I'm kind of on a soap box about this but if you look at modern NBA teams, the good ones play with at least two ball handlers on the floor who can create for others. Bigger is better. Think Cade, Luka, JJ in Atlanta as jumbo versions. Harden is 6' 5" 220+. Shae is 6' 6". Booker is 6' 5". Ant is powerful 6' 4" 225. Ideally you have three of these types in the rotation.
Next to your two handlers, most teams play with two big wing/forwards. Bigger is better. Ideally, you rotate four of these guys.
At least one of the high minute players above needs to be an elite point of attack defender.
Then you need a couple of rotation bigs who can space the floor. Ideally, one can apply vertical rim pressure and one can shoot threes. A rare version can do both.
Applying this logic to Dallas, and bucketing only the guys who have a contract next season, we have:
Handlers
- Kyrie: small
- Cooper: jumbo
- Naji: big
Wing/Forward
- Christie: small, average defender
- PJW: good size, plus defender
- Martin: small, average/good defender
- Klay: small, negative defender
Big
- Lively: vertical spacer
- Gafford: vertical spacer
It's an interesting case with Max Christie. Kidd has obviously given him minutes on-ball and he failed pretty miserably. It would be a major upgrade if he could be a secondary creator in the Podzmieski mold but I don't think he'll get there. He's best suited as an off-ball shooter, which caps his upside unfortunately because he's small for a wing and not very strong ath the piont of attack.
Next to your two handlers, most teams play with two big wing/forwards. Bigger is better. Ideally, you rotate four of these guys.
At least one of the high minute players above needs to be an elite point of attack defender.
Then you need a couple of rotation bigs who can space the floor. Ideally, one can apply vertical rim pressure and one can shoot threes. A rare version can do both.
Applying this logic to Dallas, and bucketing only the guys who have a contract next season, we have:
Handlers
- Kyrie: small
- Cooper: jumbo
- Naji: big
Wing/Forward
- Christie: small, average defender
- PJW: good size, plus defender
- Martin: small, average/good defender
- Klay: small, negative defender
Big
- Lively: vertical spacer
- Gafford: vertical spacer
It's an interesting case with Max Christie. Kidd has obviously given him minutes on-ball and he failed pretty miserably. It would be a major upgrade if he could be a secondary creator in the Podzmieski mold but I don't think he'll get there. He's best suited as an off-ball shooter, which caps his upside unfortunately because he's small for a wing and not very strong ath the piont of attack.

