2021-2022 MAVS NEWS: 4th in West | WCF loss [ARCHIVED]

[mvossman]

1) I think Maxi is already at his ceiling, which is a good NBA player, fringe starter.

2) I think LM's ceiling is a 3rd banana on a championship team. 

3) I think LM already has the single most important elite skill in the NBA: shooting. He shot 48%/40%/83% this past season. 

4) I think LM has potential to be a neutral defender (holding his own) and I think he has potential to expand his offensive game and be a better roll man and even generate some offense. 

5) I do think LM could fizzle out and not really ever get much better than he is (fringe starter), but I think giving up Maxi (if you HAVE to) is a no brainer IMO.

There is a whole lot of projection going on here for a guy that has been in the league 4 years, shown limited if any improvement, and has been demoted to the bench.  I realize he is young, but generally when you project growth in a 4 year player its because you have seen some level of progression.

If you are sending out Maxi for LM that means you are probably salary matching somewhere close to his 15 mil asking price.  That is an overpay unless he shows some significant improvement you are hoping for.  Meanwhile, Maxi is an asset on his contract, and much better fit for this teams needs.  We are already a top 10 offense and a below average defense.  We better have a really good reason to dump one of our few good defensive rotational players.

And the odds of LM reaching "Third banana on championship team" are virtually zero.  His defense at best will be passable, and he will never be able to protect the rim.  He can't create for himself or others.  I'm not even ready to call him an elite shooter yet.  He has had one good season in that area, and most of it was due to taking more wide open shots.  I realize he may have some upside, but I feel like people are talking themselves into more than is really there, and the market seems to agree.