This Season Was A Success

[SleepingHero]

I expect Mavs to remain ambitious, but the jury is out if the new FO will actually be able to first create (convince player he wants to be in Dallas) and later execute a deal. Are we finally going to see some serious upgrade of the talent level? Doesn't have to be top tier player, just a solid two way player capable of playing defense and creating for himself. Or will we just be entitled to read how Mavs want to bring (for example) Lillard who will be traded to team X of his choosing a week or two later? Again...

Great post. 

I do want to say I think they have figured out Green. Before the season, most of us thought Green would be out of the league in a year under Carlisle and he had no discernable qualities that were worth any investment. Now? He could potentially be a good rotation player. That is a HUGE improvement. Kidd found a role for him and Green produced.

Now relative to other players, Green didn't do much at all in terms of counting stats, but relative to where he started he took a massive leap. One could only hope he can have a similar leap next season (although development is rarely linear).

I'm not surprised Green is underperforming in the playoffs. It's a different game and he's still essentially a rookie who hasn't gotten comfortable. 


Regarding the Mavs being ambitious (and failing), I agree with most of your points. The old regime blew opportunity after opportunity and failed to capitalize on what should've been the easiest time to build around Luka. So far the new regime hasn't been afraid to make moves. 

I do think you're underplaying the pick protections. The Mavs on paper do have only 1 pick owed the next 8 years, but that 1 pick cancels out 3 others (2022 and 2024 and 2025) till it's conveyed. So in reality the Mavs have 2 picks they use till 2023 draft. They can get creative and try and remove the protections to open up all their picks like we've discussed but until then the Mavs are stuck with trade packages with only 1st for the next year or so. 

This was a Donnie Nelson special. We were handicapped for years from the Rondo trade pick protections, and it seemed like he never learned his lesson. 

In any case, I also see Lillard on the horizon. Despite his injuries and age he'd be a difference maker right now against the Suns. I don't know if he'd be worth a Paul George/Harden/AD level package though.