Ever go into a store to make a semi-important purchase – like a new vacuum cleaner or something even more important, like a new sand wedge or bowling ball – and then get surprised when you see the price is actually lower than you thought it should be?
Yeah, me neither.
But that little aside is critical to this week’s Mavericks’ Mailbag because it applies to our favorite team. The Mavericks are bouncing along at .500 and that’s not terrible, but it’s not where they expect to be, either.
On paper, and in many other ways, they are better than this. They still are trying to grasp a system under a new set of coaches. They still are fighting enough relatively minor injuries to disrupt their growth curve. And they still are shooting the ball like jail time awaits them if they actually make more than half of their field-goal attempts.
All of that will change in a more favorable direction. At least that’s the hope.
So now is the time to buy low on the Mavericks. Don’t wait until after Christmas. The price is going to skyrocket by then.
Inflation and all that, you know.
FROM STAN: Could you see Kristaps Porzingis as an All-Star this year?
SEFKO: Well, that’s certainly a glass-half-full question to start things. The sad reality is that, unless Porzingis stays on the court for all of the next 29 games, it’s going to be very, very hard to justify him as an All-Star. That’s right. ALL OF THEM between now and the end of January. He’s already missed seven of the first 22 games. He can’t afford to miss more. His numbers are going to give him a fair shot. Once you get past Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert and possibly Karl-Anthony Towns depending on Minnesota’s success, the pickings are very average in the Western Conference for big men. It’s not out of the question that Porzingis could be in the conversation, particularly if an injury impacts the landscape. It’s probably a long shot. But we’ve all seen long shots hit on occasion.
FROM AARON: All things considered, was that home loss to lowly New Orleans, which was without their best player, Zion Williamson, the worst game the Mavericks have played this season?
SEFKO: I know people come to the Mailbag to read my thoughts on these questions, but let’s let Jason Kidd weigh in first. “The effort, grading system was very low all the way around,” the coach said of that game. “There’s a long laundry list. We’d be here until tomorrow’s game time to talk about things we didn’t do. But we have to stay together.” All of that is true. And you certainly can make the argument that the 107-91 loss was the worst of the season. But I would refer to the 114-96 loss to Cleveland as a candidate for the worst loss this season. When you allow a sub-.500 team to shoot 56.3 percent from the field on your home court, it’s a major cause for concern.
FROM MIKE S.: The trade deadline is coming up sooner than the calendar would suggest. Who might the Mavericks target that might be a big step forward (someone they could afford)?
SEKFO: Everybody wants to make moves at this time of the season. Maybe it’s the Christmas spirit moving us. Or maybe it’s losing seven of nine games. Either way, trades are hard to come by right now, but about to get a lot easier after Dec. 15 when all players become trade-eligible (excepting those with no-trade clauses). But the issue for the Mavericks is that a lot of potential trade candidates between now and the Feb. 10 trade deadline are point guards or combo guards. The Mavericks already have maybe the best at that position in the NBA. So while players like Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving and even Goran Dragic are enticing, it’s probably not going to happen here. We’re not into pegging exactly players as trade targets here at the Mailbag. But if you could find somebody like San Antonio’s Thaddeus Young or New York’s Alec Burks – not necessarily those two players, but players like them – then you could add a key piece and it might not cost you Jalen Brunson, which is who every team in the NBA wants. A good overall forward or a swingman who can shoot. Those are the kind of players that can help the Mavericks, assuming they aren’t going to go all in for one of the star-level players that perhaps will be changing addresses.
FROM BRENT E: Do you think Jason Kidd is doing a good job of coaching this team? Will Mark Cuban give give Nico Harrison a real chance to make this team his and Kidd’s?
SEFKO: Jason Kidd is doing one thing very, very well. He’s keeping the big picture front and center. Why do you think he’s mixing lineups like he is? And tinkering with different combinations at center and power forward. The goal here is to have this team functioning at a higher level come March and April. Yes, banking wins in December is important. But the Mavericks are going to be a playoff team. They are more concerned with being relevant in the postseason than just getting there. Kidd has gotten good respect from national media types. He’s got good support around him and has stressed a stronger defense (which we’ve yet to see, but it’s still early). Let’s revisit this question in January for more clarity. As for making this team Nico’s and Kidd’s? This is Mark Cuban’s team. As long as he’s signing the checks, he’s going to have an imprint on it. But as Cuban has gotten older, he has developed a better understanding of letting his management team do their jobs and allowing them some creative leeway. Again, Cuban still has the final say. But it’s Harrison’s job to have his finger on the pulse of the league, to know what teams are getting happy feet and want to make moves and might provide an opportunity for the Mavericks. We have two months to the trade deadline, so we’ll learn a lot more between now and then.
FROM EDWARD V.: I say keep Luka out until he’s fully healthy. Mavericks aren’t winning a championship this year anyway. Might as well tank and get a good pick.
SEFKO: I want to go on record and say that this reader/follower does not speak for all Edwards. Oh, yeah, let’s do that. Free agents and great players love to come (or stay?) at a place that tanks a season. Good grief. Owners, management, players, support staff. Everybody loves being in the playoffs. Just get there.
Twitter: @ESefko
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