GAME 71: DAL(43-28) vs. CHA (36-35) | 108-129 loss

[KillerLeft]

Not meaning to pick on you SH, but I think quite a few people here spend way too much time worrying about roster spots outside of the top 8.  7 to 8 players is all that will play in the playoffs.  Guys making around $3 million isn't enough over the minimum to matter that much. The roster spots have to be filled.  Does it really matter that Brown and the rest makes an extra million or so?  Heck, I've even read one guy who was complaining about Josh Green getting a $141,000 pay raise next season.

We have three ball handlers that matter.  We have four wings that matter and probably need three in the playoffs.  We have two bigs that matter.  That's 8 and we are paying Bertans as part of the price of moving on from KP or getting Dinwiddie depending how you interpret things.  Someone like Chriss and Burke are necessary for injuries and foul issues.  Unless Brown, Frank and Boban have enough value to upgrade one of the top 8, it just doesn't matter that they make $3 million instead of $1-point-something million.  

The real question is whether there is a realistic path in the near term that allows us to upgrade a spot without giving up too much.

Is it realistic to use a ball handler and other assets to upgrade something?  SD is the only one you can trade and get value back.

Is it realistic to use a wing and other assets to upgrade something?  This is the position of greatest excess in terms of a playoff rotation.  I HATE the idea of giving up Green, but it is certainly possible to combine him and a pick and our TPE to get something of value.  Bullock probably has slightly positive value and I'd guess THJ has neutral value.  Even neutral value is value as you might find someone who's neutral value better fits what you are trying to do.  BTW, paths to Holmes (if that is the guy) using any of those guys.  DFS is the only lock to stay as best as I can ell.

Is it realistic to use a big and other assets to upgrade something?  This is the position of greatest need.  Upgrading is tricky.  Send out Maxi and you'd better be getting back a defender who does somethings that Maxi doesn't.  Send out Powell and you better be getting back a superior roll man.  We REALLY need rebounding, but great rebounders don't tend to play the PnR as well as either Maxi or Powell.

Is it reasonable to use Bertans and other assets to upgrate something?  Probably not yet.

So, some wing to somewhere for some big.  Personally, I'd do Reggie for Holmes and move Powell to the bench and Maxi to the backup four.  I would keep my pick.  I could see a similar version of this using Green and the TPE or using THJ (which would require Sacrmento sending out another player.  I'd end up with something along the lines of what is below:  

Holmes/Powell     Chriss/Boban
DFS/Maxi            Bertans
Green/THJ          Brown
Brunson/SD        Frank
Luka/SD             Burke

This is absolutely fantastic. I agree with every word, especially the (objective) first 7 paragraphs and conclusion about the way forward. 

The (subjective) idea to target Holmes does seem possible, which is probably the main reason it's gaining so much traction around here. I have become less and less sure that he's the guy we think, but if he is, that's a realistic way to improve the team. And honestly, I don't think the team is all that far off from contention. 

Look at the improvements we've seen from DFS and Brunson this year. Powell is starting to look like his old self again. We can debate his value around here if we must, but I think he's embarrassingly good in the scenario where he plays 20 minutes off the bench. Like, almost too good for that. Deep playoff teams have situations like that. I believe Dinwiddie (and possibly Bertans) will fit even better with the team after a training camp. That has been the case, historically with these TDL deals. There will be even more improvement in the future from Luka, Brunson, DFS, Kleber, Dinwiddie, Green, etc. These guys aren't completed products. The needle is always moving. 

Honestly, even if Holmes isn't the guy some of us believe, the worst case scenario is that he's an upgrade to Chriss in that he'll be regularly used, even when folks aren't injured or in foul trouble. This would free Kleber up to be used at the 4 with Powell/Holmes, or at the 5, depending on matchups/situational need. Given Dan's point (very accurate, imo) that Green/Bullock/THJ is one qualified for playoff minutes person extra, I'd say turning one of those three into Holmes and re-signing Brunson would be a hell of an off-season. If you can somehow keep your pick and add something for the future with it, even better.