This Season's Roster Outlook

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by tsar

Do you guys know of any 3&D players available this offseason? We really need some 3 point shooting without sacrificing defense off the bench.

Not many in general and even fewer when you look at this FA period. If you don't mind 30% guys, things open up a bit, though.

Wesley Mathews (38.9%)? Is he leaving? Can he get/stay healthy?
Jae Crowder - Can he play SG? Is 30% enough?
Alan Anderson - 34.8%- not great defensively, though
Mo Williams - 34.2% - not great defensively, though, and small
Jimmy Butler - 37.8% - Exactly who you want, but exactly who everyone else wants, too. Will get maxed out and is an RFA making an offer highly unlikely
Mike Miller - 32.8% - has PO, but doesn't play D and will probably stay once Love/Lebron decide to.
J.R. Smith - 38.3% - you want that headache? Also loses interest on D
Jameer Nelson - 34.5%- no D and was pretty awful here.
Reggie JAckson - 29.9% - Arrogant/huge ego and not terribly effective considering
Tayshawn Prince - 46.3% - old as dirt and no longer a defensive stalwart. Worth a look off the bench, I suppose
Patrick Beverley - 35.6% - decent at both defense and shooting
Hedo Turkoglu - 43.2% - pretty awful defensively, but a decent Peja-type off the bench
Wayne Ellington - 37.0% - worth another look?
Jeff Green - 33.3% - great, but will probably accept PO to stay in Memphis. Also plays PF/SF
Goran Dragic - 34.7% - not known for his D. Also already ruled us out according to rumors. Decent bigger PG who could play with Ellis. Will probably ask for too much and not even return our calls.
Deng - 35.5% - good 3/D guy who may explore FA or may accept PO. Can't really play guard spots, though.
Khris Middleton - 40.7% - my personal choice and may come cheaper than Mathews. Can do both 3 and D, although he is restricted.
Gary Neal - 30.5% - not really good at either
Eric Gordon - 44.8% - probably too expensive for us, but worth a look
Arron Aflallo - 35.4% - good competitor who brings 3/D - player option, though

[purplefrog]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Not many in general and even fewer when you look at this FA period. If you don't mind 30% guys, things open up a bit, though.

Wesley Mathews (38.9%)? Is he leaving? Can he get/stay healthy?
Jae Crowder - Can he play SG? Is 30% enough?
Alan Anderson - 34.8%- not great defensively, though
Mo Williams - 34.2% - not great defensively, though, and small
Jimmy Butler - 37.8% - Exactly who you want, but exactly who everyone else wants, too. Will get maxed out and is an RFA making an offer highly unlikely
Mike Miller - 32.8% - has PO, but doesn't play D and will probably stay once Love/Lebron decide to.
J.R. Smith - 38.3% - you want that headache? Also loses interest on D
Jameer Nelson - 34.5%- no D and was pretty awful here.
Reggie JAckson - 29.9% - Arrogant/huge ego and not terribly effective considering
Tayshawn Prince - 46.3% - old as dirt and no longer a defensive stalwart. Worth a look off the bench, I suppose
Patrick Beverley - 35.6% - decent at both defense and shooting
Hedo Turkoglu - 43.2% - pretty awful defensively, but a decent Peja-type off the bench
Wayne Ellington - 37.0% - worth another look?
Jeff Green - 33.3% - great, but will probably accept PO to stay in Memphis. Also plays PF/SF
Goran Dragic - 34.7% - not known for his D. Also already ruled us out according to rumors. Decent bigger PG who could play with Ellis. Will probably ask for too much and not even return our calls.
Deng - 35.5% - good 3/D guy who may explore FA or may accept PO. Can't really play guard spots, though.
Khris Middleton - 40.7% - my personal choice and may come cheaper than Mathews. Can do both 3 and D, although he is restricted.
Gary Neal - 30.5% - not really good at either
Eric Gordon - 44.8% - probably too expensive for us, but worth a look
Arron Aflallo - 35.4% - good competitor who brings 3/D - player option, though

After looking at this list for realistic starters in the backcourt, I conclude the best option is to go with this idea (offered up in an earlier post by rimrocker):

Ellis
Parsons
Aminu
Dirk
Chandler

Parsons can play SG on offense and, depending on the opponent, either SG or SF on defense. For example:

Against the Rockets
Aminu guards Harden; Parsons gets Ariza

Against the Warriors
Aminu gets Curry; Ellis gets Thompson; Parsons gets Green/Barnes

Against the Spurs
Aminu gets Leonard; Parsons gets Green; Ellis gets Parker

Against the Clippers
Aminu gets Paul; Ellis gets Reddick; Parsons gets Barnes

On offense, Parsons can help initiate the offense and serve as the spot up shooter.

The offseason is used to shore up the bench (still a tough task). You're set at PG if you can bring back JJ (include Devin and Felton unless either gets traded), but you need back-ups at each of the other positions with an emphasis on defense and rebounding, but adding a couple of 3pt specialists for those times when everyone goes cold. I have no idea how this would work given cap constraints, but it seems to me that the best way to move forward is to keep the core together (starting five + JJ and Devin) and build around it with role players.

I have grown tired of the annual roster shake-up. It's not good for Dirk or the team over the immediate future. Dirk, Ellis, Parsons, Aminu,and Chandler should be enough to stay competitive and give us something to cheer about. When the cap takes a huge increase the following year, then you might be able to add a significant piece to the puzzle.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by purplefrog

After looking at this list for realistic starters in the backcourt, I conclude the best option is to go with this idea (offered up in an earlier post by rimrocker):

Ellis
Parsons
Aminu
Dirk
Chandler

Parsons can play SG on offense and, depending on the opponent, either SG or SF on defense.

