Oaktown or toketown: Mavs try to be the road warriors

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Winning can cover most ills, but I'm still down on Maxi who is insanely inconsistent. Two great games followed by two terrible ones. We need him to play well with how little our center depth is right now.

Center is where this team needs to upgrade this offseason. If Dinwiddie keeps playing well, then I feel it's our only true weakness.

[Scoobay]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Winning can cover most ills, but I'm still down on Maxi who is insanely inconsistent. Two great games followed by two terrible ones. We need him to play well with how little our center depth is right now.

Center is where this team needs to upgrade this offseason. If Dinwiddie keeps playing well, then I feel it's our only true weakness.

Is there a good big available in FA or the draft that we can snag?

tankathon has us taking some more shooting guard/wing types

a name slotted to go around the same range is EJ Liddell - he's around 6'7" (with shoes), 240, 7'0" wingspan. good shooter putting up big block numbers for a good Ohio St team.

[Kidd Karma]

Originally Posted by Scoobay

Is there a good big available in FA or the draft that we can snag?

tankathon has us taking some more shooting guard/wing types

a name slotted to go around the same range is EJ Liddell - he's around 6'7" (with shoes), 240, 7'0" wingspan. good shooter putting up big block numbers for a good Ohio St team.

Centers, pretty bare in terms of realistic options..

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/center/

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by Scoobay

Is there a good big available in FA or the draft that we can snag?

tankathon has us taking some more shooting guard/wing types

a name slotted to go around the same range is EJ Liddell - he's around 6'7" (with shoes), 240, 7'0" wingspan. good shooter putting up big block numbers for a good Ohio St team.

I'd say the ONLY thing we need is a PF/C. If anything, we have TOO many guards and wings.

Guys over 6'8" on contract next season
Powell - 6'11". Great chemistry guy, but VERY limited. Not really consistent enough to be a starter.
Kleber - 6'11". Great chemistry guy who can occasionally take over with 3/D, but inconsistent. Not consistent enough to be a starter.
Bertans - 6'10" but plays SF naturally. Should very rarely play PF and only small ball C.
Boban - 7'3" but unplayable
Chriss - 6'9" and decent on both sides of the ball-- when healthy. Not a starting-caliber player.

Unfortunately, we are going to be operating way over the cap so we aren't going to make moves in free agency. Maybe there's a trade, but the best option would be to draft

Guys worth a look in the draft
Patrick Baldwin - 6'9" shooter and decent rebounder. Limited defense.
Walker Kessler - reminds me of Myles Turner. Limited offensively, but defensive monster. No jumper but tons of shotblocking.
Nikola Jovic - 6'10" Range and smarts. Few physical tools, but Luka doesn't really either and he's effective. A little raw/project-y
Mark Williams - 7'0" decent rebounder/defender who can finish the oop and set screens
Oscar Tshiebwe - 6'9" long and physical. Reminds me of Kevon Looney or Precious Achiuwa

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

I'd say the ONLY thing we need is a PF/C. If anything, we have TOO many guards and wings.

Guys over 6'8" on contract next season
Powell - 6'11". Great chemistry guy, but VERY limited. Not really consistent enough to be a starter.
Kleber - 6'11". Great chemistry guy who can occasionally take over with 3/D, but inconsistent. Not consistent enough to be a starter.
Bertans - 6'10" but plays SF naturally. Should very rarely play PF and only small ball C.
Boban - 7'3" but unplayable
Chriss - 6'9" and decent on both sides of the ball-- when healthy. Not a starting-caliber player.

Unfortunately, we are going to be operating way over the cap so we aren't going to make moves in free agency. Maybe there's a trade, but the best option would be to draft

Guys worth a look in the draft
Patrick Baldwin - 6'9" shooter and decent rebounder. Limited defense.
Walker Kessler - reminds me of Myles Turner. Limited offensively, but defensive monster. No jumper but tons of shotblocking.
Nikola Jovic - 6'10" Range and smarts. Few physical tools, but Luka doesn't really either and he's effective. A little raw/project-y
Mark Williams - 7'0" decent rebounder/defender who can finish the oop and set screens
Oscar Tshiebwe - 6'9" long and physical. Reminds me of Kevon Looney or Precious Achiuwa

I know Cuban runs the show, but Nico has to be thinking we are literally only in need of a center. FIngers crossed

[saclare]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

I'd say the ONLY thing we need is a PF/C. If anything, we have TOO many guards and wings.

