09-09-2020, 12:00 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-09-2020, 12:06 AM by Scott41theMavs.)
(09-08-2020, 10:25 PM)SleepingHero Wrote:(09-08-2020, 07:10 PM)Omega_Supreme Wrote: I know this is not possible but I think there are a few super stars in this draft. I know the Mavericks do not have much to move up but if we could package resources I will be all in on going after USC big man Onyeka Okongwu.
I think this kid is going to be a superstar and may slide in the top 10. One of the things we don't have is a big guy that can score on the inside. We are too perimeter oriented and rely to much on Luka's playmaking. This is a guy that you can throw it inside to and can score. I think you can slide him into the 4 spot as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1qUx5SwhXA&t=350s
It's an interesting idea, but I have to ask why would the Mavs invest in what little they have left in tradeable assets to move up and select a big man, when the league is trending further and further away from any sort of big guy on the floor?
On top of that the risk that comes with investing those assets to go and hope a rookie develops into something seems like focusing on the wrong thing. Another question is to ask, does a team that wants to take the next step in contending really want to rely on a rookie to bring them there? I made a post earlier saying the last time any rookie had a major impact on taking a team to the next level was Tim Duncan. It rarely, if ever, happens.
Lastly, this all depends on how much it costs to move up. If all it costs is say 18+31 and Wright to select someone like Okongwu? Well I'd be mad if the Mavs didn't go for that. But I doubt it'd be so easy. Also, I would totally change my tune if Luka wasn't as good as he is right now. The dude just put up 30/10/10 on 50% shooting in the dang playoffs. He's the most win-now dude I've ever seen. Waiting on a rookie to develop and hope he becomes the guy the Mavs need seems like wasted time.
It's funny because I like Okongwu. I think he has a better chance than most in this draft to be something in this league, but I don't know if he'd get fair chance on the Mavs to get there.
Thing is, I see other franchises able to start and incorporate rookies in their starting lineups all the time. I think it speaks poorly to the Mavs' talent scouting and coaching staffs that we as a fan base can't count on them to do that. No rookie that we would draft (whether at 18 or even at the first pick) in this draft would be counted on to be more than our third-best player at best. All we're looking for, whether in draft, trade, or free agency, is a couple of guys who are better than our legion of objective bench-level players who play alongside Luka, KP (when he's healthy), THJ (who cannot be part of the future and had better not be here by the 2020-2021 TDL, since he plays inadequate defense in the starting lineup of a team which includes Luka Doncic), and DFS (who might be fine as the fifth-best starter, and will probably have to be).
Folks who think we're expecting too much, in terms of talent at least, from a rookie in this year's draft are choosing to be willfully ignorant of how bad this roster is outside of Luka and KP. I like many of the other players a great deal, but none of those guys is competent to be the third or fourth best player on a contending team. Considering that I've already shipped out THJ in my roster planning for the next year or two, I don't think that it's too much to ask that we find a way to get two players better than Dorian freaking-Finney-Smith. What we need is 1) for Donnie to identify the player who can contribute right away (draft for floor and readiness, as well as defense and shooting) and 2) for our coach to have the fundamental acumen to find ways for a young guy to succeed in a winning context. I have a little bit of confidence in #1, and virtually none in #2. Remember that the Harris-Howard-Daniels year was ***not*** with RC as our coach.
That being the case, you likely win this argument, and the Mavs should trade their pick, which was probably your point all along.
Come to think of it, that's always been one of my head-scratchers as a Mavs fan. I think that we get so bogged-down in the frustration of losing a guy who went on to be the two-time MVP that we lose sight of what a great job Nellie did of recuperating and building a ***team*** - Dirk, Finley, Terry, Howard, Harris, Dampier, Stackhouse, and Daniels. I'd love to have the talent level of those last six guys around Luka and KP.