10-14-2023, 01:47 PM
(10-12-2023, 10:53 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: SF will be very interesting to follow this year. I just have a feeling Mavs don't think they have their long term starter at that position currently (I think they see Josh Green as heavy minute bench guy). So the start of the season will be important for Josh to take that opportunity and run with it. I was higher on Brunson's upside than I am with Green's, but the team had some of the same reservations on Brunson's role (and that bothered me so much ha). Jalen took the opportunity and ran with it. It just feels like the Mavs were looking for a starting SF this offseason (Bogdanovich, Bruce Brown, Dillon Brooks, Thybulle were the ones we heard about). I think SF is the most likely position the team tries to use their assets to fill eventually. Lets see if Green can change their mind.
I am not an expert on Omax prior to the draft. Maybe he doesn't work out. He probably will be outside of the main rotation to begin the year and may just get small doses of playing time. I wouldn't discount him this year though. I think he does a lot of things that will help this team once the game slows down for him a little. His three point shot and ball handling looks a little rough and that will take time. I just think he could provide some valuable things this team needs as the season goes along.
As far as Center goes, things get tricky. You have to expect even in the best case Lively is going to have rough spots (games, week, weeks?). 82 games is a long season for a rookie. My hope is Lively can provide 15-20 minutes of solid play. Same for Dwight Powell. Lets say that gives us 30 minutes of respectable center play. The rest I think we see Grant and maybe Maxi paired together. Grant can guard the big strong guy and Maxi can float a little and be the off ball shot blocker. Maybe that is where Derrick Jones can find minutes in the grouping.
I love OMax, but without any ballhandling skills and shooting he'll never break into the rotation. I'd almost play him as point forward for the Legends.
Ya, the center situation is abysmal. Lively at most will give us 20 mins in 60 games. That's only 1,200 minutes for the required 4,000 minutes at C. Do we really think we can get those 2,800 from Powell, Holmes, and Maxi?