Richaun Holmes - all he contributes is a contract for trading

[mvossman]

Richaun Holmes sustained a serious eye injury in December of 2021 that seems to have affected his performance.  They didn't release whether it was specifically to the globe (the eyeball itself) or around the eye but I think it was implied that it was a globe injury as it required a specialized procedure.  

He doesn't seem to be the same player since.  He didn't play for the Kings last season because he was pretty terrible when he did play.  Mike Brown is a good coach who plays his better players (unlike certain other head coaches).

Richaun Holmes also was never an effective defensive player even before the injury regardless of the counting stats.

While I think it is fine to hope for a comeback story for Richaun Holmes, I think it is unlikely.  

We are in a situation where Dwight Powell is clearly our best center and I think he can hold it down until Derrick Lively is ready to contribute.

If an upgrade at center becomes available during the season, I think the Mavs should entertain it.  Unfortunately, we don't really have any significant, expiring contracts to trade this season.  I think we may need to wait until next offseason to make a big trade when JaVale and Holmes become expiring contracts.  I think we'll know much more about Derrick Lively as the season progresses and we'll have a better idea when he'll be ready to contribute.

It’s not just counting stats that suggest Holmes was a good defensive center, every advanced stat says it as well. I don’t know how much permanent damage that eye injury may have had, but he had a lot more shit going on than just that. 

Powell is not our best center right now. Maxi is (unless it’s Holmes). He just has durability issues. It’s possible Holmes has nothing left and we are forced to start Powell again, but I don’t think it’s foregone conclusion.