(07-03-2022, 05:24 PM)F Gump Wrote: Failing to sign Dragic had nothing to do with payroll.
Incompetence? Or disinterest? (And if the latter, why?) This feels weird.
But it's not money, or tax. The contract given by CHI is the cheapest you can offer (a minimum salary subsidized by the NBA). And I'm as puzzled as everyone else at the outcome, because Dallas could have definitely signed Dragic. They just didn't.
All things being equal (aka money) good players don´t sign with dumb franchises.
You literally had to do two things in free agency all summer:
1. Re-sign Brunson
2. Us the TP-MLE to find a good young center or defensive guard
The Cavs signed Rubio (TP-MLE), Neto and Robin Lopez (minimum). The Bulls signed Drummond and Dragic (both minimum). The Pacers re-signed Jalen Smith 9/4. The Knicks offered Hartenstein 16/2 to be Mitchell Robinson´s back-up.
The Mavs came up with cheerleader Theo Pinson and 34 year old McGee for 20/3 with a player option as their solution.
You want good players to sign good contracts here instead of grossly overpaying for talent like Pinson/McGee, you´ll have to make smarter decisions.