TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[KillerLeft]

That's a really interesting take  --- that they plan to make THJ, in essence, the 3rd guy (ie give him those minutes) in order to either have a 3rd creator no one anticipated, or to build his value to trade for one.

I haven't seen anyone else offer that analysis, and it does make sense in explaining Dragic and the Mavs' inaction in general. It also explains where THJ is going to be used. He certainly doesn't have the defensive chops to rotate with DFS/Bullock and be the 3rd wing. Well done.

This has crossed my mind several times over the off-season, but it doesn't lead me to "Hardaway is the 3rd creator." More like "they'll only roll with two creators." Hardaway IS better suited to play off-guard than he is the 3, so it's not crazy, it just means they wouldn't have two creators on the floor at all times this time around. 

My issue isn't with that, because that's how most teams operate. But, Dinwiddie is an injury concern, and since Dragic didn't want their Burke job, I feel pretty strongly that they need someone to take it. You know, because Luka and Dinwiddie will both likely miss at least a few games along the way. 

Also, if that's the plan, I feel like Hardaway starting to help provide space for that Luka/McGee pnr action makes a ton of sense, offensively. Save the Luka/Dinwiddie (together) minutes for the 4th, in my opinion.