03-27-2021, 03:45 AM
(03-26-2021, 07:49 PM)BasketballJones41 Wrote: Markkanen to Dallas confirmed!
I have no idea what his price-tag will be, but it seems he will be marginalized some by the Vucevic acquisition. Is he still a starter? Probably, but Young and Theis seem like much better answers next to Vucevic defensively. Is he still a 17 point a game guy with most of the offensive focus going toward LaVine and Vuc? And, what does his long term future look like. Doesn't Patrick Williams eventually slot in as more of a four than a three?
In some ways Chicago pre-spent its summer cap room on a two-year deal for Vuc. (and had to eat the difference between Aminu and WCJ). They can have some cap room depending on what they do with Theis, Markkanen and the partially guaranteed deals for Young and Satoransky. If they keep LM, the cap room is gone. There was some thought they were after Lonzo. PG is probably their biggest need. But, scrapping together $20 million for Ball means moving on from Markkanen and a couple of guys from among Theis, Sato and Young (or doing a S&T with NO).
Is LM a fit financially for Dallas? It is hard to picture a sign and trade that salary matches, so that means cap room. Is LM at the four better than THJ as the backup 3/2? I guess that depends on Green (this is kind of the bet with any FA signing that moves on from THJ). KP is certainly a better rim protector than Vuc. Can LM and KP coexist defensively? What about rebounding? He would absolutely be a sweet shooting threat from the outside and he has a much more diverse offensive repertoire than Maxi. And it isn't KP and LM would share the floor 30 minutes a game (could be half that). I can easily see Luka and LM sitting when Brunson and Maxi come in. Then Luka and LM with the rest of the bench absolutely lights it up when the come back in and KP sits.