2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[Scott41theMavs]

We need a legit #2 and #3. There is no point to signing Portis and Batum right now. Those are finishing moves. They are players for teams, who have an established big three. Our best case is that we have a #1 in Luka and a #3 in Porzingis (on a max contract with injury risks always looming). All our focus should be on getting the #2 immediately, or making moves that get us closer to a #2 at the next TDL/summer, which means asset acquisition.

Right now Luka and DFS are the only fixed spots and even next summer, they only account for $42M in total salaries. Everybody else besides Porzingis becomes an expiring contract next summer or is on a rookie deal. So there is enough breathing space under the cap to make major moves. Of course that flexibility goes out of the window, if we start handing out 48/4 to players like Portis and Batum, plus 80/4 to Norman Powell.

Thing is, there are no legit #2's aside from Kawhi (whom most would think of as a #1, but isn't going to be available to play in 2021-22 anyway) available this offseason in free agency. So basically, if Kawhi won't come here (which the Mavs must know by 5pm EST 2 August 2021), if you're targeting a #2, it's in trade, now or in the future. There are, however, many potential #3's available in this class.

I think the Mavs should definitely target a few potential #3's (knowing, once again, which one is willing to sign before FA starts), but also be willing to sign other available players. The three potential contracts you're holding your nose at are actually 1) quite reasonable, 2) quite tradable for a #2 in the future. I also believe that, unlike THJ, Norman Powell at that contract you so abominate is a legit #3. 

I have moved on from the idea of Brogdon since so many have pointed out that he clashed with Kidd. He was a longshot anyway, and no reason to mortgage the farm for RC-Rondo 2.0. So I am back to my favorite move being trading KP into space, or at least for a $15 mil increase in cap room. Get your #3, stockpile assets by virtue of tradeable FA contracts this offseason, and trade for your #2 later.