07-09-2022, 02:58 PM
(07-09-2022, 02:50 PM)Kammrath Wrote: 1) I know many are dismissing Skin Wade saying that he believes the Mavs are gearing up for a big trade for a wing this summer, but I do not. I know many struggle with having their hopes and expectations dashed and so they don't want to go down that road emotionally. That's fine. But as for me, that already felt like the natural direction and then we have had MacMahon and Stein say they prioritizing the search for a playoff wing AND Skin Wade spell it out pretty clearly IMO.
2) Even if nothing else happens (which is always a possibility in life), I am not worried. I see the playoff rotation as:
The mainstays...
Luka
SD
DFS
CW
RB
Maxi
THJ
As needed...
McGee
DP
FN
JG
DB
JH?
I have confidence in finding some key minutes from some of those guys as needed. In the playoffs, McGee was great for stretches but suffered in others (-1.1 on/off overall). DB was great in his limited time (+3.7 on/off). DP was actually part of great team success when he got time (+5.4 on/off). FN was great defensively in the playoffs (+10.6 on/off D), but killed the O (-16.7) because his shot was not falling (but I still like his shot and think with time it WILL come around). JG was basically unplayable (-10.7), but I expect him to have a big jump this year.
So yeah a reliable playoff wing IS what the Mavs need (it was the weak spot this past year other than having to play so small) and all reports point to them knowing that. But even in the worse case scenario I am comfortable with the team as is.
If #1 happens, I will very likely feel much better. Agreed there, as far as “the fat lady hasn’t sung yet.”
On your #2…I agree with your tiers (exactly how I see things) but don’t share your confidence that the options available in your second level will be sufficient. They might be, if one of those young guys claims a spot in the rotation definitively, but I don’t want “8th man by committee.” That’s not flexibility, that’s “we don’t really have an 8th man.” Essentially, they’ve changed Brunson out for Wood (when looking at their playoff rotation players) and added THJ.