Trey

The shooting wing archetype is the safest pick. There is always a 38% three-point shooter available in the second round. Dallas just needs to find one who can also stay in front of his man on defense.

The shot quality nuance is important. Bad analytics says never shoot mid-range. Good analytics says Luka should shoot mid-range because HIS mid-range is efficient. The difference matters.

Minimum contract centers are not nothing. Look at what players like Gafford provided in 2024 on an affordable deal. The right veteran big at the minimum can change a playoff series.

The MLE is the most important $7.5M in the NBA for this team. Finding a wing who can shoot and defend at that price is the difference between a second-round exit and a Finals run.

Per-100-possession adjustment is important but Luka still leads by a wide margin. The volume AND efficiency combination is historically rare.

The assists gap is what separates them as different types of players. Dirk was the greatest shooting big man ever. Luka is a 6-7 point guard who can score like a big man. Different games entirely.

Josh Howard at 29 was an incredible pick. He became an All-Star out of the end of the first round. You do not see that hit rate often at that draft position.

Trading up for Luka is the best move this franchise has ever made outside of signing Dirk. The fact that Sacramento took Marvin Bagley one pick earlier will be in basketball history books forever.

Victory Park during the 2024 Finals was something I will never forget. The streets were packed with fans watching on screens, cheering together. Dallas felt like a basketball city for the first time since 2011.

The 2024 Finals loss to Boston was a defensive loss. The Celtics shot 48% from three in the series. You are not beating that regardless of how many points Luka scores.

Every champion in 20 years has been top-10 in defense. That stat alone should tell the front office everything. Offense wins games, defense wins championships is a cliche because it is true.

No Steve Nash? He was an All-Star as a Mav before leaving for Phoenix where he won 2 MVPs. His time in Dallas was significant.

Dirk at PF is the most obvious pick in the history of franchise all-time lists. 21 years, one team, one ring. The loyalty and the production are both unmatched.

I was a Kyrie skeptic when the trade happened. I thought the off-court distractions would derail everything. I was wrong. He has been locked in and professional in Dallas from day one.

The +6.2 per 100 when both play is elite. That is top-5 duo production in the NBA. The fit is real and the numbers prove it.

Lakewood Growler is the low-key best option. No crowd, great beer, game is always on. If you want to actually watch basketball without screaming over people, this is it.

Luxury tax at $65M is steep. The new ownership needs to commit to paying that for the next 3-4 years while Luka and Kyrie are in their primes. If they cheap out, the window closes.

This run is better than LeBron in 2016 and I will argue that forever. Dirk did it with less help against better opponents.

Sweeping the defending champion Lakers is the part people forget. Kobe, Pau, Bynum, Odom — and Dallas swept them like they were a lottery team. Dirk had 28 per game.

Upper deck corner sections for Mavs games are honestly fine. The sightlines are good and for $30 you cannot beat the value. Save the lower bowl splurge for a playoff game.

Free street parking after 6 PM is the real cheat code. I have been going to games for 5 years and never paid for parking. Walk 3 blocks, save $25.

That run changed how the national media views this franchise. We went from a punchline to a legitimate contender overnight. The foundation is there.

Game 4 against OKC was the single greatest individual game I have ever watched from a Mav. That stepback three to win it — I was at AAC and the building shook. I am not exaggerating.

A championship is the only thing missing from a Hall of Fame resume. Everything else is already there. He needs help though — you cannot win a title carrying this heavy a load.

The BPM of +10.4 at age 27 is genuinely historic. Only LeBron and Jordan were better at the same age. People do not appreciate what they are watching.

Agreed on the $22 burger. I made that mistake once and I think about it every time I go to a game. That burger personally offended me.