2019-2020 Mavs Trade Discussion + Salary Chart

[JamesConway]

Thoughtful post as always, Dan. At this point, I am willing to see moves that get rid of anyone short of Luka and KP if it makes the team better. I don't think there's enough talent on this roster around those two to worry to any extent about continuity. Let's get three playoff-level-competent starters around Luka and Kristaps and then start worrying about continuity. I like Seth and especially Maxi a lot,  

I've contended that Maxi, DFS, Curry and Brunson is a fantastic bench.  Would I like a little more size or D out of one of those guards...yes.  But if the new starters were good enough we'd be fine.

So far, most of our posts have been about adding talent by various means in 2020.  But, while this isn't the intent of your "getting rid of" comment, it would be very Mav's like to trade an asset with Wright for an older "name" player on an expiring deal.  The team would sell us on the older player, but the point of the deal would really be to create more 2021 cap space.

For example, Wright plus #31 for Derrick Rose.  Fans know the name.  He's instant O off the bench and plays literally no D.  What a perfect fit    .  The fit really wasn't the point of the deal.  Adding space to 2021 was the point.  The key is trying to do it without appearing to give up on a 2020.  They could then use the MLE with only one year guaranteed on someone else (Full MLE would be an over-pay for RHJ, but the team would sell us on his D) and we are good to go.  I'm not advocating this, just saying I could see it be their plan.  

Here's the question.  Are we good with giving up #31 to get rid of Wright?  What if it took #18 instead?  It is hard to argue that Wright is terrible and has to be moved without either taking on a worse contract o sending out something of value.

Re Delon & also Powell: I'd argue that we're better off keeping and developing/rehabbing them for another season instead of moving them this upcoming offseason. They combine for roughly $20M next year and both (fingers crossed for Powell) will hopefully be able to help some on the court next year.

So I'd just take that hit and eat the salary. Come June 2021 both will be one year further in their contracts and it should be less expensive (in terms of assets) to dump them.

Also: once you move #18 and/or #31 you immediatedly give up the upside of that asset potentially working out. If you nail one of those two picks we're in a much better position teambuilding wise. I would not want to give up on that best case-scenario.

beyond that: we won't know until 2021 FA if we will be able to land a player in 2021 FA. We should figure that out when the time has come. We've done these moves in the past where we ended up with nothing (2013 draft). The Knicks have pushed this to the extreme with the KP-trade. OTOH we've seen plenty examples where teams were able to open up caproom when needed to (e.g. Durant-GS/Barnes-DAL). Or teams never had any caproom to begin with and still landed their guy (Riley-Jimmy Butler last year).

I'm strongly against those deals where we decide early to dump assets for FA-hopes.