08-15-2021, 11:12 AM
(08-15-2021, 10:16 AM)Jason Terry Wrote: Chicago is at $131 million in taxable salaries. They have $5.5 million in breathing room. They have a $5 million TPE. The reporting has suggested that they will not take on any meaningful salary in a LM deal. Rather than an expensive 3 way deal, the easiest way to a LM trade is using the Dallas ~$11 million TPE or the New Orleans ~$17 million TPE.Chi wants a FRP and to take on no money, but where are they if LM signs the QO? If they take back Maxi and Brown ($10.4M) it’s not much different than the $9M QO, except they get 2 players in positions of current need for 1. That gets LM where he wants to go (Dallas) on a contract closer to where he wants to be (his part of the negotiation).
How much will new orleans offer so LM knows how much $ he would need to give up to come here? The Dallas end is likely(should be) set at a max of ~4/$48 million that can fit in the TPE.
What is the asset(s) Chicago will ask for from DAL/NO? Reports say the Chicago ask is a FRP which we will not pay. 2nd rounder would do it?
Chicago also needs to think about the Ball tampering penalty which will likely be draft picks
The Chicago Locked On podcast guys are convinced that a former employee, who works for New Orleans now, is responsible for the Ball leak to Shams. Who knows if that’s real, but it would be a theory as to why negotiations are taking so long.
My guess is Chicago and LM want a FRP and at least $15 million per from New Orleans. Dallas is playing hardball and has given a final offer of a 2nd and 4/48. A game of chicken that hopefully ends with us getting a steal
Dallas and LM have to both squeeze Chi to make this happen. LM can threaten to sign the QO and not show up for camp, further devaluing his trade value while saying he will only accept a trade to Dallas (I understand this doesn’t help Dal to do this, if Chi calls his bluff). Brown is still the hold up in this scenario.