(07-03-2024, 08:18 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: But there has to be a cap hold, because there is no 14th guy on that form. He didn’t include Lawson, and I remember asking him about that the other night. I believe they are required to carry 14 players, but not 15, so some type of cap old has to be in place for the 14th roster spot.

What I am asking right now, very poorly, is whether or not he has included that cap hold for slot 14 into his thinking when coming up with that 174m + “apron salary” number. Because if so, it seems like a vet minimum contract, would you guys tell me only counts about that same amount, would simply replace that cap hold that is already factored in, meaning they’d THEN still have the 3.7 under his cushion.

I assume the answer is no, but does what I’m asking make sense?

(07-03-2024, 08:18 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: It's awesome you've arrived as soon as a bunch of posters were asking you to weigh in. 

Batman to the Batsignal type of vibe.

(07-03-2024, 08:21 PM)Smitty Wrote: I’ll let Gump take over but I ran his numbers against CBA Mavs and waiving Lawson’s salary was an EXACT match to Gumps numbers on his spreadsheet. So caphold wasn’t factored in at all.

(07-03-2024, 08:22 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I think that answers my question. So Gumps total is without Lawson, assuming that part (or all) of that 3.7 has to be used to fill slot 14.

(07-03-2024, 07:25 PM)Smitty Wrote: FWIW Markieff Morris says on Twitter that he’s coming back to the Mavs and wants his brother to join.

@Keefmorris
I’m coming back. I want bro to come with me.

(07-03-2024, 08:27 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: What if we are about to see a salary dump of Kleber, somehow, eiter completely dumping him or taking back something much cheaper, then they sign both Morris brothers and end up not even being a tax team?

How would we feel about that? Is that even possible?

Personally, seeing the hoops that the more expensive teams are having to jump through this summer, I think I would be OK with it.

(07-03-2024, 08:30 PM)Smitty Wrote: Whoa. I didn’t expect that question after all the Maxi discussion earlier. No I would not be okay with it. Dumping Maxi to sign Markieff doesn’t make them a better basketball team. And I don’t care about the tax or repeater tax or frankly anything that costs the new owner money. There’s no real penalty to team building, being over the tax line. Only the first and second apron.


Edit: But could we see Powell gone??

(07-03-2024, 08:30 PM)Smitty Wrote: Whoa. I didn’t expect that question after all the Maxi discussion earlier. No I would not be okay with it. Dumping Maxi to sign Markieff doesn’t make them a better basketball team. And I don’t care about the tax or repeater tax or frankly anything that costs the new owner money. There’s no real penalty to team building, being over the tax line. Only the first and second apron.


Edit: But could we see Powell gone??

(07-03-2024, 08:30 PM)F Gump Wrote: The last time the Morris brothers were on the same roster, it was a PR and legal disaster for the Suns, and they both were sent packing. I don't think ANY team would risk that again -- seems like that bridge was burned.

(07-03-2024, 08:41 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Just musing. 

I agree, of course, that Kleber makes them better, and they've given us no reason to believe that anything other than competing is their goal this season. But, I do think there's tremendous value in avoiding the tax where you can, so I guess if we imagine they see Kleber the way ChicagoJK suggested, that would be very tempting. 

I could be wrong, but I don't think Powell gets you below the tax line, even dumped for air, considering you would then have to sign two vet minimums. It could be a solution to the original question YOU posed, I suppose, right? I actually think he's a pretty good value contract for an emergency big you can trust and one of those "doesn't complain" end of bench guys we've been talking about.

(07-03-2024, 08:56 PM)Smitty Wrote: Powell conveniently fits into the BAE. So easy to trade for air and I don’t think you’d have to attach a SRP or anything. Just send him to someone that wants him or where he might get PT. Doing so has no impact on win/loss though and is a way to get the Morris bros or any 2 players you like, since Gump has said it’s only possible to add one player with waiving Lawson.

(07-03-2024, 09:00 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Yeah, it gets you to two new vets + a cushion, but doesn't get you below the tax.

Might be unpopular, but I'd wager that Powell would impact win/loss more than whomever the 14th guy might end up being. For all the "finally - two real centers" talk around here, I'd think the 3rd pick and roll big (making the right amount of money) would be a little more valued (as insurance). But, I agree it's a way to go if there's someone out there at the minimum they can't live without. The problem is, it would have to be a center.

(07-03-2024, 09:30 PM)Smitty Wrote: To play devils advocate a bit. Would Marcus Morris a legit backup 4 and DSJ/Dinwiddie a legit backup PG have more impact on winning than a 4th Center Powell? I’m counting Maxi as the 3rd Center in this scenario.