02-07-2020, 08:29 AM
DALLAS MAVERICKS
OVERALL: The normally frisky Mavs were quiet this deadline. They inquired about Alex Len before Atlanta shipped him to Sacramento; even though Dallas got Willie Cauley Stein last month, it was looking for another big who could shoot in place of Dwight Powell for the stretch run. There was scuttlebutt in the air that Delon Wright and/or Justin Jackson were very available, but the Mavs, uncharacteristically, stood pat, letting a trade exception of almost $12 million expire rather than packaging Courtney Lee’s expiring deal for a vet who could have fit into the exception.
The above is from David Aldridge. It adds to other things we know or believe likely:
We wanted Green, but the NY/LAL deal didn't happen
We were willing to take on another cheap expiring center (Len) who can shoot (a little). Probably just insurance.
Wright and/or Jackson were available
Green shows an acquisition needs to be able to BOTH hit a three and play D (or have a defensive reputation). Neither age nor money extending into 20/21 seemed to matter for the right guy. In fact, if we truly inquired about Covington, money beyond 2021 wasn't an issue for the right guy. Covington expires in 2022 (more on this in a moment) We also know that Cuban doesn't value picks and that we won't be a cap room team at the draft or in July. There is plenty of space to make trades and use the full MLE without getting anywhere near the Luxury Tax.
I suspect the S&T and the opt-in and trade markets will be quite robust. Almost no one is going to have more than the MLE this summer, so player movement (even RFA movement) for anyone deserving more than about $10 million will be through trade (think deals like the Wright deal where we got an RFA who could have otherwise been matched). The other hot part of the market is likely to be good players who expire in 2021. For example, someone like Fournier could be traded either as an opt-in and trade in June or a S&T in July. If he opts-in he also fits the mold of a 2021 expiring contract. The combination of Wright and Jackson matches Fournier and gets you out of significant salary and cap hold for 2021.
Pretty much the entire league will be looking for the same guy though as many teams are prioritizing 2021 cap space. If Cuban wants to zig where others zag, the best deals in the market will likely be guys whose money extends to 2022. Sticking with the Orlando theme of this post, Gordon is a player who might go cheaper than he would otherwise because his money runs "too long". If you look closely at the Mav's future cap, 2022 shows KP making big money, Luka with a $25mm cap hold and money owed to Seth and Powell. Note that Maxi has a non-guarantee this year with a 7/3 decision day (time enough to secure a commitment from a Max guy before deciding. It wouldn't shock me to see Dallas try to accumulate assets on reasonable deals with an eye toward 2022 (while remaining flexible for 2021). For instance, Gordon is the kind of guy whose value could be enhanced in Dallas...making him both a trade chip in 2021...while at the same time being an expiring deal in 2022. If that is the case, then the MLE might go to someone not quite deserving that amount, but willing to do a 2/1 instead of three guaranteed years.
OVERALL: The normally frisky Mavs were quiet this deadline. They inquired about Alex Len before Atlanta shipped him to Sacramento; even though Dallas got Willie Cauley Stein last month, it was looking for another big who could shoot in place of Dwight Powell for the stretch run. There was scuttlebutt in the air that Delon Wright and/or Justin Jackson were very available, but the Mavs, uncharacteristically, stood pat, letting a trade exception of almost $12 million expire rather than packaging Courtney Lee’s expiring deal for a vet who could have fit into the exception.
The above is from David Aldridge. It adds to other things we know or believe likely:
We wanted Green, but the NY/LAL deal didn't happen
We were willing to take on another cheap expiring center (Len) who can shoot (a little). Probably just insurance.
Wright and/or Jackson were available
Green shows an acquisition needs to be able to BOTH hit a three and play D (or have a defensive reputation). Neither age nor money extending into 20/21 seemed to matter for the right guy. In fact, if we truly inquired about Covington, money beyond 2021 wasn't an issue for the right guy. Covington expires in 2022 (more on this in a moment) We also know that Cuban doesn't value picks and that we won't be a cap room team at the draft or in July. There is plenty of space to make trades and use the full MLE without getting anywhere near the Luxury Tax.
I suspect the S&T and the opt-in and trade markets will be quite robust. Almost no one is going to have more than the MLE this summer, so player movement (even RFA movement) for anyone deserving more than about $10 million will be through trade (think deals like the Wright deal where we got an RFA who could have otherwise been matched). The other hot part of the market is likely to be good players who expire in 2021. For example, someone like Fournier could be traded either as an opt-in and trade in June or a S&T in July. If he opts-in he also fits the mold of a 2021 expiring contract. The combination of Wright and Jackson matches Fournier and gets you out of significant salary and cap hold for 2021.
Pretty much the entire league will be looking for the same guy though as many teams are prioritizing 2021 cap space. If Cuban wants to zig where others zag, the best deals in the market will likely be guys whose money extends to 2022. Sticking with the Orlando theme of this post, Gordon is a player who might go cheaper than he would otherwise because his money runs "too long". If you look closely at the Mav's future cap, 2022 shows KP making big money, Luka with a $25mm cap hold and money owed to Seth and Powell. Note that Maxi has a non-guarantee this year with a 7/3 decision day (time enough to secure a commitment from a Max guy before deciding. It wouldn't shock me to see Dallas try to accumulate assets on reasonable deals with an eye toward 2022 (while remaining flexible for 2021). For instance, Gordon is the kind of guy whose value could be enhanced in Dallas...making him both a trade chip in 2021...while at the same time being an expiring deal in 2022. If that is the case, then the MLE might go to someone not quite deserving that amount, but willing to do a 2/1 instead of three guaranteed years.