MAVS NEWS: Luka Wins Community Cares Award! | DLive's Mom Passes Away| Maxi OUT

[SleepingHero]

21/22 season he played about 40% of his minutes as the center.  82games shows the lineups, so you can actually see he was the center.

22/23 they tried to put the ball in his hands and let him do more on-ball stuff.  He wasn’t ever the center really.  You could argue some of his time was at the 3 based on who he played with.

Interesting, one year the Charlotte D was much better when he was on the floor and the O was the same.  The other year it was just the opposite.  O was much better and D was the same.  Part of the role of pro-scouting is understanding how someone might fit onto your roster.  If you think of him as a longer (wingspan) DFS who has the strength to ‘guard up’ more than Finney could, but someone who can do MUCH more with the ball in his hands than DFS (heck, maybe more than THJ), then you probably have PJ.

His efficiency dropped as his shot quality was worse last season as he created more or his own stuff.  Heck, it wouldn’t surprise me if his TS% got back up to his career high .588 with Luka and Kyrie AND you’d probably still get a little of that self created stuff in there which didn’t happen when he achieved that .588.  I think he’s basically a mix and match piece who can play all sorts of roles offensively and is switchable defensively (and won’t be hunted by any means).  Eventually, the ability to play with Lively is what will matter (by the time a 4 year deal is over).  I have no issue with him in such a role.

Thanks for the in-depth breakdown.

I know you've been on PJ for quite some time as a potential Maxi replacement. I see the benefits and think he can fit well here. Just depends on if the Mavs can actually get him.

Still I believe the need for a center that can actually rebound when you're going that small is imperative. Outside of Lively, I don't really see the personnel to fill that need, and expecting Lively to be that day 1 might be too much.

---

Washington is ABSOLUTELY not a 3. Not even close. He’s a 4/5, and that has become a rare animal these days. That’s a good thing, because it’s what the Mavs desperately need.

PJ is a 3 if you think Thybulle is like Franky Smokes