MAVS NEWS: Luka Is Hurt, But is Trudging On | DLive's Mom Passes Away| Maxi OUT

[Chicagojk]

This board definitely understates the fact that Brunson was leaving and there most likely was not anything that the Mavs could have overpaid to prevent it from happening.  Don't get me wrong, Cuban has been cheap and Brunson was a mismanaged asset but he was mismanaged by the fact that they let him hit UFA.  I would argue that the summer before the season started may have been a little too late.  There was no reason for him to sign a 55M dollar extension if he already had a promise (I'm assuming at least) from his dad's former agent that he could get him at least that much and a starting role if he let free agency come.

When I look back on Brunson, aside from structuring his deal in a way that allowed all this to happen, the one person I actually get most upset with is...Robert Sarver.  He made a decision during the 2020 draft that I feel two franchises should be upset about.  With all the reporting that Brunson was getting paired with that pick to move up for Haliburton combined with the fact that Jalen Smith would have absolutely been waiting for the Suns at pick 19...it's honestly the biggest what if scenario I play through my head around the Luka era.  The Suns would have been much better off taking a flier on Brunson while still getting the guy they wanted and paying him less while they were at it.  I'm sure Brunson finding out how much he was being shopped probably made the tampering a lot easier over the next two years as well.

You are probably right.  I definitely misread the situation.  I thought with the position Kidd put Jlaen in that we were in a much better spot compared to the previous playoff series with Rick and Bob.   I did not know at the time what was going on behind the scenes.  So I was pretty surprised over the several weeks after the season went down how everything played out.  

Looking back, I do find it comical that cocky Cuban gave an interview and mentioned he wasn't worried because they could offer the most money.  If someone like Pat Riley says that, I think it scares teams away.   When Cuban said it the Knicks still called his bluff and he folded.   So while it wasn't truly their decision on whether Jalen re-signed here.  Did they really give Jalen a reason to re-consider?