shack009 said:
Not trying to be an *******, just genuinely curious: How can someone think Nico did great last night, but also the pick we used at 12 will never be anything or will be nothing more than a role player as a best case scenario?
IMO, you didn't do a good job if you used #12 on a terrible player. Best you could do is say it was a solid job of getting off Bertans, getting a wing defender who will be depth for this season, and adding an experienced center who didn't play much last year.
If you want to give Nico anything more than a B for last night, you have to think Lively will be at least something. Or you think O Max will be a complete stud immediately.
Lol You're basically talking to me.
I never said Lively can't become something, I just said he's years away from becoming whatever he will be. He doesn't fill an immediate need in the way that most people think because I don't see him being ready for some time.
When Hendricks gets taken at 9, I'm almost certain that's who Dallas would have selected, but they can't control which players are available. Which means it was time to pivot. And I personally think the pivot maneuvers Nico pulled off, were brilliant.
Lively was obviously the guy they wanted and instead of taking him at 10 and calling it a day, they turned Bertans+10th pick into picks 12, 24, Holmes and options to open up the Full MLE ($12m) and/or the full BAE ($4.5m).
Depending on what they do in the coming months, that means they will potentially get 3 rotation players or better +Lively.
And even if they don't, they attacked their biggest weaknesses (perimeter defense and interior defense) with both short term (Prosper) and long term talent (Lively). Holmes is a movable contract that can be used to upgrade somewhere else or simply keep as front court depth. His best days are likely behind him, but he's offensively more skilled than Powell.
Bottom line: Using the bertans TPE to get another FRP was awesome. It's a player that will have immediate impact and gives you some front court optionality. A+ GM'ing. It's up to the coaches to do the rest.