2021 FREE AGENCY: Markkanen wants out of CHI | DAL "definitely interested"

[mvossman]

I think Mavs are way behind talent wise and the only way to bridge the gap is take some risk and nail players that have the talent but had underperformed and lowered their value. Dipo is one such example and I would consider it, at low price of course. I don't think Mavs can afford to overpay guys who had career seasons. Holmes is an example - I would be extremely affraid paying him 20 per which he is reportedly looking for. There is risk their performance drops.

You mean like KP  .  I feel like improving the talent is going to be more about taking what you can get.  There are 5 or 6 top level guys and we will probably take any one of those if we can.  There are another 5 or 6 guys in the second tier, and if you don't get a first tier guy, you are going to go after any of those you can get (unless the fit is terrible, like your keeping KP and don't think you can start Holmes next to him).  If you can't get any of those guys, then you have failed epically and maybe then you consider dumpster diving.

Personally, I'm not interested in paying the full MLE guys like Dipo or OPJ who have not a healthy/productive season in the last 3 years.  Those are guys I would be willing to take a flyer on for the room.

This team is behind talent wise, but you can make a big difference with 34 mil if you can get the guys to come.  Even if you have to drop down to the mid-tier level, a Powell/Batum offseason would a significant improvement to the team.  A KP/Batum/DFS/Luka/Powell starting lineup with a Maxi/Powell/room/Green/Brunson bench is a lot better than anything we have put out there before.  Its probably not contention level unless KP gets back to bubble level, but its heading in the right direction.  Then you use trades (including picks that you will start to have access to) and MLE to improve.