2019-20 Mavs News

[mavsluvr]

@"mavsluvr", Isaac Harris expressed something similar to your post. The one player that he thought that the Mavs would pounce on if they could muster a reasonable offer was Jrue Holiday.

That's interesting. I hadn't really considered Jrue, as he doesn't seem to be an obvious fit. Doesn't play a position of need, I think has a player option extending past the summer of 21, is already 29. I may well have missed something, though. And if they considered him the third member of the core, then the length of his contract wouldn't be so important. Did he have any sourcing that the Mavs are interested, or was he thinking they should be?

I don't understand at all how he wouldn't be a fit basketball-wise. He would be an alternate ball-handler next to Luka, a solid defender, and a guy who can create his own shot, which we don't have enough of at starting-caliber level. Given what we have in the backcourt next to Luka right now, I would say that's clearly our greatest position of need. How "a three-and-D wing" came to outstrip that is something of a mystery. Yeah, you'd be losing a little size going from THJ to Jrue, but pretty much everything else makes up for it.

Yes, on more serious consideration, I am coming around to thinking the fit could work, if Jrue didn't mind taking a back seat to Luka. Which might be a big if, but no harm in finding out.

I actually don't consider starting shooting guard as a position that's screaming for an immediate fix. THJ is actually pretty good next to Luka, and his contract, while exorbitant, expires at the right time. I had been sort of hoping they might find a big two-way wing, and I guess I was thinking of upgrading the SF position more so than SG. Brunson-Wright/Barea/Seth-Holiday makes for a super-small bench unit, and you could see in the Boston game how the Celtics took advantage of the smaller players. 

My hesitations with Jrue would have to do with age and contract. He looks to be falling off on both ends of the court. Is he over the hill, a la DAJ? If that's the case, I would want no part of him. I'll leave it to the MBT to scout him and decide if he's worth the assets it would take to get him.

Agreed, and I think you also have to consider injury history. I'm actually not too sure the MBT even has the assets to get him. Unless he is pressing to get out of New Orleans, the Pels could easily just keep him, and then try to get back to their idea of a position in contention next season, when they presumably have Zion back. 

Just offhand, I don't know that he is the great fit and high priority that I would sell the farm for, but I see where you're coming from.