Guys over 6'8" on contract next season
Powell - 6'11". Great chemistry guy, but VERY limited. Not really consistent enough to be a starter.
Kleber - 6'11". Great chemistry guy who can occasionally take over with 3/D, but inconsistent. Not consistent enough to be a starter.
Bertans - 6'10" but plays SF naturally. Should very rarely play PF and only small ball C.
Boban - 7'3" but unplayable
Chriss - 6'9" and decent on both sides of the ball-- when healthy. Not a starting-caliber player.

Unfortunately, we are going to be operating way over the cap so we aren't going to make moves in free agency. Maybe there's a trade, but the best option would be to draft

Guys worth a look in the draft
Patrick Baldwin - 6'9" shooter and decent rebounder. Limited defense.
Walker Kessler - reminds me of Myles Turner. Limited offensively, but defensive monster. No jumper but tons of shotblocking.
Nikola Jovic - 6'10" Range and smarts. Few physical tools, but Luka doesn't really either and he's effective. A little raw/project-y
Mark Williams - 7'0" decent rebounder/defender who can finish the oop and set screens
Oscar Tshiebwe - 6'9" long and physical. Reminds me of Kevon Looney or Precious Achiuwa

What am I missing on Baldwin? Not seeing an impact NBA level player...

Would love to snag a high floor type like Tshiebwe or Kessler, productive college big men who might not project a super high ceiling otherwise.

I'll also throw Colin Castleton into the mix from Florida.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by saclare

What am I missing on Baldwin? Not seeing an impact NBA level player...

Would love to snag a high floor type like Tshiebwe or Kessler, productive college big men who might not project a super high ceiling otherwise.

I'll also throw Colin Castleton into the mix from Florida.

Yeah I shouldn't have included him. I just saw him on a bunch of draft lists at 21 where we are. He's got a quick jumper with good mechanics, but otherwise he's very limited. His ceiling is Bertans.

I think our best bet is drafting someone limited offensively and teaching them to set good screens and roll to the hoop. Powell's entire skillset can't be that rare. If all they can do is defend and rebound, they shouldn't be a lottery pick. Grab someone like that at 21, train them to set screens and catch lobs from Luka/JB/Dinwiddie and they can be a 10-15 year starter. We don't need Wilt Chamberlain to score 60. We just need a screener for Luka, an oop recipient to keep offenses honest inside, and a rebounder to make sure we don't give up 40-second chance points.

[rimrocker]

I’d be happy with Kessler or Williams.
Both should have decent nba careers.
Kessler is probably the most nba ready, but I’d love to see what TC could do with Williams.
That ridiculous WS of Williams, and seems aggressive in the paint is exactly what we need.

[saclare]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Yeah I shouldn't have included him. I just saw him on a bunch of draft lists at 21 where we are. He's got a quick jumper with good mechanics, but otherwise he's very limited. His ceiling is Bertans.

I think our best bet is drafting someone limited offensively and teaching them to set good screens and roll to the hoop. Powell's entire skillset can't be that rare. If all they can do is defend and rebound, they shouldn't be a lottery pick. Grab someone like that at 21, train them to set screens and catch lobs from Luka/JB/Dinwiddie and they can be a 10-15 year starter. We don't need Wilt Chamberlain to score 60. We just need a screener for Luka, an oop recipient to keep offenses honest inside, and a rebounder to make sure we don't give up 40-second chance points.

For sure on Baldwin, it seems some mockers are relying way too much on his HS rankings. He's not really performed in college to warrant a 1st round pick, much less at a smaller school. One would expect him to be dominating. His physical traits are intriguing, but I need better production at the next stage to rely on HS ranks and physical traits.

You hit it on the head. Don't need Bam or Ayton type, could easily get away with a bigger body type, Steven Adams ceiling. Set screens, rebound, and body other bigs in the paint.