ROSTER TALK: Mavs favs for Vogel if no HC job exists. Kyrie handshake deal?

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

I agree Scott, they have to win some upcoming trades likely involving some combination of THJ, Bertans, Powell. I would posit that we’re in a different climate in that: A) teams have become shrewder and there are less “old guard” GMs like Grunfeld, McHale, Dumars, Elgin Baylor (ex players) that were more fleeceable. Much more analytics driven era now. The rise of the nerds. B) not the same Cuban. We used to have a built in advantage that Cuban was willing to spend more than most other owners. Since 2011 that advantage has seemed to evaporate. In fact, we know have a body of evidence which says the opposite— not using TE, lowballing Brunson so there is no way he could accept your offer, etc. Whether they trade Dwight Powell for a small asset to a team in need of salary relief might be our next marker. I’m skeptical that Cuban has the $ and/or basketball acumen to thrive in this era of NBA ball; a combination of both is necessary to pull of the kind of moves you’re suggesting.