07-08-2022, 11:33 AM
(07-08-2022, 10:46 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Yes, I feel Dallas is in a really treacherous place....and that is weird considering how last year was a success. I hoped the plan was bring back the roster as is, make some improvements (Wood, McGee), pay the tax, clear up the bench large contracts next year, and be ready to pounce on the big deal when is appears. This next season may have been a step back if we followed that path, but I was optimistic it was a group that liked playing together and played well as a group.
Without Brunson, I think we have taken a step back from the top and I am also glancing behind us as the young teams are gaining speed.
In all likelihood it may be best to take the long view approach and not make any drastic changes now. The issue is Luka is in a win now space and how does he react if we have clearly taken a step back? I think we all want to make that big move now. But the problem is that move may not be available and if we bet wrong again, we may be stuck with no assets moving forward and the impending future Luka FA date getting closer and closer.
Even if we take the long view approach, we clearly need another ball handler and another wing. I can't believe we would go into the season without either. I think minutes for a wing can be manufactured internally, but it was a stated objective of the team this offseason. So I expect at least some kind of move is made there.
Something that isn't talked about enough is the uncertainty with Wood, being in a contract year. Are the Mavs able to talk him into a simple extension? Or does he ask them to break the bank, when he's too much of a loose cannon for that to be a realistic decision? If they can see it's not going to work out, are they willing and able to pull the trigger at the TDL (unlike with Nash, Brunson, ad nauseum)?