08-26-2023, 02:48 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-26-2023, 02:54 AM by surfpuckmd.)
(08-26-2023, 02:03 AM)ItsGoTime Wrote: I’m very well aware of all the talking points for THJ the player. I agree with some of them. The type of defender we need at the 3 spot is not what THJ can provide. His inability to do anything with the ball except get his own shot is a big part of the problem with him and with building the team around his deficiencies. In that Luka/THJ lineup you have, who is the other ball handler since it looks like you’re leaving Kyrie out of it? Hardy? Curry? Exum? Exum might be the best shot at making THJ work out in the lineup, but he will for sure not be playing all the minutes THJ will.
We will also have minutes where he is on the floor without Luka, he will more than likely get some run with both Luka and Kyrie on the floor as well. It’s not gonna be as cut and dry as you’ve stated. On offense, THJ certainly opens some things up, but he also closes other things off. Same with defense. My post was a concession to a way I think he would fit this team. The logjam we have right now with so many players best suited to play the SG spot is not great, someone will not be getting the minutes they should have this year if we don’t open a release valve somehow.
We have two superstars then a lot of role players on the roster. There will be some flaws with every lineup we put out there.
I think lineups with Kyrie, Luka and THJ will be poor defensively but even better offensively and so we'll generally win those minutes.
I think lineups with Luka and THJ (without Kyrie) will require another ball-handler. I anticipate Jaden Hardy getting a lot of minutes in those situations because he is our third creator. Josh Green is an option who brings better defense but doesn't shoot as well as Tim. Dante Exum is an unproven but potential solution as a 3 and D who seems to be able to handle the ball a bit. I think he might become a useful rotation player for us.
The player who I don't think fits well in all of this is Seth Curry. I think Seth will be somewhere around the 13-15th man on the roster. I think he's a really good 13th man. I think he's also a player they brought back because they like him and wanted him in the locker room.
Regardless, I think we can anticipate some injuries and rest days opening up some minutes for everyone as well.
Your argument seems to be that we're really deep so we should trade someone away. I would argue that they have prioritized good depth this summer and I think it will help us win some games during the regular season.
The best thing that could happen to the Mavericks this season would be that the younger players (especially Hardy, Green and Exum) to earn minutes during the season at Hardaway's expense. THJ averaged over 30 mpg last season. I hope he averages less than 25 mpg this year. It that occurs, then Tim becomes very expendable next off-season and we trade away his expiring contract to improve the roster elsewhere. I think we should let the season play out though and see what we have prior to trading THJ.