MAVERICKS 75, NUGGETS 106

[Dahlsim]

Stein said recently that much of the Mavs' training camp was devoted to trying to figure out a way to get KP going. Maybe they can help him develop a go-to move, as you suggest. 

It seems to me that they might need to develop a plan 1B, as an alternative to KP, in any case. ...

I would probably try to work on a back-up system even now. I don't like to borrow trouble, but sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.

For sure you must develop a backup plan to relying KP.  I take that as a given either way though.  Just don't see it as a very strong prospect compared to making something out of KP who you are essentially stuck with for now.  You need him to develop even to have a good chance to move away from him. 
  
The problem is that developing a backup plan to KP is almost like having a backup plan to Luka. 
You have to have it, but its not going to work for much more than bailing water on a sinking ship in terms of where your team is going to stack up. 

KP is the designated 2nd star even if he isn't there or doesn't play like it.  His roster spot holds the salary of that designated star position so the path to just replacing a star involves slim to none odds. 

Your odds are best if there is someone with elite talent on your roster that develops and blossoms. 
Think of Murray going down for the Nuggets.  Michael Porter Junior emerges as a blossoming elite talent.  Thanks to that and some good roster management, Denver is able to at least stay in range as high playoff quality team. 

Do the Mavericks have that potential star quality guy on the roster that has not just good but elite qualities? 
In my view, with all his flaws I see Boban has having the most elite natural advantages on the roster and the chances that he is used to fill that role are not slim and none, but just none for a variety of reasons we've discussed. 

Who else looks like a real star potential player for the KP backup plan?  If they don't find that guy then where will they get one, especially given that KP still holds the salary cap slot?