What are y’all’s thoughts on this list? Which Mavericks do you think could break into it?
Always interesting to check the pulse of the media on stuff like this. I also think it’s useful as a general snapshot of talent per team, even with the inherent bias and cause/effect fallacies that go into it. [This list](https://nbarankings.theringer.com/) is created by Bill Simmons, Rob Mahoney, Michael Pina, Chris Ryan, Justin Verrier, and Zach Kram and they update it every 2 months or so.
Players of note:
\#3 Luka Doncic. He’s slowly creeped up from #7 last year.
\#15 Jalen Brunson. He’s rocketed up from #27 last year.
\#37 Kyrie Irving. Ping ponged between #40 and #34 recently
\#44 Kristaps Porzingis. Steadily climbed up from #61 last year.
**Luka** getting his due. Behind only Joker and Giannis now.
**Brunson** above Butler, Ant, De’Aron Fox, Jamal Murray, Paul George, Bam, Sabonis, Jaylen Brown. He’s a baller but that’s quite a bold ranking.
**Kyrie** solidly a top 25 player when he’s on the court in my opinion, bias and missed time only things that keep him lower.
**Derrick Lively** will be on this list soon, and he honestly should be on it now. Naz Reid at 82, Claxton at 88, Hartenstein at 89, Jaime Jaquez at 94, Kessler 97. Chris Paul, D’Angelo Russell, Malcom Brogdon all on the list too.
Top 100 players per Western Playoff contenders:
Suns (3), Clippers (3), Thunder (3), Warriors (4), Pelicans (4), Lakers (4), Nuggets (5), Timberwolves (6)
Kings (2), Mavs (2), only without 3 or more.
A clear trend among all teams seen as legit contenders now though, is that they have 3 guys who are all in the top 60.Denver has 1, 19, 58.Boston has 8, 26, 41, 44.LAC has 7, 21, 25.
Other teams with 3 in the top 60: Thunder, Knicks, Grizzlies, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, SunsPhilly and the Bucks just miss the cut.
Can Lively break the top 60 next year? Unlikely, given that the only centers that high are All-Stars or DPOY type players. Optimistic as I am that **Josh Green or PJ Washington** could break into the list, I don’t see them rising any higher than the very bottom of the list. Is that enough talent to be a true contender?
Just another data point indicating we need to add a true #3 to be a legit contender. Some players of note in this range who theoretically could move are: Mikal Bridges (49), Dejounte Murray (53), Draymond (55), Derozan (57), Jerami Grant (64), Tobias Harris (66), Lavine (69), Caruso (71). Not a super encouraging list, given how unlikely it would be for us to have the winning bid for Mikal. Maybe Jerami Grant is the guy for us after all?
Deadline targets mentioned Siakam (34!), OG (52) Kuzma (78), Herb Jones (86) also on the list.
Can’t wait to see new look mavs vs Wemby tonight!
by TuckEverlasting89
5 Comments
I don’t expect much from them, but at least they righted the wrong of having Derrick White ahead of Kyrie Irving.
Still gross….
Good post OP.
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>#37 Kyrie Irving.
Comical stuff. I don’t even hate The Ringer and think they can provide nice insight but the Kyrie agenda is funny.
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>A clear trend among all teams seen as legit contenders now though, is that they have 3 guys who are all in the top 60.Denver has 1, 19, 58.Boston has 8, 26, 41, 44.LAC has 7, 21, 25.
Excellent point. This was something I kept my eye on this off-season. While Nico didn’t grab a top 60-75 player, if I had to bet, we’ve got a bunch of players in the 100-150 rank in the league (Lively/Gafford/PJ/THJ).
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>Some players of note in this range who theoretically could move are: Mikal Bridges (49), Dejounte Murray (53), Draymond (55), Derozan (57), Jerami Grant (64), Tobias Harris (66), Lavine (69), Caruso (71). Not a super encouraging list, given how unlikely it would be for us to have the winning bid for Mikal. Maybe Jerami Grant is the guy for us after all?
If there was any way we could acquire Mikal Bridges, it would be an indisputable contending team.
Jerami Grant might be something to look out for this off-season. He is a slender body, shoots the 3 well and has off the dribble juice, but I’m not sure if he can fly around the perimeter to defend. Someone has to fill me in on that. I bet if Dallas offered THJ + OMax ? + draft capital it could get done. I don’t think this is a trade you rush in on though. Let’s see how OMax looks next season.
I would give up 2 FRPs for Herb Jones. He’s an OG regen. Doubt it happens though smh.
If Dillon Brooks plays offense and shoots the 3ball efficiently as he has this year, I’d give up a FRP in a heartbeat for him.
What do we think of Dejounte folks? In theory, he’s supposed to be very good at POA but the Hawks have been abysmal on defense this year. I’m not sure he’s the answer at the 3.
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>Can’t wait to see new look mavs vs Wemby tonight!
Yep, let’s see how these guys keep gelling together. The off-season will come and we can evaluate with more data/eye test from then.
Brunson’s ranking is fitting. Dude is an absolute baller. He’s returned the Knicks to relevancy and contender status in the East.
I’m totally comfortable with their ranking of Brunson. He’s a top-10 MVP candidate this season IMO. That being said, the Ringer’s lists are pretty much always shit lol.
To your point, though, Mavs are definitely missing a true #3 — ideally a legit two way wing. I think with our current squad we can be somewhere in that second tier in the West, not quite contenders.
Mikal and Murray are pretty comfortably out of our price range. Herb could be the perfect target, but I think New Orleans has no real reason to trade him, and we’d probably be outbid as well.
Tough outlook but let’s see what we can do with our two tradeable firsts this offseason.