Just listened to the Skin audio to see what he said.
My takeaway was a lot different from many of the rest of you. In some of this it may sound like I'm bashing Skin's content, but I'm not -- I think it's meant to fit his audience, though it would have been really basic and not-so-helpful to us here....
1 To me the context of what he said was like one of us talking to a friend who didn't know that much about what the Mavs are doing, or might do, and wants an update on 'what might happen.' Sounded to me like he's just offering random Mav conversational thoughts out there.
2 The names mentioned as trade fodder started as a riff on Powell - "it's very unlikely they are keeping Dwight Powell" - which was based on the observation they just added Wood and McGee. And he's an expiring contract. And he's a bigger contract, and you aren't going to have 3 centers making that much money, he says. Well, duh, same conversations we have had and same conclusion.
3 He then segued from Powell not being here, into his trade thoughts -- "but I suspect they're gearing up to make a big trade" -- and recited the expiring contracts, mentioning Powell again, then Wood as of Aug 23, then Kleber. Then mentioning THJ too. His point sounded like showing they have big pieces they can trade, then "so they're gearing up to make another trade, I'm assuming for a wing player." Before the season starts, he was asked? "Yes, I would think a deal would happen by the end of August."
...NOTE 1 - I think "end of August" was just a safe nod to when the transaction season typically ends by, after which teams begin to gather and gear up for the season. Some here see some significance or connection to the date he gave for Wood, but I found that mention of Wood to be illogical, even contradictory to the rest of what he said.
...NOTE 2 - Logically, and also from what he said later, I don't think for a minute he believes Wood or Kleber are being shopped. I think he was throwing names, to make a point, even if it wasn't likely at all.
4 But then he talked about why POWELL was a good guy yet expendable, talking about how both Wood and McGee will do all the things Powell was doing but way better, ending with "If you go into the season with Wood, McGee, and Kleber, you don't need any other bigs." Concluding with how tradeable Powell is. [And also, of course, this shows his expectation is like ours, that neither Wood nor Kleber would be swapped for a wing.]
5 Asked about a trade target, he said "I think they definitely want a wing" based on the observation that they spent the MLE -- which could have gone to a wing - on McGee, so now the only avenue to a guy like that would be via trade. Ergo, finding that trade must be in their plans. But, when asked, he had no one at all in mind. More info that 'knowledgeable Mav fan' here would see as obvious, but his listeners may not.
6 He made the smart observation that finding a trade is likely to be someone who wants out and/or wait until KD thing gets resolved. Taking that one step further, there will be players who become expendable or available either in advance of such a trade (to facilitate something) or afterwards (when priorities and situations change).
7 In that context, he mentioned Kyrie (if, but only if, the price was dirt cheap). His "cheap enough" spitball was Dinwiddie + Bertans. [I dunno if that's cheap enough for me. Given Kyrie unreliability, I don't think you can include a player so vital as SD should Kyrie be sitting.]
8 The 18 Month Plan idea was just a general time frame in which he thinks they will be able to land the Robin [my term, not his, based on his description] for Luka. But he said it's not a plan date, it's just a general time he thinks they will find what they need, and it could happen much sooner. He just thinks they will find their guy. He thinks they have a set of targets that he thinks they see as gettable and desirable to fill that role, and will find a way to one of them.
My takeaway was a lot different from many of the rest of you. In some of this it may sound like I'm bashing Skin's content, but I'm not -- I think it's meant to fit his audience, though it would have been really basic and not-so-helpful to us here....
1 To me the context of what he said was like one of us talking to a friend who didn't know that much about what the Mavs are doing, or might do, and wants an update on 'what might happen.' Sounded to me like he's just offering random Mav conversational thoughts out there.
2 The names mentioned as trade fodder started as a riff on Powell - "it's very unlikely they are keeping Dwight Powell" - which was based on the observation they just added Wood and McGee. And he's an expiring contract. And he's a bigger contract, and you aren't going to have 3 centers making that much money, he says. Well, duh, same conversations we have had and same conclusion.
3 He then segued from Powell not being here, into his trade thoughts -- "but I suspect they're gearing up to make a big trade" -- and recited the expiring contracts, mentioning Powell again, then Wood as of Aug 23, then Kleber. Then mentioning THJ too. His point sounded like showing they have big pieces they can trade, then "so they're gearing up to make another trade, I'm assuming for a wing player." Before the season starts, he was asked? "Yes, I would think a deal would happen by the end of August."
...NOTE 1 - I think "end of August" was just a safe nod to when the transaction season typically ends by, after which teams begin to gather and gear up for the season. Some here see some significance or connection to the date he gave for Wood, but I found that mention of Wood to be illogical, even contradictory to the rest of what he said.
...NOTE 2 - Logically, and also from what he said later, I don't think for a minute he believes Wood or Kleber are being shopped. I think he was throwing names, to make a point, even if it wasn't likely at all.
4 But then he talked about why POWELL was a good guy yet expendable, talking about how both Wood and McGee will do all the things Powell was doing but way better, ending with "If you go into the season with Wood, McGee, and Kleber, you don't need any other bigs." Concluding with how tradeable Powell is. [And also, of course, this shows his expectation is like ours, that neither Wood nor Kleber would be swapped for a wing.]
5 Asked about a trade target, he said "I think they definitely want a wing" based on the observation that they spent the MLE -- which could have gone to a wing - on McGee, so now the only avenue to a guy like that would be via trade. Ergo, finding that trade must be in their plans. But, when asked, he had no one at all in mind. More info that 'knowledgeable Mav fan' here would see as obvious, but his listeners may not.
6 He made the smart observation that finding a trade is likely to be someone who wants out and/or wait until KD thing gets resolved. Taking that one step further, there will be players who become expendable or available either in advance of such a trade (to facilitate something) or afterwards (when priorities and situations change).
7 In that context, he mentioned Kyrie (if, but only if, the price was dirt cheap). His "cheap enough" spitball was Dinwiddie + Bertans. [I dunno if that's cheap enough for me. Given Kyrie unreliability, I don't think you can include a player so vital as SD should Kyrie be sitting.]
8 The 18 Month Plan idea was just a general time frame in which he thinks they will be able to land the Robin [my term, not his, based on his description] for Luka. But he said it's not a plan date, it's just a general time he thinks they will find what they need, and it could happen much sooner. He just thinks they will find their guy. He thinks they have a set of targets that he thinks they see as gettable and desirable to fill that role, and will find a way to one of them.
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