MAVERICKS 139, PELICANS 107

[mvossman]

I don't think Mark would ever allow any of this, but if Nico is worth anything, he has to be having these conversations with Mark.  We look like a play-in team as we stand and duct tape like Dragic and Theis only puts you in the late seed contention.

This seems like a very pessimistic take.  Folks were saying the same thing last year when we were in a much worse position after the Covid debacle.  This is the same team as last year, except KP is healthy and playing well, Brunson has taken another leap, Luka has another year of growth, and we have replaced JRich and junk with Bullock, Brown and Frank.  We are currently forth in the west (which is weaker than it was last year), have a new coaching staff and system the players are still getting used to, and have multiple guys in huge slumps.  Its hard not to react too negatively after a couple of shitty games, but the biggest thing I'm worried about this year vs last is the head coach.

Also, Nico has never been a GM or worked for one.  The fact that Cuban hired a guy that has no experience but might be popular with the players screams to me that he is still ultimately in charge and had delusions of grandeur regarding free agency.  I see no chance of him convincing Cuban to reset.