TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[F Gump]

So, weak side shot blocker is what I think of with both Maxi and Wood, at least what they would/are best at. 

I wouldn’t say Maxi was all that good with rim protection when he was the only one, but weak side? I think he’s deceptively good at that. I would want both he and Wood on the court playing weak side shot blocker while they are in with McGee. When both are in you’re probably right that Maxi anchors while Wood hunts. Then the moments 1 of them is in with neither of the other 2 they will be forced to play anchor. I don’t expect a lot of minutes of that last scenario, it’ll be more of an in game decision.

With Maxi’s age/back issues (or back expiration date) and with McGee’s limited optimal usage, I think Wood will find himself out there by himself much moreso than the other two, as I don’t think Powell will be more than injury insurance. So I expect that that is some of what Nico and Kidd are saying when they say he’s gonna need to prove some stuff to us.

To change the topic now since we’re talking about Maxi. I don’t see why Maxi at age 31 and with the injury issues he has when he is overplayed and the recurring back issues is worth close to MLE money going forward. He has been worth that money, but back issues never get better as a person ages and if you’re not gonna overpay Brunson, I think Maxi is a worse bet that he’ll live up to the contract than JB. If teams ignore that and are willing to pay MLE money for him, I think there would be better uses for that money.

Also, I’m a big fan of Maxi’s, so it’s not sour grapes, just what I believe is a fair assessment of what he’ll bring to the table going forward. First year in the playoffs Maxi hurt his back in the 3rd game and the difference in play was night and day. Second year he hurt his back just before the playoffs and wasn’t very effective throughout. This year he played what I think was an injury free playoffs and he looked really good. Just not sure what we’re gonna get with him year to year.

If MLE money can get us Bullock who can play 40 mpg as a starter in the playoffs, why are we messing around with paying that same money for a guy that can give you 20-25 mpg throughout the season on 3/4 of the games and be hoping that he gets into the playoffs healthy?

1 Player value evaluation rarely works as clean and logically as that, unfortunately.
2 While you point to the limits or issues w Maxi, it's arguable that when he's playing and healthy, he's worth FAR MORE than the MLE.
3 One big overlooked part of the equation is the combo of replacement COST (what will it cost in free agency to get someone as good or better) and replacement AVAILABILITY (this not only has the issue of whether you can find another like him, but also whether you will have the ability within the rules and the negotiating skills to get him). The "bird in the hand" axiom is a really big deal.
.... Your Bullock comment speaks to that. It assumes "oh, we'll just go get another Maxi whenever we want, at the price we want" and that's just not how the NBA works. And, you don't get awarded another MLE to replace Maxi if he walks, and in free agency you're stuck filling the same hole you just made and making no progress. Or going BACKWARD. (See Brunson, J.)