(07-15-2022, 02:04 PM)Fuerza1 Wrote: The Hoop Collective podcast summed up all my feelings on this summer’s failures from Nico and Cuban. Tim Bontemps nailed it from start to finish.
1.) The Mavs roster looks like a play-in team.
2.) They have no young talent on this roster and are stuck cap wise.
3.) Even if a star wanted to force his way to DAL, they do not have the ammo to obtain said star.
4.) The unrestricted free agency clock is ticking for Luka. 3 years to get it right before he sees greener grass.
IMO, Mavs essentially punted the next 2 seasons, which leaves them with 1 year to turn it around because that 4th year in Luka’s contract will be expiring, and if Mavs do not produce a winner, he’s probably gone.
2024 the Mavs might have cap space (Plan Powder Part L) but past FA failures are not encouraging. Hell, by then it might be too late. Look at Durant wanting out with 4 years left on his contract and Mitchell in trade talks with 3 years left on his.
Banking on a lot of hope the last 10+ years and that strategy appears to be what Nico/Cuban are pushing towards, again.
It's why I've been warming up to the idea of a reset that would only punt this season. Powell + THJ + Bertans for Westbrook. You'd have cap space next summer and all of your first round picks once the draft is concluded. It's definitely a step backwards this season as I don't think Westbrook would want to come off the bench and even if he does, he'd more than likely be a negative. You'd sacrifice some shooting but maybe with the extra roster spots you could kick the tires on someone like Quinn Cook and then get another scrap heap ball hander/creator.
(07-15-2022, 02:39 PM)mvossman Wrote: I don't think it will play out like this. I think GMs know there are Ainge trades and everybody else trades. Plus, if Minny struggles at all with Gobert there might even be a backlash on such a crazy haul and they pendulum might start swinging the other way. Only time will tell.
I hope your right but at the very least, the cost of acquisition has gone up. You also have teams like OKC that have stockpiled picks that can afford to overy pay.