01-09-2024, 08:35 PM
I love Lauri the most, but he isn't in the realm of possibilities.
Siakam would just cost too much.
If the options for trade are just Holmes, THJ, Hardy, GW, FRP and SRP.. my preference would be:
Washington + Richards
But my prediction would be:
Kuzma + Muscala
Kuzma comes in with an already defined role, and offers the least variation on the way the Mavs do things -- he simply takes on the THJ role, but in a bigger body, different position, with more rebounding and a more dynamic offense that doesn't take away from 3 point shooting. Unlike Washington and DFS, Kuzma would be able to put the ball on the floor so you wouldn't just station him in the corners. And unlike Siakam and Jerami, you can probably ask Kuzma to just do more catch and shoot without complaints. Sure the D wouldn't improve by much, but it can't be a downgrade from what it is now. The Mavs roll out its tiny ball strategy of GW at C, and either DJJ or THJ at PF -- and the Mavs just get pounded on the boards with GW and THJ as poor rebounders. GW can work better with Kuz. And the Mavs could send a frontline of GW-Kuz-DJJ without sacrificing mobility and with better chances of rebounding. And Kuz doesn't make GW or Maxi redundant. Those two guys are options if D is required more at certain periods (although I'm not sure if GW is really that better at D than Kuz, and if a Maxi return is going to be any better at D). As for the offense? You can put any 2 of Luka-Kyrie-Kuz out there and never lose a step.
As for Muscala -- he is there as the added big, probably won't contribute much, but has an outside shot for a 5-out offense).
Trades:
THJ+Hardy+SRP+Holmes for Kuzma+Muscala
THJ+FRP+Holmes for Kuzma+Muscala
Siakam would just cost too much.
If the options for trade are just Holmes, THJ, Hardy, GW, FRP and SRP.. my preference would be:
Washington + Richards
But my prediction would be:
Kuzma + Muscala
Kuzma comes in with an already defined role, and offers the least variation on the way the Mavs do things -- he simply takes on the THJ role, but in a bigger body, different position, with more rebounding and a more dynamic offense that doesn't take away from 3 point shooting. Unlike Washington and DFS, Kuzma would be able to put the ball on the floor so you wouldn't just station him in the corners. And unlike Siakam and Jerami, you can probably ask Kuzma to just do more catch and shoot without complaints. Sure the D wouldn't improve by much, but it can't be a downgrade from what it is now. The Mavs roll out its tiny ball strategy of GW at C, and either DJJ or THJ at PF -- and the Mavs just get pounded on the boards with GW and THJ as poor rebounders. GW can work better with Kuz. And the Mavs could send a frontline of GW-Kuz-DJJ without sacrificing mobility and with better chances of rebounding. And Kuz doesn't make GW or Maxi redundant. Those two guys are options if D is required more at certain periods (although I'm not sure if GW is really that better at D than Kuz, and if a Maxi return is going to be any better at D). As for the offense? You can put any 2 of Luka-Kyrie-Kuz out there and never lose a step.
As for Muscala -- he is there as the added big, probably won't contribute much, but has an outside shot for a 5-out offense).
Trades:
THJ+Hardy+SRP+Holmes for Kuzma+Muscala
THJ+FRP+Holmes for Kuzma+Muscala