(08-05-2021, 04:29 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: After reading the last couple pages of the thread, I would agree with what others have said that 1) our new playmaker doesn't have to be Dragic, but on the other hand, 2) if not him, who? Looks to me like the only player left on the FA board who would be adequate is Jackson, and that's going to entail a separate move or two to make happen (i.e. the pivot to operating under-the-cap).
Sounds like you are interpreting passing on Dragic as a statement by the Mavs that they are not going to make any further attempts to improve the roster, maybe until next offseason. If that is the situation, it's gravely disappointing.
I mean, look - we all know that Brunson is pretty decent at generating his own shot, but we've also seen that he's iffy at getting teammates involved. He's not good enough for the role he's filling right now. All of the best teams in the league have at least two players whose presence makes you guard them. We've also seen that the Mavs have fallen apart catastrophically without Luka on the floor. I know there's all of the calls for Luka to improve his conditioning, but even if he becomes the world's most fit athlete, no player in the league is expected to carry a team for 48 minutes a game. We need an additional player who can 1) create his own shot, and 2) get his other teammates involved.
You seem to be making the case that the Mavs need another playmaker, which I don't think anyone disagrees with.
I don't know how good Dragic is at 1) at this stage of his career, but he's far better than anything else we have aside from Luka at 2). I see him as a placeholder for until this FFO gets their poop together.
That's how I would see the acquisition of Dragic, as well. Someone to tide them over until they find a more permanent solution. I suppose there are other ways to view it, as well.
Then there's the issue of placating Luka. After what's happened on the FA front these past four days, dynamically placating him is a team need. We're skating on thin ice. ML, with all due respect, I was disappointed with your post about the issue of Luka wanting Dragic vs. Luka demanding Dragic. At this point, the NMBT would be gravely foolish to regard anything worded as the former as not having the weight of the latter. If Luka wants Dragic, make it so.
I'm not sure Luka has to be "placated," as if he were three years old, or nursing some kind of grudge. Agree that his wishes should be accommodated, if reasonably possible. As far as wanting Dragic, maybe Luka "campaigned" for Dragic, maybe he didn't. I don't know what sources Evan Massey has, or what the sources told him. That could be anything from, "Sign Goran Dragic, or I'll never report to work again," to "You want to sign Dragic? Sure, cool, whatevs." I am not yet sold on the new FO being any better than the old one, but I do think that they are smart enough to take Luka's desires into account.
I will admit that if Toronto is demanding Brunson, DFS, or a future first for Dragic, they're off their rocker, and all of us would be pretty furious with that if it happened. But if the Mavs aren't going to get Dragic, by buyout or trade, they'd better scramble for plan Z real darn quick. To go into next season without another playmaker is to punt the season - if they haven't already done so by not achieving enough this offseason.
Totally agree that they badly need another playmaker. Probably disagree that if they go into the season without another playmaker, that signals a decision on their part to punt the season.
Thanks for your thoughts, Scott. Specific responses above.
I agree that the failure to improve the playmaking capacity would be very disappointing. I just don't buy that the failure to get any one particular guy constitutes a collapse of the entire season before it even begins. That's letting the new FO off too easy. After all, there are 29 teams in the NBA, some better than the Mavs, who are going to start their seasons without Dragic. We can't let the failure to engage Dragic constitute some sort of excuse for them to fold up their tents and go home until next July, on the grounds that there is no one else who can perform that job.
Even if they don't get Dragic, they have to keep trying! Heck, they need to keep trying even if they do get him. It might not be this week, or before training camp, or going into the season, but they have to keep at it. The NBA is full of talented playmakers, and there is no excuse for not finding one this whole season! Imho, anyway. Not sure if you even disagree with that.