2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[mvossman]

Here's my latest late night proposal trying to put together some of the recent trade ideas:

CHI: JRich+ Maxi Kleber
NYK: Jalen Brunson+ 2025 2nd round pick (DAL)
DAL: Lauri Markkanen+ Mitchell Robinson+ 2023 FRP (Least favorable between NYK and DAL). 

Mavs get their 2023 pick back that can free up it's use in trades. Borrowing Dan's idea where NYK can choose to swap the least favorable between the two picks and get a 2nd for their troubles. NYK also gets Brunson who they've been angling for at least a year and a half. Mavs swap a young prospect for another with Mitchell Robinson who had a down year filled with injuries but fits a great alongside Luka.

Mavs also go to Chicago and offer them a suitable cost controlled Lauri replacement along with some backcourt defense they've been looking for. Mavs get Lauri in a SNT.


Now all these moves set Dallas up perfectly to go big game hunting. The addition of Lauri and Robinson means KP is more than available to the highest bidder. Mavs also can create a superstar package built around the 3 picks+4 pick swaps the Nets paid for Brooklyn.

My fantasy trade is of course Dame, but another realistic one could also be CJ McCollum, who could fit extremely well still. A package built around KP and change for CJ and change could work well for both the Blazers and Mavs. 

Mavs can also find a way to turn THJ into a better bench. I LOVED the idea of sending THJ to Miami for Goran+Precious.

Luka/Goran
McCollum
DFS
Lauri
Robinson/Precious

I think that's a fantastic young roster that can compete right away. It actually mirrors the offseason ATL had a little bit. McCollum plays the secondary offensive creator like Bogdan. Robinson mirrors Capela in plenty of ways. Lauri can play an inside out game like John Collins. DFS= Deandre Hunter. Goran mirrors the old vet PG with experience akin to Lou Will. 

I like that team a lot.

That team will get so abused defensively.  Robinson is a long, long ways off from Capela.  It will be years before he develops into a true anchor at center.  Lauri is not in the same universe as Collins.

The most important part of this is the KP for CJ trade.  If you somehow manage to get that done, there are a lot of options for the rest.  First order of business would be to get an anchor at center.  A trade for CJ is a win now move, so you are looking for an established guy, not a promising project.  You can still go young with a guy like Holmes who has already established he can be that anchor.

From there you have roughly 20 mil in cap space to get another starter.  I don't think that guy needs to be a 4.  I think in most cases, a center and 4 wings works better.  When you need size you can start Maxi with Holmes.  If you do get a 4, you want a mobile one who can handle switches.  We just dumped KP partly because his limited mobility was killing us defensively.  Not sure why would want to replace him with an inferior version.  I could get behind a Maxi/Brunson trade for Collins, but I think that ship has sailed.

The guy you get needs to be a two way player.  A Luka/CJ pairing is going to need a lot of help on defense.  Ball would be the best play here as he would provide defense, spacing and high IQ play.  Norman Powell would be another option.  You could also trade for someone into cap space using Brunson.

My overall point being a trade for CJ means you want to compete now.  That means no projects and no defensively limited players.  You have all the offense you need between Luka and CJ and the goal she be to surround them with guys that can space the floor and cover them on defense.