07-10-2022, 01:25 PM
To play devils advocate, Jamal Murray is going to be making $36 in the final year of his contract in a couple years. FVV just signed an extension giving him $30 in the last two years of his deal. Brunson is in the ballpark of those two guys—I think they are both better players. FVV and Murray shoot on more volume from 3 and both, especially Van Vleet, are better defenders/playmakers. But I think if there are any 3 ways Jalen can continue to improve its those exact things (especially playmaking and 3 point volume). Well run teams don’t let players/assets walk for nothing. Denver and Toronto being two of the best run, in my opinion. Well run organizations are a step or two ahead (see SA trading DeJounte). ATL re-upped Huerter and are likely going to do the same soon with Collins. I like the trade for Wood but it was followed by the twin disappointments of losing Brunson and then not signing Dragic (again). Brunson obviously being the bigger blow. Except, this franchise goes as Luka goes. And I would hate to think they are doing anything to make him feel worse about the organization— like letting one of his best buds walk, or not signing Dragic because that “something better!” Is always teased just around the horizon. I just think that, once again, this has been a “bad look” offseason for the Mavs. The aggregate fuck-ups compound. For me at least. Until it’s consistently shown otherwise, the evidence and my instincts are going to see “Mark Cuban: Chaos Agent” as the unchanging variable. Whatever advances we make with Kidd and Nico it seems that is still something that will continually have to be overcome. Doesn’t bode well. But I’d love to be proven wrong. I really wanted to see Luka’s workload decreased. Now we are down a ball handler/creator. Curious to see how they recover.