Trade & FA 2023-24: Stein-Ingram Trade Inevitable| LAL Want Lebron Back On Any Terms

[SleepingHero]

Here's a key summary from Bobby Marks that could explain what Phoenix is looking at.

"Waiving and taking the full $15.8M cap hit only opens up the $5M tax ML. Stretching his money over 5 seasons ($3.16M) opens up the $12.2M non tax ML."

https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/...2289700865

So the key to keeping Paul would be for Phoenix to dump enough salary before the 28th where they could just waive Paul (no stretch) and re-sign him. That way they could keep Paul and the full non tax ML. That's probably why Woj keeps bringing up Ayton when talking about Paul. Phoenix needs a salary dump if they want to keep Paul and the exceptions they need to fill out the roster.

Well. Now a cheap center that's had success in PHX would probably entice them right? 

Could PHX be really interested in Davis Bertans S/W right now? PHX could wait until July 1st for his contract to tick over to the final season and then S/W him. His final 17 mil would be divided over 5 years at 3.3 mil, and it'd allow them to open up the non tax MLE for Craig AND retain Paul for the vet min.

Davis+Javale+Bullock works for Ayton straight up. It seems like a light package, but PHX is getting quite a lot here in terms of roster flexibility. Doing it this way allows them to retain CP3 at the vet min. It also gives them 12 mil MLE to work with for any starting wing (most likely Craig) who wants to come and join the CP3/Booker/Durant trio. Further they get a cheap replacement big in Javale who Vogel has a history with and another starter level 3-D wing on a cost controlled contract.

So it fulfills PHX's goal of breaking Ayton into multiple pieces, and gives them a bunch of financial relief.