01-06-2023, 02:53 PM
(01-06-2023, 02:49 PM)mvossman Wrote: I think I'm out on this one. Russell falls in the same defensive category as Dinwiddie, bad. In fact, I'm not sure he is really much different than Dinwiddie. Din has actually been better off ball than Russell since being a Mav and they are scoring about the same.
Also (and I can't believe I'm saying this) Timmy is the best healthy 3&D player we have right now. If he continues to play at this elevated defensive level (at least average) he has much more value to this team. I still think he probably makes the most sense outgoing (although I could see a strong argument for sending out Din if the incoming is a quality playmaker) but in either case I think it needs to be a legit two way player or we are not moving the needle enough.
Honestly, I'd try to do it for only one of Hardaway/Dinwiddie, not both, along with whatever you have to give up (which hopefully isn't much).
But, it seems like I have a higher opinion of Russell than you do. I certainly agree he's not a perfect player, but I feel like he's the best of the Russell, Hardaway, Dinwiddie trio and the one I'd pick first if given the choice. Just my opinion. I think he's having a bad season, but so was Dinwiddie at this time last year, at least according to the streets. I think the chaos that the Gobert trade has caused in Minnesota is poised for exploitation, personally, and since there's no way they're getting Edwards or KAT...Russell looks like opportunity (that the Mavs can afford) to me.