TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[DanSchwartzgan]

Mavs' greatest need is secondary ball-handler and elite point-of-attack defender. Ideally, one player does both.

This does feel a bit like a Mav’s type move.  My guess would be THJ/Powell for Simmons and one of the many $2mm guys off the Brooklyn Roster like Sharpe or Thomas.

I’d add to your list the ability to play alongside Wood defensively with size.   Wood/Maxi seems to work.  Defensively, Wood/Simmons would also work.  Obviously, Simmons isn’t the three point shooter Maxi is, but can he play on-ball some in lineups with Wood?  A big-big PnR or PnPop?  Simmons would essentially be a ‘point-center’ or ‘point-four’ depending on what you consider Wood. Replacing THJ with a plus defender would probably also allow you to get some minutes out of Bertans.

All of this is theoretical of course.  None of us know what 22/23 Simmons would look like here.  It is a huge gamble and we are playing with Luka’s future if they don’t get this one right.  Simmons doesn’t look right, but the give up is what?  Hardaway?  If it worked, you could have Simmons/Wood as your starting 4/5 for basically THJ and a late first (which you got back in the form of Thomas or Sharpe).  If it doesn’t work?  Heads roll and Luka is in LA in a few years.