(05-09-2023, 08:25 PM)F Gump Wrote: No one believes that bad-for-bad is really the equation here, and you probably don't either. And that reality is the obstacle.
PHX will expect to get assets, not your bad contracts and bad players. They hope someone will think, "He's better than our guy" and be willing to - as you say - pursue him for being available, while ignoring the financial ramifications and the fact he's not anywhere close to a $32M value.
The Mavs need to be looking for paths to good players on good contracts, rather than using their few assets to get more bad contracts. With a hard cap in essence, they really can't afford to pile on even more bloated salary if they ever want to get enough talent. And if they can't see an avenue in that direction, they might as well kiss Luka bye-bye.
I never said it is bad for bad directly with Phoenix, and the Mavs asset is #10 pick. Either to Phoenix, or more likely to a third team (a while ago I made an example with Detroit) sending a quality player to Phoenix. I would also like some asset back, likely from same third team, as Phoenix have none to give, other than SRP.
Mavs are paying Bertans, who is probably a vet min player, 17 mil. They are paying THJ 18 mil next season. He might be neutral value salary on the market, but just doesn't fit next to Luka and Irving, as he is not an excellent defender. His scoring can be replaced to some extent by Hardy and Green is a better small wing starting option. So from Mavs perspective, those 18 mil next season could be considered as dead value. Maxi and Bullock don't seem to have much value.
If #10 pick can replace (part of) this with a player, who does actually fit the needs of the roster, but is paid 30 mil instead of 20 mil, I think that is a big improvement of the roster. They will not be piling on more of bad salary. They will be replacing some really bad salary with less bad one. Hoping it turns out good and show he is actually worth what he is paid. Of course, I might be dreaming #10 is enough to make a trade for Ayton, but than I am also out. He is just a hope that his value has dropped enough to actually make it happen.
To just repeat again. I am all for bringing good players on good contracts. But I am not sure Mavs limited assets can make that happen. They basically don't have a positive contract outside of Green and Hardy, and I really don't want to trade them. And since staying pat is not Mavs strategy, overpaid quality players might be the only option.