(01-30-2022, 01:05 PM)hakeemfaan Wrote: I feel as fans we overthink about fit. 

The first goal should be to get more skill.  Then worry about fit. 

(01-30-2022, 01:28 PM)SatnamSingh Wrote: The goal should be to get more talent.  Defensive ability is also a talent.

(01-30-2022, 01:44 PM)hakeemfaan Wrote: I am the last person who disagrees with that. However you have to make some compromises. .  Hard nosed defensive players can be found even on 10 day contracts. We have that proof in front of us. Sabonis type skill level players OTOH are much more difficult to find. Yes, ideally you want the right mix but Sabonis is a proven scorer in this league. Right now when Luka is out, we can’t say the same thing about even KP.  We have defensive players. We need more skilled legit offensive players.

(01-30-2022, 01:05 PM)hakeemfaan Wrote: I feel as fans we overthink about fit. 

The first goal should be to get more skill.  Then worry about fit. The Mavs mediocrity over the past decade can be attributed mainly to them only wanting to splurge on the superstar with the right fit or attitude. A player like DAngelo Russel as an asset would have been the correct choice than spending that money on 3 lesser players. Quality over quantity. Look what GS did and how it worked out. Ironically also look at what GS did with Wiseman and choosing him for fit over Melo.  Lessons can be learned from those two transactions.  


Get Sabonis in here and he would instantly be our 2nd most skilled offensive player.  Worry about the fit later.  Don’t try to over analyze and do what the MBT did for the last decade.

(01-30-2022, 01:44 PM)hakeemfaan Wrote: I am the last person who disagrees with that. However you have to make some compromises. .  Hard nosed defensive players can be found even on 10 day contracts. We have that proof in front of us. Sabonis type skill level players OTOH are much more difficult to find. Yes, ideally you want the right mix but Sabonis is a proven scorer in this league. Right now when Luka is out, we can’t say the same thing about even KP.  We have defensive players. We need more skilled legit offensive players.

(01-30-2022, 12:13 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: Smart would instantly be the 3rd best ballhandler. Adding even more versatility.

(01-30-2022, 01:44 PM)hakeemfaan Wrote: I am the last person who disagrees with that. However you have to make some compromises. .  Hard nosed defensive players can be found even on 10 day contracts. We have that proof in front of us. Sabonis type skill level players OTOH are much more difficult to find. Yes, ideally you want the right mix but Sabonis is a proven scorer in this league. Right now when Luka is out, we can’t say the same thing about even KP.  We have defensive players. We need more skilled legit offensive players.

(01-30-2022, 02:05 PM)omahen Wrote: (1) MavsCBA on Twitter: "This is bad for the many Mavericks fans who are hoping Dragic gets bought out by Toronto and signs here. If he goes to another team and gets bought out then the Mavs have to compete with Miami to sign him." / Twitter

(01-30-2022, 02:10 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Maybe the Mavericks are one of the teams negotiating to trade for him?

(01-30-2022, 01:48 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: I wish the Mavs would have over analyzed some of their choices instead of just going after big names or whatever we view as the best available talent. For the most part that´s how they ended up with nothing (scrambling to sign some one year deals) or with mediocre big names past their prime (Williams, DAJ, Barnes...).
You picked one specific example where things worked out for GS. What about Kemba  and Hayward in Boston. Or more recently RW in LA. In hindsight it is easy to make a call on those moves. But I don´t see a general trend.
In GS case I would make the case that they actually gave up the at the time higher ranked individual talent (Russell) in exchange for better fit (Wiggins) and a pick (Kuminga).

(01-30-2022, 02:08 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I agree with this part. 

I just think he's prone to trying to take over in situations that really, really, REALLY don't call for it.

(01-30-2022, 02:08 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I agree with this part. 

I just think he's prone to trying to take over in situations that really, really, REALLY don't call for it.

(01-30-2022, 10:44 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I'm not a fan of the player, but I can admit that he absolutely would instantly add to the already growing tough, edgy mindset this team is building. For a team determined to forge a defensive identity that lasts into the late season and playoffs, it would be helpful.




To play devil's advocate with myself again, I think it's possible that the horrible 1-v-3 offense I've seen from him in important stretches is partly due to Tatum and Brown being kind of selfish. Like, maybe some of Smart's offensive idiocy is born of frustration? 

But it seems like you've watched him, so you know: a lot of the people here who want him because they recognize his name and associate it with "defense" are going to be shocked at some of the problems this guy causes his own team on the offensive end. Again, maybe playing with a guy like Luka fixes some of that. A lot of it, even.

(01-30-2022, 02:32 PM)hakeemfaan Wrote: Please tell me who the Mavs went after as best talent?  They put one name up there and other than that got into paralysis by over analysis. Which IMO is what you are doing too. 

The Russel example was them taking the most talented player even if he was not the best fit and then moving him later for better fits. They didn’t wait for step 2 to happen because that option was not there. They took the option that was in front of them and made the other option later.  The Mavs meanwhile keep waiting for that option 2 as if that will magically happen. 

We lack a legit 2nd scorer. Ideally yes that person would be a perfect complement to Luka but we don’t have that luxury. Smart is not that player. Plus I am also looking for a player who can carry the offense when Luka is on the bench or misses a few games.  Sabonis will give us a better chance down the road also to do a Kuminga/Wiggins type of move if that opportunity presents itself.

(01-30-2022, 12:13 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: Mavs are fine with Frank and/or Green on the floor. Not sure why Smart would be worse. 

(01-30-2022, 02:59 PM)F Gump Wrote: His defense is not nearly what it used to be, and it's only going to get worse.

(01-30-2022, 03:03 PM)F Gump Wrote: Smart costs 18-20M. Green/Frank each cost 1-3M and as you say, do kinda the same things. That extra 15-20M matters hugely in a salary cap world.

(01-30-2022, 03:00 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: If we are ignoring the big name hunt in the post championship years. One could argue that the KP trade was the most recent example. Allstar available for trade. Who cares about fit or health. Just go for it. And that´s exactly what the Mavs did.

It is easy to come up with one example where a certain approach worked. Just as easy to find examples where the same approach failed.
The Warriors situation was unique. They would have lost KD for nothing and took whatever they could get in a trade. No one is saying that the Mavs shouldn´t try to maximize the talent. Thing is that they aren´t in a situation where they can choose. It´s not the take it or leave it Warriors situation. The Mavs have limited assets. No margin for error. A player like Sabonis would come at a hefty price. There is no way back if things aren´t working out.