08-11-2021, 03:20 AM
(08-10-2021, 09:52 PM)Scott41theMav Wrote: If we can get him for the TPE (with the salary increases from the first year, which is the only one that has to fit), he's a bargain in spite of the poor fit. If we have to pay more than that, it's not nearly as attractive.
Yours is a smart analysis imo. It basically limits the Mavs possibilities with LM to ....
1 no salary match to CHI, therefore it's a TPE deal by Dallas, PLUS
2 to be a TPE deal, LM has to agree to a starting salary that doesn't satisfy LM's prior expectations (which might then make him and his salary tolerable to the Mavs), PLUS
3 the Bulls have to be willing to accept something less than the package of "no salary, plus 1st R pick" they are demanding, since Dallas can't do a 1st R pick, so the closest is either a really low salary player who they might want from Dallas (if there is one) or a 2nd R pick.
It's a very limited range of possibilities for all the parties, if he's to be a Mav within those parameters. Technically doable, however. But not really ideal for any of them.
But if the next best option is going to be a 9M one year QO deal, after which he walks as a FA from CHI and goes to the highest bidder (with Mavs essentially unable to bid)? Then perhaps there's a possibility they all settle for a compromise like this.
That contract for LM would be (at best) a 3 year (plus a PO) that totals 34.5M over those 3 years.