06-04-2024, 09:04 AM
(06-04-2024, 07:56 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Just to keep straight what I said....
I didn't advocate that Josh should replace DJJ. I said I'd rather get value for THJ (and have Josh take on the DJJ role) than simply burn the THJ expiring (and maybe a pick) just to stand still. It isn't about Josh vs. DJJ. It is about Josh/Player X vs. DJJ/THJ.
As to what DJJ 'would' do, put yourself in his place. He took a pay cut (and smaller contract than he'd had in years) to set himself up for this summer. He chose well and his plan worked. So, his choice now is to take a guaranteed $10mm ($5 this year and $5 next if things go south) and hope things continue to go well (and he's certainly seen things not go well in his career). The payoff is a year from now he can get a contract that is roughly an NT MLE contract (average salary vs the actual MLE). OR, he can get that $40mm or $50mm deal right now from someone else. If such a deal is out there, he'd be an idiot not to take it. Despite what we fans think people would/should do out of loyalty or fit, this is a business. Jones and his agent are looking for the best financial situation they can get. He may be 'open' to returning (exactly what an agent would tell him to say). But that guarantees nothing if someone else is offering an extra $30-$40mm right now.
I agree that if DJJ can get an MLE deal he is going to take it, whether from Mavs or someone else. At that point I don't think its Josh/Player X vs DJJ/THJ, I think its simply Player X vs DJJ. If you slide Green into the starting lineup you are generating a hole in the second unit that is not easily filled. The question is can you trade for Player X that you are confident will be better than DJJ? If not, you are simply spending an asset to move laterally other than stand pat. Given the obvious chemistry on this team, I would rather stand pat.