As it is now, I am perfectly happy with the trio of Luka, KP and THJ as our starters. We need an uprade for:
- DFS. This means a player that can guard opposing best guard/wing (smallest PG lie Irving will probably be delegated to Wright) who can shoot 3 and create a bit of offense to rest Luka. This means most expensive type of players. Porter was mentioned, but I wouldn't trade THJ for him, as this would create another hole in our starting unit and perhaps even make us worse based on OPJ production this year
- Powell. This means an excellent PnR guy who can guard opposing tough guys and switch on perimeter. I see Capella as the ideal guy. Turner might also be a good idea. Both are probably out of reach. I am not really sold on TT, as he also brings some of court baggage that probably wouldn't fit well in Dallas.
I think this season we should concentrate on gathering assets by taking a couple of bad contracts for Lee and TE. Than we can create a significant move in summer, where we will have considerable assets.
Leaving 2021 pipedreams asside I would construct a team in a following way until end of 2020 TDL:
1. trade for Bogdanovic or Malik Beasley at TDL for a minor asset (GSW 2nd round, Brunson,...) if their team recognizes they will not be able to resign them. This would be a replacement for THJ role - similar production for lower price. If this can't be done, I would try to sign Beasley for Midlevel exception in summer of 2020 or do a SnT for any of them. If we don't move Lee for salary, some cap space would open in 2020 - an option is to target Fournier with that. There are a couple of options to improve this role in our starting five without really taking a toll on our assets.
2. After 1 I would trade THJ + assets for a DFS replacement. OPJ might be a straight up option now, although THJ is basically a poor mans LaVine so I am not sure how interested Chicago would be. Lee+DFS+Jackson or something similar might be more attractive for Chicago, especially if we take that Felicio contract in the TE. I just don't see anyone else available that would fit the criteria atm. Either they are good on offense and much worse on defense or basically same thing as we have in DFS.
3. Upgrading Powell is more difficult. I don't see any suitable free agents in 2020. My pipe dream would be Capella. Give Houston Powell ("Capella light"), Seth Curry and Broekhoff as they desperatelly need excellent shooters. Plus a couple of our best possible picks. Perhaps in 2020 with our first rounder.
Assuming we traded Brunson, Seth, Broekhoff, THJ and Powell, we would need to sign another bench shooter, which we can sign in 2020. Forbes, Korkmaz or Daniels could be feasible cheap options.
This would leave us with:
Luka
Beasley, Bogdanovic or Fournier
Porter
Capella
KP
and bench:
Wright
Korkmaz
DFS, Jackson
Maxi
Boban
Reaves and Roby can be included in top 15. We need 3rd string PG and big.
- DFS. This means a player that can guard opposing best guard/wing (smallest PG lie Irving will probably be delegated to Wright) who can shoot 3 and create a bit of offense to rest Luka. This means most expensive type of players. Porter was mentioned, but I wouldn't trade THJ for him, as this would create another hole in our starting unit and perhaps even make us worse based on OPJ production this year
- Powell. This means an excellent PnR guy who can guard opposing tough guys and switch on perimeter. I see Capella as the ideal guy. Turner might also be a good idea. Both are probably out of reach. I am not really sold on TT, as he also brings some of court baggage that probably wouldn't fit well in Dallas.
I think this season we should concentrate on gathering assets by taking a couple of bad contracts for Lee and TE. Than we can create a significant move in summer, where we will have considerable assets.
Leaving 2021 pipedreams asside I would construct a team in a following way until end of 2020 TDL:
1. trade for Bogdanovic or Malik Beasley at TDL for a minor asset (GSW 2nd round, Brunson,...) if their team recognizes they will not be able to resign them. This would be a replacement for THJ role - similar production for lower price. If this can't be done, I would try to sign Beasley for Midlevel exception in summer of 2020 or do a SnT for any of them. If we don't move Lee for salary, some cap space would open in 2020 - an option is to target Fournier with that. There are a couple of options to improve this role in our starting five without really taking a toll on our assets.
2. After 1 I would trade THJ + assets for a DFS replacement. OPJ might be a straight up option now, although THJ is basically a poor mans LaVine so I am not sure how interested Chicago would be. Lee+DFS+Jackson or something similar might be more attractive for Chicago, especially if we take that Felicio contract in the TE. I just don't see anyone else available that would fit the criteria atm. Either they are good on offense and much worse on defense or basically same thing as we have in DFS.
3. Upgrading Powell is more difficult. I don't see any suitable free agents in 2020. My pipe dream would be Capella. Give Houston Powell ("Capella light"), Seth Curry and Broekhoff as they desperatelly need excellent shooters. Plus a couple of our best possible picks. Perhaps in 2020 with our first rounder.
Assuming we traded Brunson, Seth, Broekhoff, THJ and Powell, we would need to sign another bench shooter, which we can sign in 2020. Forbes, Korkmaz or Daniels could be feasible cheap options.
This would leave us with:
Luka
Beasley, Bogdanovic or Fournier
Porter
Capella
KP
and bench:
Wright
Korkmaz
DFS, Jackson
Maxi
Boban
Reaves and Roby can be included in top 15. We need 3rd string PG and big.