07-07-2023, 01:34 PM
(07-07-2023, 01:22 PM)F Gump Wrote: Let me offer two items that will mess with the thinking because they lead in opposite ways - but where either or both might be very much in play right now.
1 We are looking for the BEST upgrade possible, and a way to perhaps spend up to the Apron with either some or all of the MLE or by a trade spread. But are the Mavs looking at the numbers for the "next transaction" in a much different way?
If we include the results of the Bullock/GW trade that is still not executed, as well as Curry and Exum (who have not signed yet), and assume RH got his TK, the Mavs have the necessary 14 players and are at about 164.2M. THAT IS BELOW THE TAX LINE, and if the Mavs stay below it, they pay no tax (if they land about 171.5M right below the Apron, the tax bill is about 10M), they help avoid a future repeater tax consequence, as well as Cuban gets fed a share of the tax proceeds (which some estimate will be 20M per team!). Should it surprise us if Cuban is pushing for a tax-free payroll?
If that's a consideration, any moves ahead will need to be salary neutral. Gotta keep that possibility in mind.
2 Or going the other direction, the Bullock/GW trade is still on hold, and within it the Mavs already have a built-in spread available that can be used elsewhere of about $5.43M (which, if used, would land them at about $169.7M).
If they add McGee to the outgoing, they could take back up to another $11.16M salary) and still land at $169.7M total.
Adding THJ instead of McGee enables an incoming salary up to $23.17M and lands the cap under the Apron at about $171.5M, but in a trade for a center, it doesn't send out a center as it seems they must, and Holmes can't be used in combination in that deal. But if traded by himself RH can take back up to $21.3M salary while Mavs land under the Apron at $171.7M.
FWIW the restrictions on using Holmes as part of multiple players packaged to salary match a more expensive salary does go away on Sept 6.
Totally interesting. Wow! The player improvement of option 2 would have to be pretty significant and motivating by truly increasing win chances to make it better than option 1.
Avoiding tax so as not to be
a repeater does have future value to fans and not just to Mark’s wallet.