(06-26-2023, 02:24 PM)cow Wrote: I don't see that happening.  While Luka has shown flashes of decent defense in the past, defense is hard work and Luka already exerts a ton of energy on the offensive end.  I don't think he'll ever been in good enough shape to play his current minutes and give you maximum effort on both ends of the floor. You'd need to convince him to play less minutes, not worry about his stats, and have a well-rounded enough team that could be productive in non-Luka minutes.  Now Kyrie should be able to offset some of the shot creation responsibilities so maybe that will allow Luka to be more engaged on defense.

(06-26-2023, 01:42 PM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: So we've had the convos re: if our offense is good enough with just Kyrie and Luka.  In looking at all the recent championships, they not only had their two scoring stars (Kawhi/Pascal, Lebron/AD, Giannis/Middleton, Steph/Klay, Joker/Murray) , all but LAL had at least 2 guys who could easily get you 20pts on any given night (Lowery/VanVleet, Kuzma, Jrue/Brook, Wiggins/Poole, Gordon/PorterJr).

Who are those two guys on this roster?

(06-26-2023, 02:35 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: If he cannot offer more on defense the big question is "where can they hide him?". I would argue that as far as quickness and mobility on defense go he is more of a PF anyway.

(06-26-2023, 02:26 PM)mvossman Wrote: No.  Done spending assets on the 5.

(06-26-2023, 02:35 PM)mvossman Wrote: Timmy and hopefully Hardy.  Historically offense has never been the problem in playoff series losses since Luka.  It has always been defense.

---

I agree.  PF is his best fit, and I'm not sure chasing around guards takes any less energy than banging with PFs.

(06-26-2023, 02:47 PM)omahen Wrote: If Portland moves away from Lilllard, I would go all in on Grant. Lightly protected 2027 with THJ, Reggie and JaVale for Grant SnT and Little. Lets say roughly same salaries changing hands, allowing Mavs to also offer full MLE. If Mavs could sign Brown for MLE, this could start to look as a dangerous team.

https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1673391826865373185

(06-26-2023, 02:56 PM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: Ya, don't see Grant as a solution.  Below average defender.  Horrible rebounder.

(06-26-2023, 02:59 PM)cow Wrote: Can I get a tag update?  O'Max Contract

(06-26-2023, 03:23 PM)Knutsen Wrote: So let‘s be very optimistic for the center spot and assume they‘ll handle the position by committee

Lively | Holmes | Kleber | McGee

Then we have

Kyrie
Green
Luka

with Hardy, O‘Max and the remainings of Hardaway and Bullock manning 1 to 3 including the bulk of the bench minutes. 

Which Power Forward would be the best fit next to these starters?

Washington?
Hachimura?
Williams?
Grant?
Kuzma?

Draymond Green should earn much more and is therefore disqualified, isn’t he?

Exotic alternative would be

Bruce Brown

at the two, pushing Green to the three (or O’Max in?) and, most importantly, Luka to the 4.
Why could it work? Because Brown is a very good rebounder, even for a small forward.

So if you could choose one of the players above - or a guy I forgot - who would round out our starting five and compliment the other 4 estimated starters the best?

(06-26-2023, 03:35 PM)Jym Wrote: I feel like Grant Williams has to be the #1 option if we can get him
Hasn't been much of a scorer but hopefully that would pick up here. Everything else he offers would fit perfectly. Gotta think the Celtics would match the MLE though.

(06-26-2023, 03:35 PM)Jym Wrote: I feel like Grant Williams has to be the #1 option if we can get him
Hasn't been much of a scorer but hopefully that would pick up here. Everything else he offers would fit perfectly. Gotta think the Celtics would match the MLE though.

Bruce Brown would be nice. Wish he was a little bigger but at least he does play larger than you would think. The long arms help. Just from a contract perspective it might make sense to pursue him first since he dictates where he goes

And Harrison Barnes has to be in the conversation. Would be a super pickup  for the MLE if he gets priced out

(06-26-2023, 03:56 PM)Ghost of Podkolzin Wrote: If we don't go the route of a traditional C like J.Allen, or Zubac, we need a flex PF/C defensive stud, great rebounder, with range.  No one mentioned here really fit this.  IMO everyone mentioned is SF/PF, which G.Williams is more of a match.  Looking at the right fit (age, size, production, contract), I keep coming back to Z.Collins. 

So...
Z.Collins for J.Green.
G.Williams MLE
T.Eason for Powell/2027FRP

Luka, Hardy
Kyrie, THJ
Eason, OMax
G.Williams, Maxi
Z.Collins, Lively

Trade fodder/end of bench: Bullock, McGee, Morris, Holiday

(06-26-2023, 04:28 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: Not willing to use any of the major assets on a PF/C. Best scenario for another rotation piece is probably someone like D.Saric or M.Wagner if they cannot find a team that is willing to give them more than BAE money. More likely scenario is Dwight Powell returning on a cheaper deal.

(06-26-2023, 04:19 PM)mvossman Wrote: We are planning on going tradition center.  His name is Lively.  We just need a stop gap until he is ready.  Right now that looks like some combination of Holmes/Maxi/McGee.  I don't think this FO wants to put in more assets for a (hopefully) one year stop gap.

(06-26-2023, 04:28 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: Not willing to use any of the major assets on a PF/C. Best scenario for another rotation piece is probably someone like D.Saric or M.Wagner if they cannot find a team that is willing to give them more than BAE money. More likely scenario is Dwight Powell returning on a cheaper deal.