09-18-2020, 02:39 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-18-2020, 02:44 PM by Scott41theMavs.)
I think Powell's prospects of recovery and productivity are much lower than many here are saying. His driving and rim-running ability, his leaping, and his lateral quickness - the aspects of his game that he depends on - have a 100% chance of being affected. The question is how badly. I think the most we can hope for is that he returns as the 10th-best player on a championship team. And on that turd of a contract. It's a mini-John Wall.
I came to be convinced this season watching the games and looking for what others were saying that Powell is a crafty and capable perimeter defender, which is a must for bigs in today's league, and a very good thing. The thing is, from the time he came here in the trade to the day of his injury, once the ball gets in the paint or the post, he is completely hapless. One of the absolute worst bigs in the league in that respect. Pre-injury. I think that this year's playoffs showed how important that everyone (including Luka doing the best he can and hopefully improving moving forward) playing capable defense is sine qua non. I don't care if Powell miraculously comes back 100%, he has no business in the starting lineup given his crushing defensive liabilities in the paint if RC and the Mavs give two effs about defense moving forward, which they must. And they aren't going to relegate KP to his pre-Powell injury role in any event. Dan is a great poster, but he's going Balkis in his arguments about this.
I agree that you only trade Powell at an asset price now if you need the cap room for some reason. But I'll bet they do trade him - love, loyalty and all that becoming secondary - no later than the 2021 offseason if we have any interest whatsoever in improving the team through free agency.
I came to be convinced this season watching the games and looking for what others were saying that Powell is a crafty and capable perimeter defender, which is a must for bigs in today's league, and a very good thing. The thing is, from the time he came here in the trade to the day of his injury, once the ball gets in the paint or the post, he is completely hapless. One of the absolute worst bigs in the league in that respect. Pre-injury. I think that this year's playoffs showed how important that everyone (including Luka doing the best he can and hopefully improving moving forward) playing capable defense is sine qua non. I don't care if Powell miraculously comes back 100%, he has no business in the starting lineup given his crushing defensive liabilities in the paint if RC and the Mavs give two effs about defense moving forward, which they must. And they aren't going to relegate KP to his pre-Powell injury role in any event. Dan is a great poster, but he's going Balkis in his arguments about this.
I agree that you only trade Powell at an asset price now if you need the cap room for some reason. But I'll bet they do trade him - love, loyalty and all that becoming secondary - no later than the 2021 offseason if we have any interest whatsoever in improving the team through free agency.
(09-18-2020, 12:58 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: To this day Wes has a reputation as a good defender but he just isn't. Luka completely destroys him on defense.
I agree with your argument about Wes post-injury, but I think you're also underrating Luka's motivations here as well. Matthews abhorrently disrespected Luka's game and role while he was here. I hope Wes hung his head in repentant shame when Luka was named to the All-NBA First Team. Idiot. "Rick, Rick, what's my role?" "To be Luka's bitch, ho-ho-ho."