2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[mvossman]

I think that's one of the big questions here.  Patient or Proactive?  

If simply patient, the criticism will be "hell, Donnie could have sat on his hands.  In fact, he was good at it.  Why did we bring the Nike recruiter here again?".  I can also see Cuban wanting to make a big splash to show the issue with all of the toxicity was the guys who left, and it is fixed now.

IF you go with Team Patient, do you spend big money on guys like DeRozan, Conley and Lowry?  Or, take a shot at some younger guys who could surprise to the upside and provide trade value in a year or two?

I have several thoughts on this:

Dame just signed a contract for 4 years.  It does not matter if he wants out.  Portland could wait 3 years (see AD) before trading him.

If Portland decides to trade him, it does not matter if he wants to be traded to Dallas.  Kawhi wanted to go to LA and only had one year left.  Toronto still traded for him, and there was question whether he would even show up.  We all know how that turned out.  Teams will give everything they have for 4 years of Dame.  Asking to go to Dallas will provide us little to no advantage.

If we really do want the 23 pick, I have a hard time believing New York does not pull that trigger for Brunson.  That is a value trade for them and they clearly like him.

Team "patient" is not the route they want to take.  But they don't have to burn every future asset either.  They just brought in a new regime specifically to attract free agents.  They have potentially 34 mil in cap, perhaps the last time they will have cap space for years due to the Luka extension.  I think the goal is to get a big name "star" free agent this year.

From my vantage point, everything points to DeRozan.  He is a big name respected "star".  He is unlikely to stay on his current team.  He does not have any huge rumors going somewhere else.  He is young enough that production may not drop off for a couple of years (especially given his style of play).  He fits Cuban's recent statements as someone that can provide Luka "help".  He has ties to Nico.  He gives the Mavs their three "stars" with Luka/DeRozan/KP.  

The real question to me is if we bring in DeRozan, how do we do it?  Do we simply sign him straight up?  In that case THJ is gone (which is probably less of a concern to the new regime).  You would have roughly the MLE in cap to spend on a desperately needed 3&D guy (maybe Green?).  Another option would be to S&T for a package that the Spurs would prefer to cap space.  Maybe JRich/Powell/Brunson?  Powell and Brunson are other guys the new regime might be more willing to let go (they also seem like Spurs kind of guys).  That trade allows you to keep THJ and spend the MLE, or have roughly 22 mil in cap space.

Another possibility is if they feel they need to move on from KP, an S&T for DeRozan could make a lot of sense.  At that point they have the cap to go get Holmes and maybe Norman Powell (who would be perfect as the floor spacing point of attack defender and might be ready to get out of the shit show in Portland).

I'm actually not a fan of DeRozan the player or the fit with Luka, but I am resigned to this being by far the most likely off season move.  I don't think that team can truly contend due to lack of defense, but they are probably more likely to advance in playoffs, and potentially more attractive to other players in the future.