10-20-2023, 04:30 AM
Mavs will be in bird rights trap with every player. Mavs will probably have to "overpay" every player. The key is to gather the correct players. Mavs problem in all of Luka years has been that they are paying a large portion of the cap to players that are not a really great fit or simply greatly overpaid for their role. Even after they did some summer cleaning, they are still paying 18 mil to THJ, who doesn't really fit (or greatly overpaid for the bench role they see him in) and 12 mil to a what it looks like a third string center. Replace that with a 40 mil player, and Mavs still have a manageable salary cap.
There are not many players like OG around the league. An all NBA defender who is also good offensively. 38 % from three and can also do some things by himself. You can either (over)pay for such a guy or stick to poor men versions, that will never get you over the top. He is basically our version of JRue. Anunoby might wish for a max deal, but I am not sure he will actually get one. I think Jerami Grant deal (which everyone considers as a great overpay) is a good comparison for what he might get.
OG can be a legit third option on a contender and would push all the other players on the team in a role much more suitable based on their abilities. Mavs only weakness would remain the center position, where it remains to be seen if a Powell/Lively combo is good enough of a solution for next two years.
Mavs have almost a three year window where their salary cap is in a pretty decent shape, if they manage to replace THJ and Holmes (and Green extension) with a good player that actually fits. Most of the rotation players are under the contract in that window, only Curry and Exum will need to be replaced and Hardy extended. Shouldn't be a difficult task to do that. Several of them are on rookie deals or team friendly deals. I don't think any of the players on the roster has a surefire potential to become a number three option on a contender. Green might be closest to that, but many question marks if he can actually become that. Omax seems much further away.
Current situation around the league can show us that new cap rules didn't really prevent teams from spending even way over the second apron. While Clippers and GSW might be looking for a bit of a cost reduction, at least Boston, Phoenix, Milwaukee and Denver project to be under well over the first apron in next years, some even over the second apron. Teams seems to value the chance for a ring way over the penalties of specific aprons.
There are not many players like OG around the league. An all NBA defender who is also good offensively. 38 % from three and can also do some things by himself. You can either (over)pay for such a guy or stick to poor men versions, that will never get you over the top. He is basically our version of JRue. Anunoby might wish for a max deal, but I am not sure he will actually get one. I think Jerami Grant deal (which everyone considers as a great overpay) is a good comparison for what he might get.
OG can be a legit third option on a contender and would push all the other players on the team in a role much more suitable based on their abilities. Mavs only weakness would remain the center position, where it remains to be seen if a Powell/Lively combo is good enough of a solution for next two years.
Mavs have almost a three year window where their salary cap is in a pretty decent shape, if they manage to replace THJ and Holmes (and Green extension) with a good player that actually fits. Most of the rotation players are under the contract in that window, only Curry and Exum will need to be replaced and Hardy extended. Shouldn't be a difficult task to do that. Several of them are on rookie deals or team friendly deals. I don't think any of the players on the roster has a surefire potential to become a number three option on a contender. Green might be closest to that, but many question marks if he can actually become that. Omax seems much further away.
Current situation around the league can show us that new cap rules didn't really prevent teams from spending even way over the second apron. While Clippers and GSW might be looking for a bit of a cost reduction, at least Boston, Phoenix, Milwaukee and Denver project to be under well over the first apron in next years, some even over the second apron. Teams seems to value the chance for a ring way over the penalties of specific aprons.