Trade & FA 2023-24: HOU Targeting Mikal Bridges again!| Mitchell is LAL #1 Target

[KillerLeft]

BTW, I think this leads credence to the reporting on Killian and Bojan.  It didn’t work under the tax when we thought Curry was making $4.5mm.  Now it does.  They can’t go right up to the tax as they have to give themselves a little space.  Curry at $4.0mm does that.

I’m not sure why they waited until yesterday to sign OMax.  That was odd to me.  Surely he wasn’t going to be included in a trade after Nico’s statements about ‘making this happen’.

Even with Dallas doing all of its business on a 14 man roster, Stein still seems to think there is another move coming and THJ and McGee won’t be here.  If they go out together, they can bring back $27.747mm ($17.897 + $5.34 + $4.1 = $27.747) and keep Dallas under the tax.  If they go in a 2 for 1, you have to account for a minimum slot being added.  It is also possible a smaller salary (like Hardy) could be added if it brings back the right player for a bit above the $27.747mm.  

Since nothing has happened, it feels like anything that might happen is tied to the open Siakam, Lillard and Harden trades.  Tyler Herro fits in the range we are talking about.  So does Capela and OPJ.  Now that we know all of the numbers and the high likelihood we will stay under the tax, it is easier to forecast what might or might not happen.  BTW, I wouldn’t sleep on the possibility of Herro.  If we wanted Bojan, we would probably be even more interested in Herro.  I’d like the move, but I think it will be expensive as there apprears to be competition.

TOTALLY agree with the premise that the Mavs have positioned themselves to capitalize on one, some or even all of the big moves that are currently pending around the league. I think the information supports that pretty clearly.

Having said that, I think the Bojan rumor is probably left over from a time before Williams signed here. They can’t both start, and unless Kleber gets moved, I’m not sure there are enough minutes to go around, even. Also, just having Killian Hayes on the roster would be a drag, to me. No interest there, whatsoever. 

I also don’t see any way the Mavs would be interested in Herro without Hardy outgoing, and even then I’d say that’s overdoing it as far as resources going to ball-handlers. I like Herro, but I’m sure his people are still trying to guide him to a spot where he can have a bigger role than he’d have here, and there’s no doubt he’d be more valuable to a team with that role to offer. 

If the Mavs give up Green, Hardy or their only 1st to get Bojan or Herro, I’ll be disappointed enough to change my vote in the off-season poll. Either of those moves would taint this entire thing for me. 

The Mavs have three ways to improve right now, imho: defensive big who can function in pick and roll, wing defender and third ball-handling playmaker (doesn’t have to be a guard, but must be someone they can plug and play with the rest of the roster). In all three cases, there are players already on the roster who we can plausibly hope will rise to the challenge, so if they don’t find the RIGHT deal, I hope they hang on to their assets and go to war with what’s here.