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

[SleepingHero]

I think that is the easiest way to guarantee Luka Dončić does not finish his career in Dallas.

I hope I am wrong, because I halfway expect it to happen.

Nobody wants to even consider this, but I honestly think the best move might just be to stand pat and get healthy. I would love to get PJ Washington, but I am not willing to move Green for him.

I will be fine if they just don’t make a bad deal.

I'm actually in 100% agreement here. No deal is infinitely better than a bad deal and I'm starting to come around to the idea of standing pat and getting healthy. 

Problem is banking on health when you have key guys like Kyrie and Exum is risky to say the least.

I also want it to be known I'm all in on Avdija as my main target. He fills a lot of what we want. He can defend, he's big at 6'9, he can rebound, and he has a great ability at passing the ball. 

I want to build on Smitty's former deal where the Mavs have to eat Wiggins contract and get paid with a rotation player:

GSW: THJ
DAL: Wiggins+Avdija
WAS: Hardy+Moody+Holmes+2 2nds from DAL, + 2 2nds from GSW.

Why does GSW do it? Even if they waived CP3 for next year, they'd still be just above the 1st apron and only 12 mil below the 2nd apron with Klay as a free agent and no real matchable contracts for trade purposes. That obviously doesn't help them build a team for the future. So far they have Curry, Green, Kuminga, Looney, Payton, and Podzmieski, as locks. Their depth chart for next year:

Curry/Podz
----/----
Kuminga/Payton
Green
Looney/Trace Jackson Davis

Klay is almost certain to be back. I can't see them letting him go. But it's obvious they need a shooting guard who can hit a high rate of spot up 3s to replace Klay who is declining rapidly. Enter THJ. He fits that mold to a T. His contract as an expiring is a good trade piece and he just fits what the Warriors want. They get off of Wiggins money which allows them to offer Klay a moderate size deal to retain him. They have to attach 2nds here. Wiggins contract is just that bad. I think the Warriors instantly deny sending a 1st with Wiggins (they only have 1 tradeable first like DAL) but would be more open to send a guy like Moody who hasn't been consistently in the rotation and has essentially been replaced by Podz anyways. Not only does this deal free up their cap sheet considerably, it still retains them flexibility in the summer with a 1st to trade and 2 expiring deals to contract match with CP3+THJ



Why does Washington do it? 

They've been mandated to get more picks. They obviously covet 1sts, but outside of Kuzma, it's hard to find a guy that's 100% worth a 1st that they're willing to trade right now. Avdija is close to that, but the new coach has reduced his role and minutes. I'd be fine sending a 1st for him if the Mavs had more, but in this deal the lack of draftable assets is made up with 2 solid prospects. 4 2nds is nothing to scoff at. They also are getting paid in 2 1st round worthy prospects in Moody and Hardy. Two guys that can grow into a role the sooner they get rid of Poole. Holmes is an expiring contract. They have a TPE that fits him. 


Why does DAL do it?

Eating Wiggins isn't something that should be taken likely, but he's had a resurgence of late. Even at 12ppg he'd be a quality 3rd/4th option here. Of course there's a chance he's dead weight. That's where Avdija comes in. At 23 he's young enough to grow with Luka apart of the next generation. Mavs also still have GW to trade in the future along with other 1sts to further upgrade. 

This is a rare deal I'd be fine sending 2027 in instead of 2nds to make it happen. Only because if it does work out the Mavs have fixed their team for years to come:

Luka/Exum/Curry
Kyrie/Green
Wiggins/DJJ
Avdija/GW
Lively/Maxi/Powell

Both the Warriors and the Mavs are sending a similar package. A salary dump+prospect+2nds. WAS gets both the prospects AND 2nds. Mavs get a rotation player+reclamation salary dump. Warriors get cap space+rotation player. It feels balanced and also punitive from the Mavs perspective. This deal does keep the Mavs below the tax line as well.