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

[Mavs2021]

Very much agree. Mavs desperately needed two starter level guys and I am sceptical, they got one using their best asset. Perhaps in a couple of years, but I am not convinced sooner.

These moves would be great, if Mavs would be building for the future. With aging ticking bomb Kyrie around, I don't see much of an immediate team improvement. I hope I am wrong and at least one of the rookies can play very productive minutes since year 1. 

While there is summer ahead, Mavs best asset is also gone.

When the whole Capela talk started I posted these stats:

2021/2022 seasons:

11.1 PPG / 11.9 RPG / 1.2 APG / 1.3 BPG / 0.7 SPG / 28 MPG
10.4 PPG / 7.0 RPG / 1.1 APG / 0.9 BPG / 0.4 SPG / 24 MPG

Just one season ago, there was virtually no difference between Capela and Holmes. Same age, very similar production. Difference is with a Capela trade you likely have to give up THJ (not Bertans), you likely don´t get Lively at #15 and you certainly don´t get an additional 1st round pick.

Look I´m not convinced Lively and OMP are the best picks yet, but they basically accomplished everything you could hope for last night.

1.They leveraged the OKC/Orlando interest in Cason Wallace into a complete salary dump of Bertans, which I did not think was possible. All that while still getting their top target left on the board.
2. They used the TPE to acquire a player, in a position of need, that will likely become a rotational piece in the back-up C position, while also acquiring an additional 1st round pick. I can´t tell you how many times in the past, they signed players via free agency, that were worse than "bad" contracts that were dumped a week early with a 1st round pick attached.  
3. They are now in a much stronger position to move forward in multiple directions. Their future doesn´t solely depend on Kyrie. I´d be a lot less scared to play hardball with Kyrie right now and lose him for nothing.

Maybe Lively/OMP don´t become, what the Mavs projected them to be. Draft is not an exact science afterall.

But we are not in this shitty position, because of that.

Last night was professional asset management. They leveraged situations. They improved the overall cap flexibility. They upgraded the roster by virtually trading Bertans straight up for Holmes.

That was the work of an actual NBA front office.

EDIT: I also like this Miles Jr. kid on the two-way deal. Obviously noticed that he´s short, but there was also a lot of craftiness in his game around the rim and in the mid-range, similar to a JJB. Definitely worth a try.

Also I don´t buy this Lively shooting thing yet, what stood out to me on offense was actually his passing. That´s good to have.