09-29-2026, 04:53 PM
(09-29-2026, 07:32 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Remember $19mm plus of Martin is outgoing in such a deal. So the $15.5mm isn't being thrown away. The team would be saying Powell at $18mm total cost this year ($15.5mm plus the team part of the vet min) is better than wasting $19mm on Martin and clogging the roster for the next two seasons.
The Sabonis thing isn't my idea. It was the only rumored Duren destination until others joined the party yesterday. Depending on the returning salary, Robinson may have to be included. So, this might not be a Robinson versus Martin calculation for Detroit. It might be Martin versus signing someone off the street.
1 No matter how you label it, you would be trading for a 15.5M contract, not a 5M one, which you would be flushing. At 5M, I can see the waiver (to save 11M). But to trash 15.5M, only save 0.5M and all you get is Powell? I can't see that as a plan.
2 Also fwiw in a scenario that includes Martin, DET is not getting Martin as part of such a swap. Duren-Robinson together only matches Sabonis (barely), and no room for them to take more.
3 HOWEVER - SAC could not take both JD and DR, because of the resulting overall SAC cap. Exchanging DR for Martin (or some other player making under ~11M) would be a necessary part of a SAC trade to get Duren.
.... It sure seems like that swap would be more valuable to SAC/DET than to DAL, since it is a trade facilitator for the others but DAL would just be getting a player to waive --- so maybe the Mavs would get a pick or 2 as their incentive?
DEADLINE is soon. So all of this is put to bed, one way or another, in about 24 hours.