TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[Dahlsim]

I think he already looked very similar to this in the series against the Suns. Mavs targeted him and the Suns quickly benched him. Giving most of his minutes to Biyombo. 

Good insights on all your points.     
The Mavs played him off the floor but then they went out and not only signed him to a nice contract but penciled him in as their starter. 
Still curiouser and curiouser. 

So it could simply be the natural decline of a guy in his mid 30s. McGee needs his athleticism. He was never known for his fundamendals. So even a slight decline can make a big difference.

Always possible with guys at the McGee age range now 34 almost 35. Good point. 
Still I think this change in effectiveness is too fast and too severe imo to be simply the 'natural decline'. 
Mavs signed him to 3 years so they didn't think the drop off had come yet to this degree. 

Another thing was mentioned in one of the post game interviews a couple of weeks ago. McGee always played drop defense. Giving up the jumper but playing to his strengths around the rim. I would have expected something similar in Dallas but it was mentioned that they are asking him to play higher up on defense. Not changing the scheme for him. Basically asking him to play like Powell or Kleber. Really confused me because if that´s what they want him to do I have no clue why they signed him in the first place.

Yeah, I'm suspecting scheme and usage to be the biggest factor here.  Knowing Kidd and his coaching staff's style somehow its not something this version of a MBT anticipated? 

And when we look at McGee´s contribution on championship teams we should at least mention that for the most part he was a regular season body. Losing most of his minutes or even his spot in the rotation in the playoffs. I guess that is what the Mavs hoped for (especially reducing Kleber´s work load in the regular season) but it´s not like McGee´s limitations are a secret. And it´s not like he is the only "dinosaur" that is struggling. Teams are simply getting better and better on offense. Simply know how to expose liabilities. Even in the regular season. 

Hmm, I really don't think dinosaurism is likely the most prominent factor here.  In terms of the playoffs, it depends on which playoff series you're referring too but McGee had his moments regular season and playoffs.  According to Nico in the article I referenced if anything they say they got McGee more for the stretch run to get that veteran championship pedigree. 

GSW for example was not exactly a dinosaur friendly roster or scheme. 

Isn't it possible to exploit almost any big center in the playoffs?  Heck even Jokic isn't immune to that. Its still a question of whether the big gives more to your team when he's on the floor than he takes away.  Can you exploit an advantage more than the opponent can exploit their mismatch. 

Right now clearly the Kidd and company cannot which is why at this point it looks like a big offseason miscalculation was made on McGee.  Maybe they can still right the ship and find a way to use the 3x NBA champion?