Final deadline thoughts. Today is Best Player Available day for these Mavs, regardless of position. It's easy to get caught up in debates about positional fit or starting units or closing fives. This team needs rotation caliber talent for the playoffs -- and the war chest.
If the best player available is a 30 min guard - Walker, FVV, Graham, Brogdon - a dynamic scoring guard who can shoot pairs extremely well with Doncic and will ease some concerns we all have about this offense trending more toward Harden-ball. The rest of the roster easily fits around this type of player when you have a long guard like JRich who can defend 1-3 and sometimes 4 along with versatile defenders like DFS and Kleber.
If the best player available is a 30 min 2-3 wing - Fournier, Oladipo, Hield, Oubre, Powell - the story is essentially the same as above. You'd like to get a guy who can initiate the offense and take some pressure off Doncic to make plays. But if the best you can get is a stone-cold shooter, Carlisle will make it work. Maybe you get a starter who can bump DFS or Kleber to the bench.
If the best player available is a 3-4 wing or 4-5 forward - Gordon, Collins, Olynyk, Siakam, Young, Bjelica, Gay, OPJ - you're looking to upgrade Kleber with a more dynamic scoring option at best or a tough rebounding banger who can get some rotation minutes.
If the best player is a straight up 5 - Drummond, McGee, Turner, Sabonis, Young may actually fit here now - the Mavs have a need for bench depth and you wonder if Carlisle might experiment with starting a big lineup with KP at the 4 against certain teams, unless of course KP is the one who's outgoing!
Regardless of position my view is the Mavs should look to obtain the best player available with the assets they have. And if KP is outgoing you're looking for a top 20 player or multiple quality starters in return.
If the best player available is a 30 min guard - Walker, FVV, Graham, Brogdon - a dynamic scoring guard who can shoot pairs extremely well with Doncic and will ease some concerns we all have about this offense trending more toward Harden-ball. The rest of the roster easily fits around this type of player when you have a long guard like JRich who can defend 1-3 and sometimes 4 along with versatile defenders like DFS and Kleber.
If the best player available is a 30 min 2-3 wing - Fournier, Oladipo, Hield, Oubre, Powell - the story is essentially the same as above. You'd like to get a guy who can initiate the offense and take some pressure off Doncic to make plays. But if the best you can get is a stone-cold shooter, Carlisle will make it work. Maybe you get a starter who can bump DFS or Kleber to the bench.
If the best player available is a 3-4 wing or 4-5 forward - Gordon, Collins, Olynyk, Siakam, Young, Bjelica, Gay, OPJ - you're looking to upgrade Kleber with a more dynamic scoring option at best or a tough rebounding banger who can get some rotation minutes.
If the best player is a straight up 5 - Drummond, McGee, Turner, Sabonis, Young may actually fit here now - the Mavs have a need for bench depth and you wonder if Carlisle might experiment with starting a big lineup with KP at the 4 against certain teams, unless of course KP is the one who's outgoing!
Regardless of position my view is the Mavs should look to obtain the best player available with the assets they have. And if KP is outgoing you're looking for a top 20 player or multiple quality starters in return.