Change has to come from Cuban

[mvossman]

To add, based on the moves that were made. McCullom or LeVert could likely be had pretty easily and both would make a lot of sense on Mavs team without Brunson. LeVert was expiring salary and 2022 lottery protected pick. McCullom and Nance cost a bunch of expiring and 2022 pick. Don't forget Mavs also had the 11 mil TE to play with.

So, if Mavs traded Brunson for just their 2023 pick and pulled one of those trades, they would have a Brunson replacement and all their picks available in summer of 2022.

The Mccullom trade included Josh Hart, who was not expiring.  Not sure we had something equivalent to that.  I don't think we could match that package even with a protected first from Brunson.

I don't see Levert being a legit replacement for Brunson.  Don't see him leading this team to multiple playoff wins with Luka out.  I also think that just because a player was traded for X, doesn't suggests we could get him for X.  The team that paid X could possibly be willing to pay more for X but didn't have to.  Once you attempt to acquire that player there is a potential bidding war, and the cost can easily be more.