I like the idea of a 6-9 SG and think Parsons could be up to the task, especially if he switches to SF on defense... Although I'm not interested in Ellis playing the PG position at all. But find another point and I could get behind that lineup.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Underdog

I like the idea of a 6-9 SG and think Parsons could be up to the task, especially if he switches to SF on defense... Although I'm not interested in Ellis playing the PG position at all. But find another point and I could get behind that lineup.

I hate the thought of Ellis playing PG too but if he is going to dominate the ball we might as well surround him with bigger and better defenders. Plus Parsons would become more involved if he is able to initiate plays.

Aminu has become my new favorite Mav (over Barea) and if we are keeping Ellis and continue starting Dirk we desperately need a lock down perimeter defender.
Now if Ellis would come off the bench I think I could live with Barea as our starter knowing we have a solid perimeter defender in the game with him.
Barea/Harris
Parsons/Ellis
Aminu/Jefferson
Dirk/Powell/CV
Chandler/???/Sarge

[mac222b]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Not many in general and even fewer when you look at this FA period. If you don't mind 30% guys, things open up a bit, though.

Wesley Mathews (38.9%)? Is he leaving? Can he get/stay healthy?
Jae Crowder - Can he play SG? Is 30% enough?
Alan Anderson - 34.8%- not great defensively, though
Mo Williams - 34.2% - not great defensively, though, and small
Jimmy Butler - 37.8% - Exactly who you want, but exactly who everyone else wants, too. Will get maxed out and is an RFA making an offer highly unlikely
Mike Miller - 32.8% - has PO, but doesn't play D and will probably stay once Love/Lebron decide to.
J.R. Smith - 38.3% - you want that headache? Also loses interest on D
Jameer Nelson - 34.5%- no D and was pretty awful here.
Reggie JAckson - 29.9% - Arrogant/huge ego and not terribly effective considering
Tayshawn Prince - 46.3% - old as dirt and no longer a defensive stalwart. Worth a look off the bench, I suppose
Patrick Beverley - 35.6% - decent at both defense and shooting
Hedo Turkoglu - 43.2% - pretty awful defensively, but a decent Peja-type off the bench
Wayne Ellington - 37.0% - worth another look?
Jeff Green - 33.3% - great, but will probably accept PO to stay in Memphis. Also plays PF/SF
Goran Dragic - 34.7% - not known for his D. Also already ruled us out according to rumors. Decent bigger PG who could play with Ellis. Will probably ask for too much and not even return our calls.
Deng - 35.5% - good 3/D guy who may explore FA or may accept PO. Can't really play guard spots, though.
Khris Middleton - 40.7% - my personal choice and may come cheaper than Mathews. Can do both 3 and D, although he is restricted.
Gary Neal - 30.5% - not really good at either
Eric Gordon - 44.8% - probably too expensive for us, but worth a look
Arron Aflallo - 35.4% - good competitor who brings 3/D - player option, though

Eric Gordon has a player option for like 16 million will probably opt in.
I'd add Wes Johnson and Gerald Henderson(player option)to this list. Maybe Dunleavy.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Monta is the #1 because he can always create a clean look. The problem is that clean look is an awful shot for him. The Monta that attacks the rim would be missed if he isn't here next year. The Monta who doesn't let anyone touch the ball in the last 5mins and the one RC for some strange reason allows to do this over and over would not be missed. Especially if people are wanting to see a bigger role for CP. If monta is moody about his money like reports suggest then how would he respond when CP is getting his closing opportunities?

If I'm totally honest about Monta... I have absolutely no idea when I will love him and I also have absolutely no idea when I will hate his very existence.... and it's on a game by game basis unfortunately because that is seemingly who he is. If he opts in ok. If he wants 12+.... I'm not sure anymore, with the Rondo failure, how I'd feel about that. Especially considering I already booked my seat on Wes Matthews express if he opts out.

[Dirk's Knee]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Monta is the #1 because he can always create a clean look. The problem is that clean look is an awful shot for him. The Monta that attacks the rim would be missed if he isn't here next year. The Monta who doesn't let anyone touch the ball in the last 5mins and the one RC for some strange reason allows to do this over and over would not be missed. Especially if people are wanting to see a bigger role for CP. If monta is moody about his money like reports suggest then how would he respond when CP is getting his closing opportunities?

If I'm totally honest about Monta... I have absolutely no idea when I will love him and I also have absolutely no idea when I will hate his very existence.... and it's on a game by game basis unfortunately because that is seemingly who he is. If he opts in ok. If he wants 12+.... I'm not sure anymore, with the Rondo failure, how I'd feel about that. Especially considering I already booked my seat on Wes Matthews express if he opts out.

Said it before and I'll say it again. I have absolutely no faith that another team's #3 option can become the #1 option on the the Mavs offensively. The only Trailblazer I'd be on board for is Lamarcus Aldridge, otherwise I'm for bringing back the starting 4 (minus Rondo) and building from there.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by Dirk's Knee

Said it before and I'll say it again. I have absolutely no faith that another team's #3 option can become the #1 option on the the Mavs offensively. The only Trailblazer I'd be on board for is Lamarcus Aldridge, otherwise I'm for bringing back the starting 4 (minus Rondo) and building from there.

I never said Matthews would be the number 1 option? What is wrong with having Dirk take advantage of his mismatches, with CP and Matthews doing the same when they have the advantage? Good ball movement and match-ups. Don't Spurs, Hawks, Grizz, Bulls, Wiz, Raps all do this? While actually being able to defend the perimeter with Matthews as a bonus?