01-31-2024, 12:27 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-31-2024, 12:28 PM by StrandedOnBeauboisHill.)
(01-31-2024, 12:08 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: This is the most reasonable "pro Kuzma" take I've read. I can't disagree with much here. He IS more talented than Williams. I'm not sure the talent is a fit that will HELP the team, but it's a true statement.
I wouldn't give up a pick (as lightly protected as it would have to be) in that deal, but if you really wanted both players, I could see the reasoning behind it.
Still, I think this board's fascination with the backup 5 is a waste of time. I don't see any indication that they believe they're short there, especially when fully healthy. And if they do want another one, I bet they'd think each and ever name we discuss around here is too much money for not enough minutes. Derrick Lively is the guy, and he's going to play more than half of the minutes in each game. The names we discuss are usually borderline starters, at least.
Ya believe me, I am not very pro-Kuzma at all, I'd much rather go the PJ Washington route. I just feel I watched him play a good role on a contender before so I believe that he could do it again. Becoming "the man" can mess with someone who has to take a step back afterwards (Jerami Grant obviously falls into this convo too), but you can't deny that someone who has been there and done that and isn't over the hill couldn't possibly do it again.
I understand the fit concerns as well but I do think that he is one of those dudes who will take defense more seriously when the games become more serious. Probably not to the level we're all hoping for with a hypothetical new PF but I don't think he'd be AS awful as folks here are thinking.
I agree with you on the backup 5 if you're assuming that Maxi is that guy but the "especially when fully healthy" is a phrase that is starting to do some reallllll heavy lifting with this roster and with Maxi specifically. I also think that Maxi is still useful if we bring another 5 in and having another high level PnR player to play with Luka (Powell can't do it like he used to, he's still useful but I don't see him as a playoff rotation level talent anymore) would do wonders for this offense. The offense just looks better when Luka gets the defense to react to a good roll man, he does all the matchup hunting that folks hate whenever we're playing 5-out (which still works great guys!). I know you're big on being able to play different ways and I'm with you on that but I do think when Lively gets in foul trouble we're currently FORCED to play a different way and that may not be what the matchup calls for so having some insurance that is a little higher level talent than Powell could go a long way in the playoffs.
(01-31-2024, 12:07 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: Kuzma was a 25mpg bench player on the Lakers. Averaging 10ppg in the playoffs. Shooting 31% from 3. Provided THJ-like chucking offense from the bench. That's not what the Mavs need.
This is true, we'd be asking him to play probably 10 more minutes a game in the playoffs but I'm speaking more to the fact that he played wing defense good enough for 25 minutes a game in the playoffs to help a team win a championship. I don't think he'd get exposed as much as people think. The matchup hunting will always be directed at Luka.