07-11-2023, 06:38 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-11-2023, 06:40 AM by surfpuckmd.)
I've seen a lot of posts expressing that our roster is currently well-balanced and significantly improved compared to last season. I do think we are a little more talented overall but I see a glaring need for a fourth experienced big man.
We all expect Grant Williams to be the starting four and have accepted that as of now, Dwight Powell is our starting center. Kleber is the third big capable of backing up the 4 and the 5. I don't see any capable players behind them. Worse yet, Kleber really struggled at the end of last season. Hopefully, he returns this season fully healthy but that's not a certainty.
I don't it's wise to expect our rookies to be in the rotation this season. As to centers, Javale McGee was unplayable last season and won't improve at age 35. Richaun Holmes was unplayable for the Kings as well. He played more on 2021-2022 but his advanced stats looked bad then as well. We should consider both Holmes and McGee to be contracts to be used in a future trade rather than rotation players.
I think there may be a few solutions still left in free agency.
I've brought up Derrick Jones Jr several times here. I think he's the best fit as a small-ball four. Athletic enough to switch onto guards and generally a strong defender and energy guy off the bench. He has improved his 3-point shooting and would likely shoot even better on the open looks he'd get from playing with Luka and Kyrie. He's clearly available for cheap and possibly even the vet minimum. I think we'd be wise to offer him above the minimum with a second year team option. Something like 2 years, $9 million total.
The other player who could work here is Darius Bazley. He is already a very good NBA defender. His defensive RAPTOR was 3.0 last season which puts him in elite company. His defensive rating was 110.8 last season which is pretty good. For comparison, Finney Smith was 117 last year (lower is better). Marcus Smart last year was at 111.7. Anyway, Bazley is already a very good defender. Solid rebounder for a four. He also has a 7-foot wingspan. He can cover the perimeter and provides good rim protection (2 blocks per 36 minutes)
He is offensively limited but improved his 3-point shooting last season. He shot the 3 at 37.7 percent with 3.1 attempts per game. That's above league average and on pretty good volume (he only averaged 11 minutes a game last year). As with Jones, he'd probably benefit from a lot of open 3-point attempts playing with Luka and Kyrie.
He also just turned 23 in June. He spent his first 3 seasons on a Thunder team that was trying to lose. He was then traded to the Suns where he wasn't really needed. I think he's shown good development during his career and would be likely to improve here. I think he'd fit well as a versatile defensive big who can hit open 3-pointers. We'd be wise to offer him a 2-year contract at about $3.5 to $ 4 million with a second year team option.
Good organizations try to acquire young players with potential, sign them to good contracts, develop them and turn them into assets. I hope the Mavericks will start doing this. If he doesn't work out, then we don't pick up the option next year. I think he'd have a reasonable chance to contribute as our fourth big this season.
However, I expect the Mavericks will either bring in a decaying veteran or possibly leave the 15th spot open to save Cuban some money.
He tore his patellar tendon during the playoffs. He's probably not going to be able to play this coming season at all. If he does return, he's going to really struggle athletically. He might be someone to consider next summer.
We all expect Grant Williams to be the starting four and have accepted that as of now, Dwight Powell is our starting center. Kleber is the third big capable of backing up the 4 and the 5. I don't see any capable players behind them. Worse yet, Kleber really struggled at the end of last season. Hopefully, he returns this season fully healthy but that's not a certainty.
I don't it's wise to expect our rookies to be in the rotation this season. As to centers, Javale McGee was unplayable last season and won't improve at age 35. Richaun Holmes was unplayable for the Kings as well. He played more on 2021-2022 but his advanced stats looked bad then as well. We should consider both Holmes and McGee to be contracts to be used in a future trade rather than rotation players.
I think there may be a few solutions still left in free agency.
I've brought up Derrick Jones Jr several times here. I think he's the best fit as a small-ball four. Athletic enough to switch onto guards and generally a strong defender and energy guy off the bench. He has improved his 3-point shooting and would likely shoot even better on the open looks he'd get from playing with Luka and Kyrie. He's clearly available for cheap and possibly even the vet minimum. I think we'd be wise to offer him above the minimum with a second year team option. Something like 2 years, $9 million total.
The other player who could work here is Darius Bazley. He is already a very good NBA defender. His defensive RAPTOR was 3.0 last season which puts him in elite company. His defensive rating was 110.8 last season which is pretty good. For comparison, Finney Smith was 117 last year (lower is better). Marcus Smart last year was at 111.7. Anyway, Bazley is already a very good defender. Solid rebounder for a four. He also has a 7-foot wingspan. He can cover the perimeter and provides good rim protection (2 blocks per 36 minutes)
He is offensively limited but improved his 3-point shooting last season. He shot the 3 at 37.7 percent with 3.1 attempts per game. That's above league average and on pretty good volume (he only averaged 11 minutes a game last year). As with Jones, he'd probably benefit from a lot of open 3-point attempts playing with Luka and Kyrie.
He also just turned 23 in June. He spent his first 3 seasons on a Thunder team that was trying to lose. He was then traded to the Suns where he wasn't really needed. I think he's shown good development during his career and would be likely to improve here. I think he'd fit well as a versatile defensive big who can hit open 3-pointers. We'd be wise to offer him a 2-year contract at about $3.5 to $ 4 million with a second year team option.
Good organizations try to acquire young players with potential, sign them to good contracts, develop them and turn them into assets. I hope the Mavericks will start doing this. If he doesn't work out, then we don't pick up the option next year. I think he'd have a reasonable chance to contribute as our fourth big this season.
However, I expect the Mavericks will either bring in a decaying veteran or possibly leave the 15th spot open to save Cuban some money.
(07-11-2023, 06:25 AM)Jason Terry Wrote: Oladipo is a name to watch if we trade Hardaway. He’s slated to be bought out
He tore his patellar tendon during the playoffs. He's probably not going to be able to play this coming season at all. If he does return, he's going to really struggle athletically. He might be someone to consider next summer.