04-06-2021, 12:08 PM
I find it funny. 20 games ago majority wanted to tear this team apart and rebuild more or less from scratch. Now its back to we love our boys in blue (or is it green?). I think playoffs will determine the value of individual players and this team as a whole. Most difficult will be, if Mavs have another good first round exit as last year vs Clippers. Is this a success or not? More is probably a surefire success and makes sense to run it back. Less is a failure and calling for talent injection.
Personally I don't really care about vet min reclamation projects like Franky Smokes or "rejects" like Bonga. Always plenty of those around. There are also reasons why they don't play for bad teams. Still, I am all for giving youngsters opportunity in those limited minutes roles. Someone mentioned Hartenstein - I was rooting hard for him over WCS. I understand Mavs, they wanted to go for a more sure thing. Winning is a priority and they need the back ups to be ready to fill big shoes. It also needs to be considered, we already have four of those "reclamation projects" on the rooster. I rather give them a chance then bring new Iwundu level projects to take their minutes. And I really don't want to be betting everything on Smokes or Bonga suddenly being able to play 20+ good minutes on a contender. Counting JRich, WCS, Bey and Hinton we already have 13 players on our roster for next season. Add THJ and Melli and there is our team. Difficult to find spots for reclamation projects.
What Mavs really need is an upgrade in the starting unit. Another rotation guy playing serious minutes. Preferably better than one of JRich, DFS or Kleber, assuming Luka and KP are here to stay. MLE may bring rotation player, but I doubt we can get a player (much) better than guys mentioned. I also think we have to trade Powell salary, by paying assets, for a better rotation player. A "reject" like Melli looks way better player than him at this point, unfortunately.
The alternative is to make more serious changes either in FA or trading core pieces. I guess Atlanta, NO or Chicago could have interest for our proven "win now" vets as a consolation prize for their RFA becoming to expensive (and not really wanted) to resign. With some assets, of course.
Personally I see just two options. Either roll it back with same squad or go all in for major talent upgrade. Second strategy will probably result in several more years of team building, as losing THJ and JRich (assuming we use cap space to sign new guys) will be difficult to overcome in one summer. But it might have better long term results. Even if Luka and other youngsters continue to improve, does existing squad really have enough quality to be a serious contender?
If I was Mavs GM, I would be extremely aggresive, exploring all SnT scenarios. Finishing summer with a team salaries of 112 is a big failure for me, especially if Powells 11 mil is a part of that. Cuban needs to be prepared to pay tax from season 2022/23 on. Difficult to be contender without it.
Personally I don't really care about vet min reclamation projects like Franky Smokes or "rejects" like Bonga. Always plenty of those around. There are also reasons why they don't play for bad teams. Still, I am all for giving youngsters opportunity in those limited minutes roles. Someone mentioned Hartenstein - I was rooting hard for him over WCS. I understand Mavs, they wanted to go for a more sure thing. Winning is a priority and they need the back ups to be ready to fill big shoes. It also needs to be considered, we already have four of those "reclamation projects" on the rooster. I rather give them a chance then bring new Iwundu level projects to take their minutes. And I really don't want to be betting everything on Smokes or Bonga suddenly being able to play 20+ good minutes on a contender. Counting JRich, WCS, Bey and Hinton we already have 13 players on our roster for next season. Add THJ and Melli and there is our team. Difficult to find spots for reclamation projects.
What Mavs really need is an upgrade in the starting unit. Another rotation guy playing serious minutes. Preferably better than one of JRich, DFS or Kleber, assuming Luka and KP are here to stay. MLE may bring rotation player, but I doubt we can get a player (much) better than guys mentioned. I also think we have to trade Powell salary, by paying assets, for a better rotation player. A "reject" like Melli looks way better player than him at this point, unfortunately.
The alternative is to make more serious changes either in FA or trading core pieces. I guess Atlanta, NO or Chicago could have interest for our proven "win now" vets as a consolation prize for their RFA becoming to expensive (and not really wanted) to resign. With some assets, of course.
Personally I see just two options. Either roll it back with same squad or go all in for major talent upgrade. Second strategy will probably result in several more years of team building, as losing THJ and JRich (assuming we use cap space to sign new guys) will be difficult to overcome in one summer. But it might have better long term results. Even if Luka and other youngsters continue to improve, does existing squad really have enough quality to be a serious contender?
If I was Mavs GM, I would be extremely aggresive, exploring all SnT scenarios. Finishing summer with a team salaries of 112 is a big failure for me, especially if Powells 11 mil is a part of that. Cuban needs to be prepared to pay tax from season 2022/23 on. Difficult to be contender without it.