02-17-2024, 02:33 PM
(02-17-2024, 01:41 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: I'm very huge on "bring back the band" for next year already. While I think it could be a good idea to trade THJ and seconds and/or one first for a really solid upgrade, I am quite content with the 8-man of Luka-Kyrie-Green-Washington-Lively-Exum-Maxi-Gafford. To me, the biggest make-or-break for the 2024-25 season is a somewhat under-the-radar one - they must give OMax real minutes and genuinely develop him. He has the potential to be a huge part of the future, but if they don't develop him, they'll have screwed that pooch. As a matter of fact, a silver lining if they can't keep DJJ will be ***give those minutes to OMax,*** full stop.
One underconsidered reason why the Mavs should start stockpiling more assets is that whenever we move on from Kyrie (or he forces his way out, which at this point doesn't appear to be anytime soon), replacing him as the second star is going to be exorbitantly expensive. They need to have their eyes open for who that guy is already, tbqh.
Agree with your post except I'm not sure where they'll be able to find minutes for OMax this season. PJ, Maxi and DJJ are all clearly better players than OMax and as we're fighting for playoff position, it will be difficult to find any minutes for him unless there are more injuries. I'd rather have him play in G-league and work on his shooting.
I'm hoping the eventual THJ replacement is Jaden Hardy. He has improved to the point where he is less bad on defense than THJ. Hardy will have to develop as a movement shooter. If he can improve that, he'll be our clear THJ replacement. We can then either use THJ as an expiring contract in a trade or simply let him expire after next season. At that point, we'll need to re-sign Kyrie, Exum and Jaden Hardy himself. We might need THJ's money to keep the rest of the team together.