Powell. One of the most polarizing players on the team (the most now that THJ proved his haters wrong).
Dwight is not bad at basketball. Looking at the 2 other centers people have mentioned thrived in Rick's system (Tyson, Wright), DP is a hybrid of both. All three had one thing in common, excellent rim rollers and lob threats. DP is not as well rounded as Tyson (Tyson could hit midrange shots, rebound and was also an elite defender) Wright is the opposite, more specialized in rim rolling, but not as physical and good at defense as Dwight. Dwight is a bigger Wright, and he clearly fits in our offensive system very well. When we criticize him, understand it is all relative. He is asked to do a lot for this team (more than he is capable of often) especially when KP is out. Dwight Powell is an excellent rollman and lob threat; he brings contagious energy and hustle, and exemplifies the Mavs culture. He is important to this team.
A good team is one where all the pieces fit and can cover for eachothers weaker areas. KP and dwight fit perfectly as far as offensive skillset, a huge reason for our elite offense.
The issue is that, due to his defensive deficiencies and poor rebounding, KP has to work so much harder on those ends (Luka on the boards as well). Lebron's bigmen pound KP and the problem is that Dwight Powell cannot do what KP does on defense and on the boards. KP should ideally not have to check the opposing teams best bigs because he is just does not have the frame and body to take that sort of beating on a nightly basis; while also being asked to carry the offensive load behind Luka.He got injured by Howard, which is why hes out rn. I am worried about his long term durability if the situation is not addressed.
What this team needs to be worried about is both LA matchups in the playoffs. They will kill us on the wing and in the paint.
Bron's team has 3 very physical bigs, who always dominate us and go at KP hard.
The Clippers have two of the best two-way forwards in the league and Montrezl is a force to be reckoned with as well. DFS has shown he can hold his own, but he needs help on defense for this matchup especially.
We address these issues through trades (im focusing in contending this year because we have a legit shot).
ideally we add a wing/forward and another center.no high risk trades because we don't need that rn. We have the best offense, and with upgrades to those positions, we can confidently go into the playoffs.
Wings:
ROCO, Bogdanovic, Iguodala
Bigs:
Dieng, Favors, Baynes, Mahinmi, Gordon, Bamba, Dedmon
My ideal trade scenario is with Minny for ROCO/Dieng. Roco is everything we hoped Wes could be and is bigger more positionally flexible. Dieng is extremely underrated and young. He is athletic, can shoot threes and midrange, has a post game, and can rum run and catch lobs. He has shown he wants to win and has clashed with Minny. The thing is even Jimmy Butler did that for the same reasons. Dieng is cut from that cloth, hes a competitor and has said all he wants to do is win games (Kat and Maple Jordan aren't exactly known for their competetive fire). Gorgui can bang with the opposition to keep them off KP and Luka a bit. In every sense, he is a truly well rounded, multidimensional player,
and I can only dream of what Rick could turn him into (I truly believe an all-star caliber big).
As far as outgoing pieces:
Lee, Wright, Jackson, non GS 2nd round pick
GS 2nd (hopefully keep, but more expendable than Brunson/Powell)
Brunson, Dwight Powell (ideally we keep them)
I really think if we end up not making trades for some pipedream 21 scenario, we are taking a HUGE risk. We have a chance to win right now, and you have to take it. Anything can happen in the NBA, and with the best offense in nba history now is the time to strike.
^I may be forgetting some other guys out there but those were who came to mind
Dwight is not bad at basketball. Looking at the 2 other centers people have mentioned thrived in Rick's system (Tyson, Wright), DP is a hybrid of both. All three had one thing in common, excellent rim rollers and lob threats. DP is not as well rounded as Tyson (Tyson could hit midrange shots, rebound and was also an elite defender) Wright is the opposite, more specialized in rim rolling, but not as physical and good at defense as Dwight. Dwight is a bigger Wright, and he clearly fits in our offensive system very well. When we criticize him, understand it is all relative. He is asked to do a lot for this team (more than he is capable of often) especially when KP is out. Dwight Powell is an excellent rollman and lob threat; he brings contagious energy and hustle, and exemplifies the Mavs culture. He is important to this team.
A good team is one where all the pieces fit and can cover for eachothers weaker areas. KP and dwight fit perfectly as far as offensive skillset, a huge reason for our elite offense.
The issue is that, due to his defensive deficiencies and poor rebounding, KP has to work so much harder on those ends (Luka on the boards as well). Lebron's bigmen pound KP and the problem is that Dwight Powell cannot do what KP does on defense and on the boards. KP should ideally not have to check the opposing teams best bigs because he is just does not have the frame and body to take that sort of beating on a nightly basis; while also being asked to carry the offensive load behind Luka.He got injured by Howard, which is why hes out rn. I am worried about his long term durability if the situation is not addressed.
What this team needs to be worried about is both LA matchups in the playoffs. They will kill us on the wing and in the paint.
Bron's team has 3 very physical bigs, who always dominate us and go at KP hard.
The Clippers have two of the best two-way forwards in the league and Montrezl is a force to be reckoned with as well. DFS has shown he can hold his own, but he needs help on defense for this matchup especially.
We address these issues through trades (im focusing in contending this year because we have a legit shot).
ideally we add a wing/forward and another center.no high risk trades because we don't need that rn. We have the best offense, and with upgrades to those positions, we can confidently go into the playoffs.
Wings:
ROCO, Bogdanovic, Iguodala
Bigs:
Dieng, Favors, Baynes, Mahinmi, Gordon, Bamba, Dedmon
My ideal trade scenario is with Minny for ROCO/Dieng. Roco is everything we hoped Wes could be and is bigger more positionally flexible. Dieng is extremely underrated and young. He is athletic, can shoot threes and midrange, has a post game, and can rum run and catch lobs. He has shown he wants to win and has clashed with Minny. The thing is even Jimmy Butler did that for the same reasons. Dieng is cut from that cloth, hes a competitor and has said all he wants to do is win games (Kat and Maple Jordan aren't exactly known for their competetive fire). Gorgui can bang with the opposition to keep them off KP and Luka a bit. In every sense, he is a truly well rounded, multidimensional player,
and I can only dream of what Rick could turn him into (I truly believe an all-star caliber big).
As far as outgoing pieces:
Lee, Wright, Jackson, non GS 2nd round pick
GS 2nd (hopefully keep, but more expendable than Brunson/Powell)
Brunson, Dwight Powell (ideally we keep them)
I really think if we end up not making trades for some pipedream 21 scenario, we are taking a HUGE risk. We have a chance to win right now, and you have to take it. Anything can happen in the NBA, and with the best offense in nba history now is the time to strike.
^I may be forgetting some other guys out there but those were who came to mind