(11-22-2022, 08:34 PM)mvossman Wrote: The issue with trading him is that I think it was out that he wanted to go to NY. That means NY was your only reasonable trading partner and they were planning on getting in free agency. That means the only value you are getting is the cost of them clearing cap space (which didn't turn out to be much). I am skeptical this team makes it through the first round if they trade Brunson for minor assets. So which would you rather have, a WCS appearance or cap clearing assets from NY? I think you could make the argument either way.
The New York scenario was pretty predictable and often mentioned on this board from summer of 2021 on. I don't think it was out he wanted to NY only, but it is also obvious teams will not spend a fortune for a guy that can just walk in the summer. A lottery protected FRP was realistic market value. Besides, his salary alone wouldn't bring much (unless pick was the only goal), you had to include another one and Mavs only had bad salaries or players they didn't want to part with. My point - all of this was predictable. Mavs gambled and they lost.
I don't agree with the takes that Brunsons value was known only after TDL. Sure, his 100+ mil value was determined by a good playoffs run. But it was known in the first month of the season he is worth the 55 mil extension. Mavs, watching him daily and with a ton of information we don't have, should evaluate that even sooner. Decision he didn't have the 55 mil extension on the table in November or even sooner, was just part of Mavs gamble. The gamble they lost.
(11-22-2022, 08:34 PM)mvossman Wrote: I am skeptical this team makes it through the first round if they trade Brunson for minor assets.
No one knew in February Mavs will make it to WCF
Sure, I likely wouldn't trade Brunson for lottery protected FRP. Unless there was a parallel move. For example getting our pick back and then using the whole lot on a star. I have no idea if KP trade could look differently if Mavs would include picks. I have no idea if there was another move possible using for example THJ contract. But, if I wouldn't trade Brunson, the highest offer he would be getting would come from Dallas. Cuban the idiot said sometimes in early summer, Mavs can pay him more money than anyone else. And then he offers less than NY. I totally agree with KL - if Mavs offered most money and Brunson still walked, I would be ok. They would try everything possible. But they didn't. They basically publicly said, they are not prepared to pay that much. Money was more important than winning.
If Brunson was so dead set on going to NY, than Mavs could at least be smart enough to pull a PR move and publicly offer something like 110 mil. But truth likely is, they were affraid he would accept it.