(05-24-2024, 09:28 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: then I can't see why THJ+something can't net a similar return. Especially since THJ will have value around the league from teams needing volume shooting like Detroit, Orlando, Portland, or even the Pelicans.
The first major crossroads is what DJJ decides. If he takes the tax-MLE, then the Mavs can use THJ's contract to get yet another impact player and look even stronger. If DJJ wants to lock in his big contract now (and I think he will), then Nico+Lindsey+Finley will have to get creative to generate enough space for the MLE while finding an impact guy without touching the top 6 guys (Luka/Kyrie/DJJ/PJ/Gafford/Lively).
I will keep beating the Thybulle drum and offer Green+THJ to Portland for Thybulle. It works in the trade machine alone.
Maybe Portland will want a splashier move. What about:
Giddey+THJ to POR
Jerami Grant+Green to OKC
Thybulle to Dallas
Why does Portland do this? Well they get a big playmaking forward to pair next to Scoot, who doesn't really have the playmaking chops. They get off of Grant's contract and break it into 2 smaller pieces (with a Giddey extension looming, but THJ expiring so it balances out).
OKC gets their 30mil contract they need for trades, a big 4 who can score and rebound, Green's addition is a tack on but he can be removed with no issues.
Mavs generate about 17 mil of room and can offer DJJ his full MLE and it only cost them Green+THJ but they get Thybulle who is one of the best POA defenders in the league. If Green stays put the Mavs only get about 5 mil of space and can only really offer DJJ a deal starting at 7 a year.
Portland and NO don't have cap space to offer salary relief. A third team would need to be involved where either Portland or NO send their salaries and pay for that team to take it. NO will probably be in some major moves involving Ingram and I don't really see how THJ could fit into that. Portland will surely be tanking again (they are just not good enough) and I don't see them as THJ taker. Your proposed deal is perhaps interesting for both OKC and Portland, but they could just simply make Giddey for Grant swap, as OKC has enough cap space to eat the salary difference. Not sure they are high on Green as they have a huge number of decent cheap bench guards like Joe, Wiggins and so on.
One more thing: I don't think Green+THJ for Thybulle works. I think trade machines are not accurate at this point of time (are they calculating based on 2023-2024 season or already the new season). I was playing around the other day and got some strange responses from the trade machine. Even if it would work, I don't think Green has higher value than Thybulle.