Post-Mortem: 2021-22 Dallas Mavericks

[LewisnotMiller]

Kidd did a great job, and I was wrong, wrong, wrong about his hiring.

There, I've said it.

This team is the opposite of almost all not-quite contenders. Rather than a solid team who needs a star, it's a somewhat rickety team who already has a legit star.

I'm targetting Bamba, which isn't different from what others have said. I don't rate him massively, but he's a good fit both defensively and in yes of spacing, as well as age profile. Powell is fine as an off the bench P&R guy, although you have to do this thinking Mo can improve his P&R play.

The Mavs might not be able to get him, either through the MLE, or sign and trade, but of the possibly available guys, he looks the most impactful and the most long term help.

[hugepatsfan]

They need to add more of a paint presence and then guys who can do more than just catch and shoot. Realistically, if you chase guys who have those skill sets, you're going to have to sacrifice some of your shooting. So they'll need to grow the offense beyond just Luka driving while it's 5-out on offense.

[Texas Chuck]

The Mavs might not be able to get him, either through the MLE, or sign and trade, but of the possibly available guys, he looks the most impactful and the most long term help.

He's a smart target, but Dallas is very unlikely to be able to sign him because they have hard cap issues and couldn't receive him via S&T without sacrificing Brunson or finding some very unlikely salary dumps.

If Dallas wants a center upgrade its almost certainly going to have to be trading for a player already under contract.

[Texas Chuck]

They need to add more of a paint presence and then guys who can do more than just catch and shoot. Realistically, if you chase guys who have those skill sets, you're going to have to sacrifice some of your shooting. So they'll need to grow the offense beyond just Luka driving while it's 5-out on offense.

They will have 4 guys who can do that with varying levels of competence if Brunson is retained(Luka, Brunson, Dinwiddie, THJ). Ideally obviously they'd have a big with some offensive creation skills either for himself or as a passer so they could get more guys on the court at the same time, but they aren't just Luka by any means.

I think the biggest issue for Dallas is they don't have a lot of real 2-ways guys. Their defenders are pretty much limited to spot up shooting and their creators aren't very good defensively.

This is where you see why GSW and Boston are in the Finals. Sure Horford and Smart aren't great offensive players, but they aren't incapable either. GSW only really has one defensive liability playing a major role and that's Poole and even Looney has found a way to contribute offensively with his offensive rebounding prowess.

[matt6715]

I wonder if Jalen Smith played himself out of taxpayer MLE territory but I'd love to grab him. Bamba is in a similar place - I think he will at minimum get a full MLE from somebody.

They also pretty much have their entire roster guaranteed next season outside of Maxi who they will definitely keep and Frank Ntilikina who I personally hope they will keep. The trade route may be their only option. Package the 26th pick on draft day with an expiring for a potential rotation big.

Would the Kings accept Powell + 26 + two future seconds for Richaun Holmes?

[dc]

I wonder if Jalen Smith played himself out of taxpayer MLE territory but I'd love to grab him. Bamba is in a similar place - I think he will at minimum get a full MLE from somebody.

They also pretty much have their entire roster guaranteed next season outside of Maxi who they will definitely keep and Frank Ntilikina who I personally hope they will keep. The trade route may be their only option. Package the 26th pick on draft day with an expiring for a potential rotation big.

Would the Kings accept Powell + 26 + two future seconds for Richaun Holmes?

Smith would be a nice grab for the Mavs if they can get him for cheap.

I've seen Bamba play twice live (once vs. the Warriors). Despite his 7'7" or whatever it is wingspan, I didn't notice him having any impact on the game. He didn't appear to deter anything the Warriors were trying to do on offense. He had 1 dunk when being spoon fed the ball, maybe 1 block and I can't remember anything else he did. Didn't appear to be any kind of rim runner/lob threat, even though people would think a guy with his physical attributes should be able to perform that role easily.

Magic are about to let a #6 overall pick who put up decent stats last year just walk for nothing, but I can understand why after watching him live.

[Johnny Firpo]

I would love to get Poeltl, whatever it takes. If it's 2 1sts, then be it.

[zshawn10]

The Knicks looking to hire Rick Brunson, per Ian Begley of SNY, isn't a coincidence. His son, Dallas Mavericks free-agent Jalen Brunson, may be next. While New York won't have the cap room, multiple sources believe Dallas may blink at Brunson's asking price, compelled to sign and trade him to the Knicks.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10038384-latest-nba-offseason-buzz-will-lakers-get-clarity-on-lebron-james-before-draft

[Ruma85]

The Knicks looking to hire Rick Brunson, per Ian Begley of SNY, isn't a coincidence. His son, Dallas Mavericks free-agent Jalen Brunson, may be next. While New York won't have the cap room, multiple sources believe Dallas may blink at Brunson's asking price, compelled to sign and trade him to the Knicks.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10038384-latest-nba-offseason-buzz-will-lakers-get-clarity-on-lebron-james-before-draft

I would really like to see the Knicks do well, but I don't see why Brunson would go to the Knicks rather then stay in Dallas.

[zshawn10]

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