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

[omahen]

I'm a bigger Toppin fan than you probably (plus a NY deal is never going to happen, so probably not worth debating anyway).  But center is just a problem.  They tend to fall into one of three categories:

1.  Available, but not what we want/need

2.  Available, but not worth the potential asking price

3.  Unavailable

Add to the complexity the prevailing wisdom that you don't pay centers (so you certainly don't pay assets to overpay the player).  Then you have the style of play requirements as very few switchable centers can rebound and shut down the paint (and if they do they are in category 3).  

Who is left?

I think Toppins potential is mostly on offensive side. I may be wrong, but if I remember correctly, defense was his weakness coming into draft. 

As for center. I like Vuc as a player, I think he can do a lot of things very well. But, I think Vuc is just the opposite of what Mavs need at center. Having him next to Luka and Kyrie will lead to disastrous defense. Besides that, I think he will be paid at least Nurkic level money. Based on this, every dollar coming his way is a wasted dollar on the center position imho. 

Since Mavs chose to be in the win now mode, I think the only way to success is to navigate within the "Available, and what we need" bunch successfuly. Overpaying is the least concerning thing to me, because I am affraid Mavs situation is pretty much black and white. They either succeed (build a contender now) and everything is fine or they fail (at building a contender now) and likely start rebuild sooner than later. I think Mavs moves will all look like an overpay. The question for me is, are they capable of bringing in two quality starters that fit next to Luka and Kyrie, while hopefully retaining Green and Hardy. If they can do that, this team could be good, no matter what else is left there. If not, well, the mistakes of many years are just too big to overcome.