03-17-2022, 09:51 AM
(03-16-2022, 01:19 PM)omahen Wrote: 1. Unless Mavs win it this year, losing Brunson in the summer is a management malpractice, imho. Either they totally misjudged the ability of the team how competitive they are, or they totally misjudged his willingness to stay or they totally misjudged long term cap situation.
No one disagrees. Yet, it might happen anyway. I think it is important to distinguish between advocating a Brunson deal and trying to think through the possibilities (as you did well in question #5 below)
2. Brunson is a FA. Mavs are not in any position to shop him around. He will chose where he wants to go and perhaps Mavs will receive a smaller compensation to help it happen. Far below what he can contribute to the team. I have posted many examples of SnT so a compensation level can be clearly seen. I haven't seen any example from the past where the team received significant compensation for enabling UFA SnT.
Some of this depends on whether the other team has cap room or not. In a Detroit deal, we might get a TPE and a highly protected 2037 second rounder. If the other team doesn't have cap room a recent example is Achiuwa and expiring Dragic. One major difference between Lowry and Brunson is Miami didn't have to deal with BYC issues.
3. Future flexibility and not keeping Brunson makes no sense to me. Losing your arguably second best player for nothing is not good in any way, imho. If you don't see him in your future, he should be traded sooner (unless you think Mavs are a contender this season). Mavs are responsible for the tax situation they put themsleves into. Teams plan such things years ahead and act soon enough. By deciding not to trade him, the only move left is to resign him.
See the answer to #1. No one disagrees, yet it might happen anyway.
4. The only player I would be discussing with Detroit is Grant. I have a hard time seeing Detroit moving Stewart for THJ, who is neutral value at best.
I assume you are advocating THJ for Grant and not Brunson for Grant since you just (correctly) argued Dallas won't get much in return for Brunson. It seems likely Detroit drafts a big given my limited knowledge of the top of the draft board. They have Stewart and Bagley and Olynyk and possibly Grant in addition to what might be a top 3/4 pick. I think there is a need for THJ and Detroit has all sorts of mix and match opportunities to put together in a deal. The one I have trouble seeing is anything based around THJ Plus for Grant (Brunson doesn't count as the Plus as Detroit doesn't have to give up anything to get him).
5. You could perhaps use Brunson salary in a trade for someone without sending additional salary. Example: Brunson to Detroit cap space, Dallas picks to Houston, Wood to Dallas. Asking Detroit nicely to do this as SnT instead of just signing Brunson in FA.
Agreed. You can get to a pretty big number if you do this and add someone like Bullock, THJ or one of our bigs to the deal. Maybe this is a way to make lemonade out of the lemon of Brunson deciding to leave (if indeed that happens).