05-28-2021, 04:54 PM
(05-28-2021, 03:16 PM)Mavs2021 Wrote: I think the Mavs view
Doncic/Brunson
THJ/Richardson
DFS/X
Kleber/X
Porzingis/WCS
.....as the established set pieces. Therefore the in-coming talent has to be clearly superior to the pieces in place. For PG/SG that means a lot bigger solutions than Nunn, Graham, Monk, Rozier, Dragic etc.
If you break it down like this, the links to Markkanen, Collins and Turner make a lot of sense. Those are players that could realistically be obtained via S&Ts (with reasonable capspace leverage), provide the largest replacement value in our current rotation, have future re-trade value and fit the Luka timeline.
So, let me fix this and then make a few comments because I don't agree with KL's thoughts on an 8 man rotation (and I don't think the team does either).
Doncic/Brunson
THJ/Brun-chardson
DFS/Richardson
Maxi/X
KP/Willie Cauley-Powell
1. Richardson has played very little SG in this series. In game one he was almost exclusively the replacement for DFS. In game two there was a little more overlap with DFS in the second half, but there was only one 4 minute segment when JRich was clearly the two.
2. I often refer to Willie and Dwight as a single unit...Willie Cauley-Powell. You can call them the 9th and 10th men in the rotation if you wish, but I think they combine into the 9th man. They largely do the same thing and the Mav's will HAVE to have two backup C's as long as KP is your starting C. I don't see much point in tinkering with either if we are operating over the cap.
3. The main point I wanted to make regarding an 8 man rotation is we have been looking for a ninth man for quite a while now. How many rumors have we been involved in that related to a PF...either someone to backup Maxi or push Maxi to the bench. Heck, Melli is getting minutes in this series. We would definitely play another PF if we had one who was actually an NBA rotation level player.
If you lock down KP and THJ as staying, the possibilities narrow quite a bit.
JRich leaves with no compensation: We have cap room and the rMLE
JRich leaves via Trade: We get a trade matched asset and the MLE
JRich takes his offer and leaves via Trade: See Above
JRich takes his offer and stays: We have the MLE and BAE (if we decide to use it).
I think most of the board has narrowed down to this. I like a good fantasy trade too, but I just don't see the point of THJ and KP based trades at this point. I will say that short of the Larry O, we will lose the last game we play and the current "everyone is great" luster will get tarnished for a guy or two. So, I reserve the right to be wrong about KP and THJ.
One of the more interesting things about JRich is whether they try to keep him past a single year and if not, when is the best time to cash in his spot? The Green timeline plays a role here. Several posters have suddenly gotten tax-phobic. If they are correct, then you slot Green into JRich's role at some point for much less money. Do you cash in JRich this summer? TDL? Keep him a year and move on in a money saving move?
I'm a fan of the various MLE to a PF (Theis and Batum are high on my list, but I also like Niang if you have to go cheap). But, I'm also a fan of some Trade JRich for a $16-$17mm guy and use the rMLE for a veteran guard who provides "readiness insurance" for Green. I'm not seeing sweeping changes. We aren't that far away and if we can strengthen the bench (which was significantly weakened moving THJ to the starting unit), I think it would be a significant step. I think that step is adding a guy to share the PF spot with Maxi.