Texas Chuck wrote:HornetJail wrote:I don't understand why you wouldn't be happy with giving Gafford+Lively 24mpg apiece and guaranteeing yourself good center play at all times.
Oh we are happy. But its clear that Lively is the more effective of the two which means he shouldn't be job sharing to this degree. And so as his minutes go up, Gafford's will go down. So can Dallas use him to get something more useful than 18 mpg of good backup center play? IDK, but seems like they should at least pursue it because they continue to have other needs. They need more shooting. They need another shot creator. They could use another wing defender.
It's not about not wanting Gafford. It's about Lively is better and should play starter's minutes next year. And then trying to maximize what they have to work with. They have very limited assets. They aren't a team that can just add whatever they need without giving something up like an OKC can.
I think keeping the backup rim protection minutes is important for you guys for a few reasons:
1) BOTH of your primary offensive creators are weak defenders. Kyrie has given great effort this postseason and Luka has improved some, but DAL should expect to be playing deep into the playoffs from here on out and this time of year you're going to be going up against teams with multiple shot creators that can make this a problem. Rom protection for the full 48 goes a LONG way in mitigating.
2) Big men, just by their nature, are the type of guys who need more time off. Maybe Lively deserves more playing time than a straight 24-24 split, but centers aren't going to play 40 minutes like wings or guards would in the playoffs. Even if Lively becomes a full time starter, guys that size who have to run up and down the court might not play more than 32/33 minutes even fully extended. So depth becomes more important.
3) Kind of hand in hand with #2, but that's a position really prone to foul trouble. So if you don't have depth, you could end up struggling to get through a game where the one guy left picks up some quick fouls.
4) Kyrie and Luka are traffic players. Luka isn't this uber athlete who blows by people - he creates wiggle room in traffic to get a shot off. Kyrie's primary skill is amazing ball handling to get his shot off in close quarters. Their games are super conducive to lob threats at the rim because of this. It's just such a weapon for someone to have at their disposal that's comfortable maneuvering through traffic inside, and such a hard thing to defend.
I wouldn't hesitate to trade Gafford for an all star or anything, but the way DAL roster is set up if we're talking role player for role player swap I think the combo of Lively/Gafford is crucial to unlocking their best self. Even if Lively deserves more time and that moves to a 33/15 split vs. 24-24, I I'd still prioritize keeping Gafford for those 15 minutes vs. a wing who isn't a major game changer himself.
Honestly, I think if DAL can turn salary filler and pick(s) into a guy like Wiggins or Jeramy Grant then they'll be cooking on another level next year. I'd prioritize keeping these pieces in place for a playoff rotation:
Luka
Kyrie
??? / DJJ (should be re-signed but replaced as a starter by more offensively capable player)
PJ
Lively / Gafford
Whatever combo of Hardy/THJ/Green/Kleber/Prosper is left can round out the playoff rotation. Ideally it's enough outgoing money from that group (and Powell) to free up the MLE on DJJ.
But Green/Kleber/picks to GSW or POR for Grant and THJ dumped on DET for 2nds (to re-sign DJJ) would be my plan A for DAL this offseason. If they can pull that off, they're my pick to get back to the Finals next year most likely (for a rematch with BOS of course
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