05-18-2023, 07:44 AM
(05-18-2023, 07:25 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Was reading some of Cato's stuff on The Athletic and his contention a trade down is likely. He also mentions in one recent article that Bertans is probably gone. I've posted several trade down scenarios where we pay SA to take Bertans because the Spurs are the only team with cap space at this time. Turns out there is another place Bertans could go in a draft related deal.
Brooklyn has an $18mm TPE from the KD trade. It is the largest current TPE. They also have 21 and 22. I don't want to trade down for the sake of saving money. However, 10 for 21 (22 remains with Brooklyn to compensate for taking Bertans) creates a new $16mm TPE for Dallas. I know, I know, most large TPE's go unused. I don't do it unless I have a use for the TPE, but this might be a season where it is more useful than most.
1. Is there a S&T at $16mm that can't get done with only the MLE? Boston has a ton of committed salary already. Grant Williams (Duffy) probably lands in this area. Williams into the Bertans TPE in a S&T creates an exception for Boston. Maybe they like that more than paying the $20mm per that Williams reportedly wants. PJ Washington is another example of a player in this price range.
2. Can you use the TPE to help a high salary team move a player? Players like Zubac, Covington and Batum come to mind here. NY is also a high salary team and may want to shed some salary to make a larger deal. Mitchell Robinson fits into the Bertans TPE. Obviously cap room teams can perform the same function, so this option seems less valuable.
3. Can you use the Bertans savings to use the Full MLE and just keep the TPE in your pocket until a later date. You'd only get the exception up to the first apron as the MLE would hard cap you, but there might be some nice salaries dumped at the TDL.
I don't love a lot of this, but if I knew I could land what is essentially Williams (or PJ) and #21 for #10 and Bertans, that fills a need and you still have one of the MLE's depending on how other things play out. Some of the raw prospects that are getting some mention at #10 will still be there at #21.
I like the general idea. Only, teams doing the SnT will want to get compensated, imho. I know teams were paying for creation of TP before, but this was in cases where player chose to walk to a cap space team. In this case, I think they would consider they are the ones doing Mavs a favor, since Mavs can't sign their guy without their cooperation.
Williams and PJ are both good ideas. Although Williams in this case wouldn't get 20 mil with Dallas, as the TPE would be lower.
I don't see any scenario where NY would just dump Robinson. They also have team option on Rose and can very easily go well below the tax line while still having tradeable contracts.