difficult shot blocker he played against.
Sure someone like a CJ would be able to get his own shot and so would need less integration time but there are other things that a center brings that CJ could not. Plus as I said even if you feel the right time was later, the Mavs are not guaranteed to get any stud. We have seen the years of hope and prayer and cap space amounting to nothing. IMO they absolutely had to take that chance when KP was made available.