The deal is Kyrie + Bertans (67M) for CP3+Ayton (62M).
Puts Phoenix at around 161. Dallas at around 153. Can probably work this under the apron of 179.5 and load up with minimum guys.
Phoenix´s problem is that next year Booker/Durant "only" make 82M, but in 2024/2025 it jumps to 100M. So it doesn´t get any easier for them, unless they let CP3 walk in 2024. So CP3 basically has no value at all in the trade. It´s a Kyrie for Ayton trade. I´m not Ayton´s biggest fan, but you want to keep Luka happy, that´s probably your best bet. If you can nail the draft, Hardy and Green show further improvement, you have your CORE.
We win 45 games with Doncic/Hardy/Green/Hendricks/Ayton, I think Luka is satisfied with the franchise direction. More than with winning 50 with Kyrie/Capela and literally no assets left.
Puts Phoenix at around 161. Dallas at around 153. Can probably work this under the apron of 179.5 and load up with minimum guys.
Phoenix´s problem is that next year Booker/Durant "only" make 82M, but in 2024/2025 it jumps to 100M. So it doesn´t get any easier for them, unless they let CP3 walk in 2024. So CP3 basically has no value at all in the trade. It´s a Kyrie for Ayton trade. I´m not Ayton´s biggest fan, but you want to keep Luka happy, that´s probably your best bet. If you can nail the draft, Hardy and Green show further improvement, you have your CORE.
We win 45 games with Doncic/Hardy/Green/Hendricks/Ayton, I think Luka is satisfied with the franchise direction. More than with winning 50 with Kyrie/Capela and literally no assets left.