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[Dundalis]

Powell's 3 point shooting isn't ideal, but it's enough to space the floor,

No it's not. Not in the regular season, and especially not in the playoffs. When teams start game planning for the Mavs, they will laugh all the way to a win as Powell tries to "space the floor" with 3 point shooting. How many hand in the face 3 pointers has Powell taken this year? I don't remember 1 because defenses don't need to close out on him to defend his shot. The only reason defenders might go out is if there is a switch on the pick. That is to defend the ball handler and not allow him the open 3, not for Powell.

and someone who could space the floor with a bigger 3 point threat would be better for the teams offense.

Someone who can play really good defense and has the body/strength to keep the post up guys honest is the biggest need. A guy who has at least a little offensive game and esp can set picks and roll to the basket is the only offense they really need to make up for DP's current contribution to the starters. That guy I just described who also has a 3 point shot is called an all star. We don't need an all star, and the offense doesn't need to play 5 out. How much better does the #1 offense in the history of the game need to be? 

Mike, Dan and even Tony is very proud of our offense. I hate dat guy (said in a Gru voice).

This year, particularly recently, you might be right. Defenders are sagging off him. And his rim rolling hasn't been as good as it's been in the past. But the guy is willing to sacrifice his game, and he WILL allow us to play 5 out by sitting on that 3 point line, even if the defender doesn't stick right with him, it's not like they are sagging so far off they are sitting in the paint. Which is why I specifically said he's not ideal for this offense right now, even if he is still able to allow us to maintain our offensive efficiency despite those issues. But he goes back to a low 30's 3 point shooter and he sits up above the 90th percentile in rim running like he has the last 2 seasons, he's much more effective, particularly with the inverted spacing. Even with what he's doing now, sacrificing his game, hitting 26% on 3's and sitting in the 66th percentile as a rim runner is much, much better than a guy (Drummond), who shoots no 3's, shot hunts outside the system, and sits in the 28th percentile as a rim runner. That is still night and day difference.

The question is not how much better does the 1# offense in the history of the game need to be. Wrong question. The question is how easily can that #1 offense fall apart. The answer is very, very easily. We've already done this before. Number 1 offense in the league, all it took was bringing in one player who was the wrong fit for that to fall on its ass. You might remember December 2014 when it happened. Different type of player, but the point is that it's much easier to break an already great offense, than make it much better. The goal should be to maintain it, while improving the defense. And playing 5 out is the key to it. It's certainly not talent. This team isn't in the same stratosphere in terms of offensive talent compared to the GSW the last 5 years. It's much more system based, and that absolutely requires the right mix of players, and those players willing to absolutely stick to their roles.

I agree about bringing in someone that can play good defense though. I'd much prefer someone that can guard the perimeter well, and or protect the rim, than someone who can keep post up players honest. I don't think that's remotely our biggest need. I don't care that much about defending the post up guys. I think people are just overrating how much that is hurting us. Not that Drummond is a guy that's a particularly great defender anyway. Priority defensively IMO is to get better at defending the 3 point line. We have good rim protection. The mid range, post up stuff I don't care about nearly as much. As Rick said. Low value shots. And we have Boban for the bully's that sit under the rim. None of this is worth potentially messing up the offensive efficiency that people seem to think we have pulled out of our ass and will be easily maintained regardless of how any player we bring in fits. We clearly wouldn't have learnt our lesson.

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If the Rockets offense is defined by threes and layups, it's made possible by Hardin and a rim rolling center who sets screens, finishes lobs, grabs offensive rebounds and has zero career three point attempts.

And who was exposed in the playoffs, because he couldn't switch on perimeter, making Houston think if it is really worth throwing 17 per for a center, even if elite as Capella. Drummond is much worse in that aspect and costs almost twice the money.

I think people forget how critical this role is in the modern NBA.

Really? Who played that role on GSW? Who was it on Toronto? Who is the roll man on Milwaukee, Lakers, Clippers, Denver, Philly? Houston is actually one of the very few contenders with such a player. Contenders have their money in 3-D players or unicorns like Giannis or Jokic, roll man is a role player.

The recent Lakers game sealed the deal for me.

You stress this game so much, yet you forget we beat Lakers once and should win the first time. Not to mention Mavs were unrecognizable in the most recent game.

If the Mavs are going to compete with the best teams in the West they need to add some size next to Porzingis.

I don't agree. We need secondary facilitator and more consistent shooters. At the moment, Barea is our best option as secondary facilitator, which is sad. Mavs shot 29 % threes against Clippers and  30 % against Lakers in that third game. Scored 99 and 95 points. Teams are focusing hard on Luka and others can't create - that is the problem.

if he would only play like Capela

This is an IF that costs 30 million. Even if he would be cheap (Powell, Brunson, GSW 2nd for example), it can blow in our face badly, make us worse and end in 6 months. If it would work, would we really be that much better? I don't think so. Not to mention all the problems we will have on the defensive side, because we will have two guys that can't guard perimeter.

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Getting another center can be real cheap, if Mavs thought this is the most critical position. You can get someone like Noah or Farried for minimum salary. Or you can trade for someone like Dieng or Henson. Minny would be happy to get rid of Dieng contract, Henson might cost a second rounder.

While I agree with a lot here, the main question in all of these Drummond rumours remains Porzingis´ health. The last thing the Mavs can afford is Porzingis getting hurt (regularly/permanently). We are just two months into a 60 months $160M contract. They need to manage his workload carefully.

If we do trade Powell, Lee, Jackson, Brunson for Drummond and Snell it does not change our cap situation for 2021 that much. It actually improves. Besides...

Doncic/Wright
THJ/Curry
DFS/Snell
Porzingis/Kleber
Drummond/X

Get somebody like Faried or Udoh for 10-12 MPG and we are good.

What about Dieng/Covington to Dallas, the usual Mavs package to Detroit (maybe an additional 2nd from Minny) and Drummond to Minnesota.

While it's not ideal, I think we can cover for KP perfectly fine. There are certain things we will give up, predominantly in terms of depth, but until he gets his shot back, I don't think we miss a massive amount right now. The reason someone like Kleber's rim protection has been down this year is because he's being asked to switch out onto the perimeter and defend the PnR far more often, while KP stays home as the primary rim protector. You have Kleber instead stay home to protect the rim, you see a dominant defensive performance like against the Nets with his 3 blocks. I'd like the right player to be brought in if possible, but anyone named Drummond/Adams/Thompson/Whiteside, or anyone of similar ilk is just not that player. Getting another DFS type into the starting lineup is exactly what we need.