(02-09-2024, 10:40 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: I don’t think we will make a big trade this summer. I think we will get to the second round and maybe beyond this season and largely run it back and hope for some internal improvement (and find the next GG Jackson in the late second round). THJ and 2025 (the first or the second) at the TDL a year from now is a possibility. We aren’t replacing Lively, Luka or Kyrie in the starting lineup and the bar to upgrade Green and PJ will likely be high enough that it isn’t easily jumped over. I’m not saying we can’t upgrade those guys. I’m saying the list of players who are substantially better than either is short and those types of players are very expensive. If I have a disappointment, it is that it will be hard to develop Hardy and OMax with so many mouths to feed. We have time for OMax, but decision time regarding Hardy is the same summer as decision time for THJ.
You made a great summary and as I said before, I totally agree Mavs are better than they were.
However, I remember you saying early in the season, I can't see how Mavs offense can be stopped with Luka/Kyrie/Lively and two shooters. Turns out Mavs offense is as good as it always was, but Mavs defense was so bad that good teams easily scored even more. I don't see Mavs significantly improved in that area.
This last paragraph you posted is why I am not enthusiastic. If Mavs ceiling is a 2nd round exit, how do they improve from here? As you said - going from Green and PJ to a serious upgrade isn't easy. Give it another try and finish with another 2nd round exit? Perhaps even WCF. Kyrie will turn 34 after that.
I don't buy "we got young players (Gafford, PJ) who will keep their value" narrative some have posted. Both PJ and Gafford will be 26 next year and they have been around long enough. I could see Gafford having same value as Mavs paid. But PJ was greatly overpaid for what he is and will have to be considerably better in Dallas to have an almost unprotected FRP value.
I am not interested in being decent. I want rings. I am sure Luka does too.