06-11-2021, 04:15 PM
(06-11-2021, 01:44 PM)omahen Wrote: I decided to have a look at all teams and classify them based on possibility to have business with Mavs. I divided them in the following basic categories:Great job. Some comments in between.
- rebuilding: looking for assets, not giving assets, selling vets and cap space
- desperate: desperately looking to improve
- Patient: building a team
I think Mavs act like they are in patient mode but it might be they are quietly desperate.
Detroit. Rebuilding. Very similar to Houston. Mostly cleaned up roster but still some vets for reasonable contracts. Also limited cap space. Likely no business. They own 3 SRP in the next draft, if a team wanted to buy one.
I think business can be do at the PG/SG front. They simplay have too many and could add more in the draft.
PG: Cory Joseph (one year, UFA, 12M with just a 2M guarantee), Frank Jackson (RFA), DSJ (RFA), Killian Hayes.
SG: McGruder (non-guaranteed), Saddiq Bey, Josh Jackson (one year, UFA), Hamadou Diallo (RFA)
Diallo showed signs of his offense coming around in Detroit. He was a net positive on the defensive end the last two years in OKC. McGruder + Joseph could be salary-dump options at the draft, depending when the options are due.
Chicago. Desperate? They made an all in move for Vucevic which didn't work at all and they have no choice but to double down on that. Desperately need a good defensive minded floor general. I guess they will go hard after Ball but don't have the cap space and NO doesn't look interested in Markkanen. I guess they will be looking for a trade for PG.
THJ + Markkanen + Kuzma is a perfect three-way trade for all parties involved imho. Mavs don´t need to stress about RFA and can just negotiate with Markkanen. Bulls get a good young veteran player on a decent contract. THJ gets paid above MLE level. Lakers get their needed veterean scoring help.
Sacramento. Desperate? Longest tenure without play-offs. Trying very hard each year and failing miserably each year. They need to get out of this circle. Never bad enough for top pick but never good enough for playoffs. Scored gold with Haliburton. They basically have no cap space (MLE level), realistically can't resign Holmes unless they dump some salary. Bagley is always injured and doesn't play defense. Would they take KP for Hield/Bagley package? Would it even be interesting for Mavs?
Absolutely desperate. New owner still searching for just a play-off appearance. Would they offer Hield/Bagley III. I think so. Would the Mavs be interested? Not sure Bagley is a great fit with Luka, but the big problem is that you have to pay Bagley next year (just like Bamba/WCJ). Though I think Hield/Bagley III is a package you can sell much easier to some re-tooling teams in a 3-way trade than Porzingis. Pacers for example.
New Orleans. Patient. On paper they have some top young talent which failed to deliver two seasons in a row. Big decision about Ball and Hart in front of them. Adams and Bledsoe are overpaid non shooting players. They own 4 SRP if someone is interested in buying one. Need shooters around point Zion but basically only Ball and Ingram could be called that, neither on awesome percentage. On paper solid individual defenders but horrible team defense.
I´m so curious WTF is going on with Ball. On paper he is on the perfect team. But neither side seems very bothered about the situation.
Minnesota. Desperate? Their team is at tax level and they were one of the worst in the league. Even worse not much talent that would be appealing for a serious upgrade. They owe their pick to GSW unles top 3. I think their solid end of the season was fools gold. Their team is not build to play (any) defense. I guess one could go after some of their many average youngsters like Culver and Okogie, but none of them is really convincing, to say it nicely.
Did the owner sell the team this time? I think they were pretty happy with their level of play, when everybody got healthy, but they are up against the cap already, and would probably like to add 1+2 veteran pieces. Therefore Culver is probably getting traded. His defensive numbers are pretty good. Maybe a change of scenery and playing with Luka could help his offense come around.
Washington. Desperate. Beal is not wanting out (yet), so team desperately tries to improve. Problem is there is not much talent there. Prime example of a team desperate enough to look at KP. Not much we could get from them and not much they can afford to give and remain competitive. Desperately need shooters around Westbrook as they were one of the worst shooting teams.
Just so hard to get the salaries synced up, although I think the Mavs are less bothered by Bertans´contract than us (if I had to guess), but both sides are probably hung up on Hachimura.
New York. Patient? They have a ton of cap space and increased wishes. No top talent available so let's see if they will be patient and move cap space to next year or will they go for a couple of solid players. Likely no business, unless they are in love with Brunson.
If they really want Brunson and Brunson wants to work with his father, I´m not 100% convinced of either. I´d love to get one of our picks back and eat that Knox contract for a year. Though we were all a bit disappointed in his play-offs, the biggest reason was the designated role of PG and insufficient teammates. If the Mavs could play him in his natural position of SG next to a real playmaker and not guys like Burke and Richardson, he´d shine again.
Sixers. Patient? There will be huge questions about this roster if they fail to win against Atlanta. Finally a time to break Embiid-Simmons? If they win the roster is nicely set. Elite top end talent and good and cheap young role players.
Don´t think Morey does patient. Depending on how this post-season ends that could be another THJ landing spot. George Hill (10M with just a 1M guarantee, due date?), Green (gulp), Korkmaz, Milton or Maxey. No way they they trade Simmons.