ROSTER TALK: Mavs favs for Vogel if no HC job exists. Kyrie handshake deal?

[IamDougieFresh]

Their top 5 guys will make $147mm next season.  That is 90% of the amount free of tax and 82% of the 'hard cap'.  The have three max contracts (though two of them are young maxes) and Gordon at $21mm and KCP at $14mm.  That leaves $33mm to the hard cap for 10 players.

One of the things I've been playing with today is what the best strategy for this might be.  FG posted a 40/40/20/20/10 top five if I recall.  Obviously, you can spend more on the 4-7 slots if you spend less on the top 3.  As we think through Luka/Kyrie/X/X, the names of Allen and Collins came up (it doesn't have to be them specifically).  That's between $125mm-$132mm depending on Kyrie's number.  I can see teams scrambling to get rid of guys like Collins (if they already have big commitments on the books).  I can see teams grabbing them also (if he really is worth that money as a 3rd/4th best guy type).  

If Dallas didn't have so much money invested in the wrong places ($35mm next season in THJ and Bertans), they could take advantage of teams starting to work toward getting their books in order.  We might see some decent third/fourth options change hands because their teams can't afford to keep them and the first and second options.  Dallas has those first and second options and could afford both someone like Allen and someone like Collins if they can move off of some of their other money.

Here's my latest GM LARP. Keep in mind I don't fully understand the CBA so maybe something isn't possible. I can't believe any team would give a 1st for Ayton with this CBA after what we just saw in the playoffs. The super geniuses up in Minnesota already blew everything on Gobert. Not having to move #10 is the main reason I would try to get him. We can hook the Sons up with some much needed depth. MAYBE I would consider sending 2027.

THJ, Bullock, McShaqtin for Ayton.

Perhaps we could do Bertans + #10 for 21 + 22? I'm not sure if the value is fair. I know there was some discussion about it here recently.

Luka - 40
Kyrie - 40
Ayton - 32
Maxi - 11
MLE - 10
Green - 5
Hardy - 2

#21 - 3
#22 - 3

Wood Sign and Trade for somebody? - ???

If you believe in Ayton just needing a change of scenery and Green and Hardy taking the next step, I think this would be a formidable roster. Obviously we don't know if the Wood thing will happen or what he would be swapped for. In the draft there are several guys that I like who will be available in the 20s. I'm not sure what MLE money will get you.