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

[F Gump]

The deal idea included JaVale, so tax is not an issue

Nope, that's simply wrong.

Caruso makes more than $2M MORE than JM-Hardy combined, AND a 2-for-1 also requires the Mavs to fill an empty roster slot which at min salary is another more than $2M MORE (veteran minimum salary). The total of $4.025M added bumps the payroll for 14 players (league minimum roster size) to $165,204,590 which is just a sliver under the tax line.

Filling that 15th slot as a reward, or in an emergency due to injury, easily bumps the salary up past the tax line. And any attempt to stay just under the line all year would impact just about every player decision they had all year.

And, because JM is outgoing, they lose their "safety net" they've had all summer of being able to s-w JM and gain a big chunk of cap room.

While it's not necessarily a deal-killer to go over the tax line, the consequence of being a taxpayer is certain to be part of the discussion as to the "cost" being paid in such a trade offer, on top of Hardy.