2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[StepBackJay]

Being "worth max money" is a funny thing...it's objectively true for someone like KP, but only when enough other pieces are in place to make it true. By the nature of that simple fact, one could argue that it's quite subjective, when all is said and done. 

I get what you're saying about post ups, and went to great lengths to point that out in my post. So, we can rule that out. 

But, I think it's extremely shortsighted to lock in a max player through whom the offense can't be run, unless you are then able to get a 2nd guy (in addition to Luka) through whom it CAN. So, to me, the options here are:

1) get that 2nd guy BEFORE Luka signs his extension, while you still have multiple plausible ways of doing it.
2) find a way that Porzingis can BECOME that guy (if not in the post, then SOMETHING)
3) look back in four years, realizing the Mavs don't have enough, going "NOW WHAT??" This is where Milwaukee is right now, essentially.

I don't like option #3, myself. 

As for your takes on the players I mentioned (you added KAT and Embiid, who I always forget, thanks and Ayton, who I don't think belongs in the conversation yet), it's cool to have them ranked in your own, personal order. I might disagree, but what's NOT up for debate is that all of those guys (Jokic, Adabayo, Davis, KAT and even Embiid) play an offensive role on their teams which utilizes their talents by handling the ball. They all do it in different ways, but they ALL do it. Last year in Dallas Porzingis did NOT.

To me he's max money because he's not only a great player, he's an asset should you need to move him for a better fitting piece. It's another reason why he's not overpaid. If you traded KP you would get much more back than Dallas gave up which was almost nothing. Dallas essentially gave up DSJ who was a bust and two first rounders?

Now if you did trade KP you also probably wouldn't get top value either because frankly its hard to get that. Anthony Davis fetched the best package recently but he was also a great player. Paul George also fetched a really nice package but in both cases the team trading them away were forced into rebuild mode to an extent. Jrue got traded for picks but NO didn't improve by trading him away.

So for KP, if you can trade him for Giannis then sure that's great (not impossible that deal could happen one day...). Bradley Beal? Maybe. I am starting to wonder if he has gotten overrated the last couple of years. Who are you going to get that is going to be an upgrade over KP?

To me you would upgrade him by a combination of the player you get back + his replacement you get in FA. Like in a magical world where you could play Gobert in the playoffs down the stretch you could talk yourself into KP for Beal and then go sign Gobert.

All that to say I think in this case the MBT pulled a rabbit out of a hat getting absolutely the best player they could realistically get, a star, at a young age for pennies on the dollar in terms of assets given up. That's fantastic. Would I be open to moving him a later date? Maybe not but I'd have to see the deal. It's not like the Bucks are going to call you up on their own to pitch Giannis. Same with Taytum, same with most other players you might rather swap with KP.