(07-27-2023, 06:19 PM)omahen Wrote: After cutting Gay, OKC still has 20 players on the roster. If they cut Oladipo (almost certainly) and Bertans (he has some money owed for next year and could be a useful salary match once they start cashing in those picks), they still have to cut 3 young players on rookie deals. Bodies for end of the bench, to see if there is something.
But, I only see this if Mavs have no other option but to dump McGee. In that case it might make more sense to take a couple of those players for end of the bench. They save OKC some money (they have to cut them otherwise), which might perhaps reduce the price of dumping McGee.
Yeah, I get the situation. But I don't see how this really is a path that saves OKC money. It's a premise of players on min or very small salary who have value, right? (Because, if it's not, how can you fit 2 into the McGee salary slot). But if they have value but almost no salary, can't OKC alternately just give them away, reducing their disposal cost to $0?
Then there's the simple math. If DAL is doing it to reduce salary, how can OKC swap with the Mavs and reduce salary too?
If we're saying they have use for JM, yeah that's a diff story. Veteran center, traditional rim protector, lots of plus athletic traits (7', 7-6 wingspan, mobile, can jump through the roof), has won rings, great for chemistry, etc etc and maybe OKC wants to use leftovers to add one of those.