Good question on the philosophy what to improve, how to build the team, this is the main question indeed and not discussed enough.
I think that answer lies in Luka and to build the team around him, and not building from scratch as tough he is not even on this team We need this as a major consideration how to draft and what team to build, that is coherent and matches well with chemistry. We have lacked toughness, we were not mentally and physically strong enough, we lacked shooting, despite so many open looks as a team we did not take well enough advantage of this. We lacked defense. We lacked bbIQ as a team. Creativity was OK team wise, mainly as Luka is a genius at creativity.
Playmaker, a secondary one at SG would be nice if possible as people here mention, but I really disagree this is the main skill to look after, there are areas far more important. Elite shooting and general bbIQ, defense, this is where the best complement to Luka is, toughness as well. The bench PG and SG, should have better playmaking indeed but I will not discuss the bench here. This is why I believe mostly in Bane and Haliburton as SG as best fits and especially Bane with toughness dimension. At SF need to improve in many areas, first and foremost defense, while elite shooting should also be priority, its not good enough what we get from DSF. Same time I really wish the SF to finally able to make something on their own, taking on the defenders one on one, we never see this from DFS, and perhaps make the mid range jumper, or get in the paint and score. This is the main reason I think S.Bey would be an awesome fit as he fits everything here. Both defense and shooting, he would seriously upgrade the position. At PF, I would like to see more one on one ability again here as well, to take on the defender, whether this is through posting or whether it is through getting past the defender, and also better defensive play. Rim rolling skill is not necessary the key here, since KP provides it and since this also brings KP more in the paint which is what we want. Thus I think adding either Giannis or Vucevic would tremendously upgrade our team, we need the PF or C (in case KP is PF) to be able to go directly one on one and beat the defenders (as DP cant do this), whether this is post up or with physicality as the way Giannis achieves this goal. DP has been terrible on defense, and any of those upgrade us a lot here as well.
I believe adding this type of SG and SF would make us almost unplayable. We talk about two elite shooters, and one dominating offensive big man, all whom improve us defensively compared to where we are now. All these play in more confinement of the team direction, and fit Luka and KP. It also adds players that can one on one beat the defender. At the moment, this is only Luka and KP that can do this for Mavs, and they have the pressure on them to perform this consistently, they are always the ones that need to beat the defender. Occassionaly we have seen Curry do this, but not with starter level and as a weapon IMO. Obviously, Giannis (with phisicality and ability to get to the paint and score) or Vucevic (shooting and inside scoring) would give us this dimension, and I also think S.Bey would excel here, mainly through his mid range jumpers, that is really a rare skill these days and also would give a new dimension to the team and take away the pressure from Luka/KP to always be go to guys.
I have made these thoughts from the basis of adding one great FA addition and how it might fit well with the draft. If that SG or SF can be found in FA, while big man in the draft, Im all in for it as well. I guess however reached to this end point, these are the skills that would elevate Lukas game, and KP and the team in general:
What to improve:
SG: Elite shooting (THJ is not elite but good ) / toughness (much more than THJ) / bbIQ (more than THJ) / defense (much more than THJ) - Suggestions: Bane or Haliburton improve all of this, especially Bane.
SF: Elite shooting (a lot more than DFS) / toughness (match DFS at least) / defense (improve over DFS). Suggestions: S.Bey
PF/C : one on one offensive play (A LOT more than DP) / defense (A LOT more than DP). Suggestions: Giannis or Vucevic
This would be nightmare to defend. You have in surrounded Luka with 3 elite shooters around him. All of whom are capable to play better defense than we do now. In addition, we add two more players (SF and PF) than in addition to Luka and KP can beat their defender and score one on one. Offensively, this is really where I hope we end up. We also add more toughness as this is our main weakness. Players such as Giannis, Bane and S. Bey give instantly more toughness and hustle to this team, more fight (mental as well as physical).
I think that answer lies in Luka and to build the team around him, and not building from scratch as tough he is not even on this team We need this as a major consideration how to draft and what team to build, that is coherent and matches well with chemistry. We have lacked toughness, we were not mentally and physically strong enough, we lacked shooting, despite so many open looks as a team we did not take well enough advantage of this. We lacked defense. We lacked bbIQ as a team. Creativity was OK team wise, mainly as Luka is a genius at creativity.
Playmaker, a secondary one at SG would be nice if possible as people here mention, but I really disagree this is the main skill to look after, there are areas far more important. Elite shooting and general bbIQ, defense, this is where the best complement to Luka is, toughness as well. The bench PG and SG, should have better playmaking indeed but I will not discuss the bench here. This is why I believe mostly in Bane and Haliburton as SG as best fits and especially Bane with toughness dimension. At SF need to improve in many areas, first and foremost defense, while elite shooting should also be priority, its not good enough what we get from DSF. Same time I really wish the SF to finally able to make something on their own, taking on the defenders one on one, we never see this from DFS, and perhaps make the mid range jumper, or get in the paint and score. This is the main reason I think S.Bey would be an awesome fit as he fits everything here. Both defense and shooting, he would seriously upgrade the position. At PF, I would like to see more one on one ability again here as well, to take on the defender, whether this is through posting or whether it is through getting past the defender, and also better defensive play. Rim rolling skill is not necessary the key here, since KP provides it and since this also brings KP more in the paint which is what we want. Thus I think adding either Giannis or Vucevic would tremendously upgrade our team, we need the PF or C (in case KP is PF) to be able to go directly one on one and beat the defenders (as DP cant do this), whether this is post up or with physicality as the way Giannis achieves this goal. DP has been terrible on defense, and any of those upgrade us a lot here as well.
I believe adding this type of SG and SF would make us almost unplayable. We talk about two elite shooters, and one dominating offensive big man, all whom improve us defensively compared to where we are now. All these play in more confinement of the team direction, and fit Luka and KP. It also adds players that can one on one beat the defender. At the moment, this is only Luka and KP that can do this for Mavs, and they have the pressure on them to perform this consistently, they are always the ones that need to beat the defender. Occassionaly we have seen Curry do this, but not with starter level and as a weapon IMO. Obviously, Giannis (with phisicality and ability to get to the paint and score) or Vucevic (shooting and inside scoring) would give us this dimension, and I also think S.Bey would excel here, mainly through his mid range jumpers, that is really a rare skill these days and also would give a new dimension to the team and take away the pressure from Luka/KP to always be go to guys.
I have made these thoughts from the basis of adding one great FA addition and how it might fit well with the draft. If that SG or SF can be found in FA, while big man in the draft, Im all in for it as well. I guess however reached to this end point, these are the skills that would elevate Lukas game, and KP and the team in general:
What to improve:
SG: Elite shooting (THJ is not elite but good ) / toughness (much more than THJ) / bbIQ (more than THJ) / defense (much more than THJ) - Suggestions: Bane or Haliburton improve all of this, especially Bane.
SF: Elite shooting (a lot more than DFS) / toughness (match DFS at least) / defense (improve over DFS). Suggestions: S.Bey
PF/C : one on one offensive play (A LOT more than DP) / defense (A LOT more than DP). Suggestions: Giannis or Vucevic
This would be nightmare to defend. You have in surrounded Luka with 3 elite shooters around him. All of whom are capable to play better defense than we do now. In addition, we add two more players (SF and PF) than in addition to Luka and KP can beat their defender and score one on one. Offensively, this is really where I hope we end up. We also add more toughness as this is our main weakness. Players such as Giannis, Bane and S. Bey give instantly more toughness and hustle to this team, more fight (mental as well as physical).