(07-29-2023, 02:36 AM)F Gump Wrote: Actually I think there have been many signals that ATL wants to move to OO. (If you don't perceive things the same, so be it.) And when you say "there has been plenty of smoke that Mavs are interested in Capela" without also seeing and noting ATL's role in creating that interest, and that smoke, then I think you are missing a lot of the landscape.
But one clear point -- the fact that they asked for more in those talks is NOT telling us they truly want to keep him now. Or ever wanted to keep him. Objectively it only tells us that CC was definitely available then, at a certain price, that was more than the Mavs were willing to pay (at the time). The Mavs are in a holding pattern on Holmes now, but we'll see if this heats up again in the next month or so.
Atlanta offered Collins. Mavs wanted Capela. Atlanta didn't like that much. Mavs revisited talks many times. This is the way I see those talks went. Besides Dallas, I didn't see any smoke and I don't interpret that as in not any other team has any interest at all. It indicates to me that Dallas is the one pushing the talks. Sure, I may be wrong. Atlanta would like to feature OO more, but they already "lost" one frontcort player. I don't think they can afford to lose another one without one serious frontcourt guy coming in (Siakam or KAT). Okongwu can play next to either of them.
I think Atlanta is willing to trade basically anyone not named Trae or Murray to improve the team. Problem with the Holmes (or McGee or even THJ) ideas is, that they don't improve the team doing that trade. But they are not pressed to move anyone just to save money (already covered that by dumping Collins). That is why I don't see this deal being done without some asset going to Atlanta. I don't think Atlantas new FO can afford to dump two starters for nothing while the team wants to compete.
Also to note. Green and Okongwu didn't sign extensions yet. So perhaps both teams are more open to moving them than they publicly admit. I don't mean like actively shopping them. But willing to trade them for the right player.