AROUND the NBA: Pat Bev Suspended 4 Games Next Season| PHX Fires Vogel

[DanSchwartzgan]

The Mavs hit a grand slam on their draft pick, got two nearly starter-level players who mesh exceptionally well with Luka and Kai on vet min contracts, convinced THJ to make changes to his game that make him more of a winning player, got their first decent FA in a long time on a reasonable contract, and may have something with OMax down the road. If they can stay healthy, I'm actually far more bullish on this team's chances in the playoffs than KL and mvossman. The only real question marks are health, and if JKidd can be convinced to turn DP into DNP in favor of Holmes, and if a very cheap (tradewise) upgrade is available on Holmes. I really think that it's the offseason that they need to look at - perhaps to trade some of our most onerous contracts for expirers so that they get the full MLE to re-sign DJJ (not a star, and perhaps not a starter, but a perfect fit for the team), or start tampering for that OG SnT. If they have an offseason that nets us OG and keeps DJJ, I think we can start planning on the Larry.

This is pretty much where I am (except for the completely superfluous Powell bashing).  It is also where I’ve been since pre-season.  I had us top-4 in the west at 48 wins.  The surprise has been more about who has stepped up than whether someone would step up.

Boards are always going to be at least partially about the business of fantasy trades.  It is the nature of the beast.  More important than this player or that player for the current roster is ‘whether and when’.   The board has done a pretty good job of identifying this with people on either side of trying something or keeping powder dry.

If we are truly top 4 in the West, I agree with your assessment that anything can happen.  I probably lean toward trying to enhance my chances this year.  The team should have a pretty good idea what they have and what they don’t.  Clearly this summer they tried to do more than the amazing list of things they did do.  Doing nothing before the TDL is always the most likely path.  I’m just not sure the plan is to let it ride for a season and go big game hunting this summer.  I’m afraid we may be kicking ourselves in game six of the West Finals because we didn’t get that one more guy.