(07-06-2023, 11:33 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: Not sure starting Bojan is akin to chucking defense out the window. He can still move his feet. Is he on the level of Thybulle or GWill? No shot. But is he better than what Bullock put on last year? Absolutely.

Plus it doesn't hurt that he is a fantastic offensive player. 

I'd rather invest in Bojan than throw a contract at Kelly Oubre. If we thought THJ was bad, how does 7 3PA a game on 31.5% shooting sound?

(07-06-2023, 11:41 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Well, you have to assume that Holmes is pretty bad because he lost his job to Alex Len last year. Hasn’t played much for two years, actually, and yes, the kings literally launched their first round pick into the sun to get his money off of their books. The prize of that trade was Omax - anything you get from Holmes is a bonus. He might fit better in Dallas than he did in Sacramento, that’s very possible. I think it is kind of unreasonable to expect him to start and play 20 minutes per game. I think a more reasonable expectation is for him to play about as much as Mcgee did last year, hopefully helping a little bit more than Mcgee did.

And, I think you are showing your ass with that Powell hyperbole. The Mavericks were better last year when Powell was on the court than they were when he was not. He is still a very good pick and roll partner with Luka - good to elite in that category. That might open up some options for Luka and Kyrie with a full training camp. Powell is still a guy who is going to play with maximum effort at all times. He will still run the floor every single time, far from a given today, and he’s still a pretty switchable guy. 

I’m not super thrilled with their inability to improve on him, year after year, either, but you can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

(07-06-2023, 11:53 AM)mvossman Wrote: I agree on the Powell hyperbole, but I have more hopes than you do regarding Holmes.  There were many extenuating circumstances with his situation in Sacramento and I think its roughly 50/50 he can get back to what he was, which was a decent starting center.

(07-06-2023, 11:47 AM)omahen Wrote: https://twitter.com/CBAMavs/status/1676995353386647553?s=20

(07-06-2023, 11:28 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I keep seeing people pencil in Holmes as a starter…maybe, but I think it’s more likely that Powell is the starter, imo. Either way, Kleber will be the 5 to close games (probably will be closing there, even if they trade for another center). 

(07-06-2023, 12:06 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: I don't know if Gafford is gettable or how good of a basketball player he is, but judging from his highlights he would love playing with Luka.  Also, would probably cause a rift when Lively was ready.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEOCI4T8DqI&t=354s

(07-06-2023, 12:10 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: I guess I disagree.

I dont think they want any of those guys as the primary center.   They're trying to trade for someone.  I think Kidd wants to play bigger.

(07-06-2023, 11:56 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Ok, but even if we go with the hope of that scenario, he wasn’t really much of a defender, right? I can’t really look at this from any angle without reaching the conclusion that both Kleber and Powell will be more important 5’s for this team as it’s currently constructed.

(07-06-2023, 12:10 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: I guess I disagree.  (not necessarily what they should do but what Kidd wants to do.  I think he wants to play bigger than you are suggesting)

I dont think they want any of those guys as the primary center.   They're trying to trade for someone. 

Maxi and Grant at the 4

new guy/Powell/Lively at the 5

(07-06-2023, 12:14 PM)mvossman Wrote: He was supposed to be a good defender.  Not elite, but a quality rim protector and a decent rebounder.  The advanced stats say he has been a plus defender most of his career until the small sample of last year.

(07-06-2023, 12:26 PM)ItsGoTime Wrote: I’m glad Powell’s contract is so much more reasonable now so we don’t have that $10M sitting on the bench at the end of games. Maxi (when healthy) is the right choice for that moment.

(07-06-2023, 12:27 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: https://twitter.com/All_Things_Mavs/status/1677003822365802504?s=20

A11 Things Mavs (@All_Things_Mavs)
From Stein

Allen is the ideal fit, Mavs probably don’t have enough for him. Cavs still aren’t for sure ready to trade him anyway.

Zubac may not be truly available

three guys Dallas has gone after: Capela & Ayton (talks stalled on both) and Naz Reid (never got a chance)