2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[Mavs2021]

I won't repeat Mvossman, he expressed some of what I think very well.  Whether you value Batum or Lauri more highly depends on what you have at C.  If KP is still here, I'd much rather have Batum.  If Gobert was here, I could see the argument for Lauri.

With that said, can we please all stop with the line of thought that says..."I know (fill in player's name) has always been (fill in issue...bad at rebounding, a health risk, a crappy FT shooter, a bad 3 point shooter)."  "But, just wait until he gets here.  Surely (fill in Mav player or coach or trainer) will fix that".  It is total crap.  Other teams have trainers and shooting coaches and and and.  The idea that habitually unhealthy guys are going to suddenly stay healthy because Casey Smith is so much better than all the other trainers is just rooting for laundry.

Just to be clear, I view this differently than saying "(fill in player) is really skilled at open 3's, but gets no space on his current team.  Luka creates lots of open looks and I expect (rename player) to see a rise in his TS% because of it".  I think some level of that has been observable and is likely to be true.

Seriously is nobody worried about Batum at all?

His best seasons always seem to be contract years or the year immediately after (as a justification), then his performances fall off badly. You really trust him at age 33 to keep up his defensive intensity in two years (physically and mentally)? That he will outperform his contract (full MLE). I can easily see this contract go bad in 18 months. If we are not a legit contender like the Clippers do you think Batum would fight as hard on defense (at age 35) as a younger player, who is still looking for his next big payday? That´s before we even get into arguments about natural physical decline.

I´d feel a lot more confident that Markkanen lives up to his potential contract than Batum.

Also he´s averaging 8/5/2, instead of 4/4/3. Not sure he should get the tossed around MLE money at age 33. It´s not like he is suddenly setting the world on fire. We presumably have to pay DFS in 12 months, too.