2023 DRAFT: Mavs take Lively, OMP, sign Mike Miles to 2-way, sign Jordan Walker

[DanSchwartzgan]

My preference would be to leverage the #10 to get a legit mobile center.  But if that is not an option, I don't hate this move.  We would still have 15 to potentially get the second starter we need.  In my mind, to get the most value out of Collins, that second player would need to be a defensive power forward that can stretch the floor.   

I could see THJ/10 for Collins/15 from the Atlanta POV (it would be nice if we could also send out McGee).  They can claim they got good value for Collins (finally) at a time of year when fans are rabid for the promise that is the draft.  What they are really doing though is sending 3 years of Collins for two years of THJ at less money.  Between Hunter, Johnson and Bey, they have plenty of guys who can play the four.  They have to stagger Young/Murray in the same way we do Luka/Kyrie.  So, while BB and THJ seem to duplicate one another, there is a spot for both to get minutes.

Dallas fans can feel like they now have a big who can stretch and play PnR.  It would be nice if he rebounded and defended a bit better, but he isn't a C-Wood level disaster on defense.  He is a reclamation project (undervalued is another way of  putting it) because the 3% declined so much and that finger.  I have that same injury on the pinky of my non-shooting hand.  He'll definitely get better medical attention than I did and there are ways to improve what he was living with last season.  But, it will always have a bend to it.  The good news is it won't always be painful and there isn't any reason it should impact his shooting.  I think a change of scenery would do him a world of good and while he's not a traditional rim protector, he does fit the scheme we seem to want to run.

I think Maxi fits the bill for what you are talking about in limited minutes.  You'd still have #15 and the Full MLE to add the big you are talking about and a wing defender (Bullock has to be replaced in a year).  Thybulle/Brooks/DiVincenzo are candidates at the MLE and you draft a big at #15.  Or, I'd throw more money than Philly wants to pay at Paul Reed and go after go after a wing defender in the draft.  Reed doesn't shoot 3's, but he would dramatically help the D and rebounding.