(04-16-2022, 11:36 AM)hakeemfaan Wrote: 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.
KP didn't work with Luka even with healthy KP's best stretches with the Mavs were with Luka hurt. Hindsight and all but I think a better front office wouldn't have made that move. KP was a cherry on top move and the Mavs mostly didn't have bananas, whipped cream, syrup or other toppings to go with their Slovenian ice cream (which you already owed future assets for). KP was a gamble on health alone and the amount of asset spent took away a lot of future opportunities. My post wasn't specifically about CJ but more of the opportunities to get guys like CJ once you've built a better foundation and collected assets.
(04-16-2022, 11:34 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I'll agree he's a tier or two above THJ. IF (big, big if) Dinwiddie can play during these first couple of games without Luka the way he has played since coming here to Dallas, I think he might be my favorite of the three. I just love how he gets to the free throw line!
I just love Spencer in interviews and how he's integrated himself into this team and happily taken on any role given. If CJ is a borderline star, I think Spencer is probably a peg below that. And that's not a knock.