TAKE DAT WIT YOU 8/20

[DanSchwartzgan]

I will be disappointed if there is not an extension for Brunson.   This is where win/win negotiating should prevail.  Should there is a chance he gets a bigger deal next offseason, but that is not guaranteed.    If he gets hurt, he is not Kevin Durant.    12/13 millionish per year is life changing money and for a 3 year contract with a player or team option on the 4th, still allows another big payday if he continues to play well.    

DFS as a 4 million expiring salary is very valuable but the team who trades for him would not get that 4 million price tag for long.   The signing of Bulluck and Brown plus the development of Green, makes it tough to play both Maxi and DFS.  Especially since neither of any of these players can create offense by themselves.

The good news/bad news on the “negotiating” front is there is a limit to the upper end number for both players (120% of the average salary).  If either player thinks they are worth more than that, there is no negotiating to be done.

What do we think the comps are for Brunson.  I think you can argue he’s at the upper end of backup PG’s in the league.  Rose $13.4, Clarkson $12.4, Graham $11.0 and Morris $8.8 are probably the comps.  The floor is probably the MLE (surely someone will pay that next summer).  Typically, a player will leave a little on the table to get security a year early.

I don’t think Green, Bullock and Sterling are germane to any conversation about DFS.  Finney-Smith gets a good deal of his minutes at PF (or has).  Stop me when I get to the guy you would take over DFS…

12.0 Oubre 
12.7 Warren
15.6 Marcus Morris
16,0 Bertans
16.1 OG Anunoby
16.4 A Gordon

Yeah, it was Anunoby for me also.  If DFS is still starting, this could get expensive.  But, if someone has pushed him to the bench, maybe Warren/Oubre money gets it done.  There are some challenges to adding a “star” (besides the whole getting them to agree to come here thing).  

1. What actually fits best next to Luka (I thought the Milwaukee article in another thread was insightful in saying Beal and Lillard are not fits.  I’d probably add LaVine).  

2. Who do you replace?  It wouldn’t shock me to see any of DP, Maxi, DFS, WCS or Markkanen starting in the front court next to KP (what is the old saying about when you have two potential starting QB’s, you really have none).  I also think we have five guys who could conceivably fill the two wing/guard spots alongside Luka (DFS, Bullock, THJ, Dragic or even Brunson).  Instead of an embarrassment of riches, we have an embarrassment of average NBA players.  Great for depth purposes.  Not great for overwhelming teams with talent.