(05-27-2021, 09:31 AM)michaeltex Wrote: Changing topic a little.

I'm asking the more astute observers here:

What is Melli's outlook? He seems to have some defensive ability, but is mostly a zero offensively. Is he broken on that end or is it a mechanical thing he can fix in the offseason? Just wondering if he could be improved by a stable team situation. He has the size to defend some of the bigger wings, so that is a plus and we probably need someone to battle with the Randalls and Kawahis in the league.

Maybe someone else is a solution, I'm just wondering if he's worth the investment to try and get his shot ramped up to acceptable levels.

(05-26-2021, 10:04 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: Ya not sure who is more valuable in terms of MLE, I feel like full MLE is his value so the fact that you can pay him a little more with an opt-in and extend is an advantage. You can probably get a decent rotation player for J Rich but I might rather have J Rich all things considered. I think there is a better than 50% chance that you can either keep J Rich or get a player back for him.

I just don't see this cap room thing playing out because of the rise of THJ. Once it became clear THJ was going to play out of his mind then there is just little incentive to try to monkey with cap space.

(05-27-2021, 09:31 AM)michaeltex Wrote: Changing topic a little.

I'm asking the more astute observers here:

What is Melli's outlook? He seems to have some defensive ability, but is mostly a zero offensively. Is he broken on that end or is it a mechanical thing he can fix in the offseason? Just wondering if he could be improved by a stable team situation. He has the size to defend some of the bigger wings, so that is a plus and we probably need someone to battle with the Randalls and Kawahis in the league.

Maybe someone else is a solution, I'm just wondering if he's worth the investment to try and get his shot ramped up to acceptable levels.

(05-27-2021, 09:31 AM)michaeltex Wrote: What is Melli's outlook?

(05-27-2021, 10:06 AM)mvossman Wrote: The question is do you have that option?  I mean if JRich opts out, don't you need to work with his new team for a sign and trade?  Maybe that option is not there?  If JRich walks, and you can't get anything for him, are we better off over or under the cap?  Lets say THJ goes for 20.  Then you have potentially 14 to spend.  That would allow you to outbid the MLE and pick your favorite MLE target.  You would lose WCS for that cap space but could probably just sign him to the room.  If you can manage to get THJ for 18, then you could go to 16 for a player if you really like (maybe Holmes) or you could keep WCS, outbid MLE with 12 and have the room to get depth.

(05-27-2021, 10:11 AM)F Gump Wrote: The player I'd really like to see the Mavs chase, however, would be Batum. I suspect the Clipps can be outbid at the MLE or even smaller. Their payroll is a disaster and they can't offer him more than room MLE, and they might not even spend that MLE because they're so buried in tax, so he's probably available. He feels like the veteran who would commit to a contender wanting to be able to get a ring. And if you can get him locked up for several years at something like $15-20M total, that seems like a really good investment to me.

(05-27-2021, 10:11 AM)F Gump Wrote: The player I'd really like to see the Mavs chase, however, would be Batum. 

(05-27-2021, 10:55 AM)StepBackJay Wrote: All that to say Mavs will need to avoid luxury tax.

(05-27-2021, 11:29 AM)DrMav Wrote: Mark Cuban may not want to pay the luxury tax, but I don’t think we as fans should just normalize and accept that it’s ok for him to avoid it to the detriment of the team.

It made sense to dodge it when we were clearly rebuilding, but as we get this thing closer to being a yearly contender, which is hopefully in the near future, a high payroll comes with that territory. Best way to get Luka to leave will be not pay when it is warranted.

I’ll agree about the tax to the point that we don’t want to become the Trail Blazers who are capped out without a true chance to contend (IMO), but if the MBT signs smart contracts that are an accurate reflections of, or below market value for players that are a good fit, I don’t really care what the end sum adds up to.

(05-27-2021, 10:37 AM)StepBackJay Wrote: Ya so Mavs have options as you say. Mavs could operate under the cap, keep THJ, WCS and still have 10 mil cap space + rMLE if they want to go that route.

My feeling is that a trade option opens more doors for J Rich and his agent given that I doubt he can get 11-12 mil from a team with cap space. He feels more like an MLE player. That being said if a team has an RFA (LM for example) or a rotation player they are willing to give up you might be better off getting said role player + MLE and BAE.

Personally I'd rather just keep J Rich with opt-in + extend and tell him we will find him a landing spot later on if a "starting" opportunity on another team becomes available. That way he gets paid now and can still have a chance to start at some point in the future. If you kept J Rich then you'd still have MLE and BLE to add more depth.

(05-27-2021, 12:11 PM)mvossman Wrote: Get something of value for JRich, re-sign THJ, get MLE.

(05-27-2021, 11:41 AM)StepBackJay Wrote: The luxury tax has actual real penalties. I don't care about Cubes' money but being in the luxury tax is not a good thing to be in unless its for locking up multiple max player stars. If Mavs by some chance find themselves with 3 max stars then luxury tax makes okay sense but otherwise it doesn't benefit the team. You lose the full MLE and trading matching is harder.

(05-27-2021, 12:11 PM)mvossman Wrote: Edit: I guess I glossed over your contention that JRich would be better off with the trade option.  I hope you are correct.  That would make for a straight forward off season.  Get something of value for JRich, re-sign THJ, get MLE.

(05-27-2021, 12:49 PM)DrMav Wrote: Also, with Luka, we shouldn’t be aiming for just 1 championship. We should be thinking dynasty, and that will certainly require the tax at some point.

(05-27-2021, 10:11 AM)F Gump Wrote: The player I'd really like to see the Mavs chase, however, would be Batum. I suspect the Clipps can be outbid at the MLE or even smaller. Their payroll is a disaster and they can't offer him more than room MLE, and they might not even spend that MLE because they're so buried in tax, so he's probably available. He feels like the veteran who would commit to a contender wanting to be able to get a ring. And if you can get him locked up for several years at something like $15-20M total, that seems like a really good investment to me.

(05-27-2021, 10:11 AM)F Gump Wrote: The player I'd really like to see the Mavs chase, however, would be Batum. I suspect the Clipps can be outbid at the MLE or even smaller. Their payroll is a disaster and they can't offer him more than room MLE, and they might not even spend that MLE because they're so buried in tax, so he's probably available. He feels like the veteran who would commit to a contender wanting to be able to get a ring. And if you can get him locked up for several years at something like $15-20M total, that seems like a really good investment to me.

(05-27-2021, 02:01 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: I actually really like Batum as a sneaky pickup. Especially if its on the cheap.

If we're thinking about wing scorers that are past their prime and can defend, why not give Rudy Gay a look?

(05-27-2021, 02:01 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: I actually really like Batum as a sneaky pickup. Especially if its on the cheap.

If we're thinking about wing scorers that are past their prime and can defend, why not give Rudy Gay a look?