DAL OFFSEASON: Trade & FA | Mavs "mostly done...but you never know."

[omahen]

The fascinating thing about Hayward wanting to opt out to pursue a S&T in Dallas is that it also potentially fits with the secondary Dallas goal of keeping room for Giannis. The last thing a player who would like to stay in Dallas wants in '21 is a huge expiring contract (sorry, THJ), as the cap hold will require the team to renounce their rights to maximize space for other players. What you really want is to get there one year early on a long-term deal that preserves their space elsewhere. So arriving in a S&T now is more desirable than coming as an expiring contract or competing with bigger names for the same cap space next year.

The trick from Dallas's perspective is to acquire Hayward in a salary-neutral way. So the long-term salaries going out have to match the one coming in. For example, the most marketable realistic trade assets the Mavs have right now are probably Maxi and Curry. They're due just under $17mm in '21. So let's say Boston would take Maxi and Curry in a S&T (I bet they absolutely would, as they're good affordable players who could shoot, defend, and facilitate other trades). As long as Hayward makes no more than $17mm in '21, Dallas hasn't affected their cap space one dime. 

Since a S&T can be for 4 years, Dallas could structure the contract a few ways to make the total about $70mm. Would a guy like Hayward be willing to walk away from $34mm next season to guarantee $70mm and a prime role over 4 years in Dallas? It would be a shift of gears, for sure, but I certainly don't think it's out of the question at this point in his career. With what he's been through, I imagine security has a premium. And the rumor indicates that he's not sure those big contracts will be available for him in the competitive '21 marketplace anyway.

So I could see it. Maybe shuffle the players and salaries if you like. Or move Maxi/Curry/whoever to a 3rd team for a player Boston might want even more (Myles Turner, for example). There are multiple ways to get there if everyone is on the same page.

I like your way of thinking a lot. The big sacrifice would have to be done by Hayward here. But, if he makes it, he has pretty much guaranteed 4 years on a team that is bound to become a contender. The problem for Hayward - it is not really guaranteed he stays on Dallas, as him at 17 million is an extremely value contract.

Can we ship Wright somewhere else in a three team trade to get Hayward salary above 20 mil?