(12-23-2023, 03:02 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: As much as I love Markkanen, and trust me, I love the dude, I'm hesitant on the deal.Agree with the ball handler part, but going from a 31 year old undersized PG to a 26 year old high efficiency shooting big is worth it especially in the long run from a future value perspective.
2 main reasons:
Mavs have always required a competent off-ball scoring threat, one that can create his own shot successfully, next to Luka. Brunson grew into that guy. Kyrie is definitely that guy. Lauri...? He actually becomes one of the league's worsts shooters on multiple dribbles. In fact he's one of the lowest usage stars in the league. The dude does not create shots for himself. We'd be even more reliant on Luka to create and we're losing basically 24mpg of good PG play that Kyrie does generate.
2nd, the Mavs now need to find another creator, but have cashed in their last 1st until the summer. I'd have to think long and hard about it, but I don't think I'd be for it. Lauri does make us younger... He is good..
Ugh. Tough one.
Markennen would still take a lot of pressure off, as an efficient high level point producer despite not being a dribble creator, to where Im not sure the lack of another pure creator would matter quite as much. Luka hasn't really played with a big who can score like Markannen before (KP avg 57% TS with the Mavs, Markannen has been at 64% the last two seasons, and IMO has a better rounded offensive game right now than KP particularly in Dallas).
It would put a lot more pressure on Exum for sure, and arguably you wanna try and swing something for another ball handler but I'd do it just for the benefit to the development of the team beyond just this season. Markannen has also arguably become a passable defender, and helps with the size we are desperately missing.