2021-2022 MAVS NEWS: 4th in West | WCF loss [ARCHIVED]

[mvossman]

I'm working under the assumption that we are getting Dragic and LM in a single deal with LM coming into our TPE.  If that is the case, I'm willing to give up either DP or Maxi.  I think we can presume Moses is in the deal.  Once you get to that point, there are only so many combo's that work:

IF DP/Moses, you need $1.66mm.  The following get you there:

     WCS         Not likely given two other centers are already in the deal.  DP/WCS works w/o Moses, but I think we are past that thinking
     DFS          No, he's a starter
     Burke       He fits, but what value does he provide
     Green       This makes the most sense, especially since we've now added Bullock, Dragic and Sterling
     Brunson    I hope not.  Despite his contract situation.  Adding Dragic and subtracting Brunson leaves you short on ball-handlers (DSJ? Frank?)

If Maxi/Moses, you need $3.99mm.  The following get you there:

     WCS         We differ here.  I think Maxi is a PF/C, not the reverse.  So, pairing him with outgoing WCS makes sense to me
     DFS          See Above


Outside of those two, the Maxi/Moses plan requires combos to make it a 4 for 2 deal.  Burke plus Terry.  Green plus Terry.   I think we can safely eliminate Terry.  Moses and Green were apparently held out of the summer league and Terry wasn't.   90% of the board would rather lose Powell than Maxi.  But, it takes two to tango (actually three since this looks like a 3-team deal).  

The simple version of this is send Powell to his home town.  Green goes to Chicago and Moses (project) could go either way.  But look at Toronto's big rotation of Boucher, Birch and Achiuwa.  Do they really need Powell and Moses?  Yeah, I get that Boucher and Achiuwa can play some at PF behind Siakam.  But, so can OG (and he probably will with Scotty Barnes needing some minutes).  If it goes down like this, I suspect Chicago gets Moses and Green with only Powell going to Canada (simply spreading Dragic's money over two years instead of all $19mm in a single year).

Meanwhile, look at Chicago.  If they trade out LM, they are pretty thin with Vuc, Bradley (2 year minimum) and P. Williams as their options at the 5/4.  They definitely need more help here, but with LaVine's extension kicking in next season, they absolutely don't take two years of Powell.  If Toronto isn't taking Powell, then we should probably be prepared for Maxi as the outgoing.  Vuc can only play the five and Maxi would make great sense as the 3rd big there between Vuc and P. Williams.  Fortunately for your preferred version, the tea leaves say Green and Moses are outgoing and that doesn't work with Maxi without another outgoing body.  I think Tyler probably nailed this unless the deal is expanded to include other players.  My biggest fear isn't the Powell vs. Maxi part.  I can live with either.  I'm more worried about Brunson going out and someone like DSJ takes his place.  If he and Frank are still available come 10/1, I'll start to get nervous.  Chicago doesn't need Brunson, but Toronto probably does.

I'm probably in the minority but I am not interested in sending out Maxi for LM.  I realize LM is younger and has improvement potential (although he has not shown much so far), but I think Maxi is more important to this team as currently constructed and as likely constructed for the next couple of years.  

I greatly prefer your Boucher idea.  I would be more than happy to send out Powell/Green/Moses for Dragic/Boucher.

Also, if the question is why would Toronto take Powell/Burke/Moses, maybe in order to re-sign Trent and stay under the tax line?  There may be easier ways to get there, but it really does not make sense for them to hold on to Dragic and be over the tax line.