06-06-2024, 02:52 PM
(06-06-2024, 01:42 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: He's said this a dozen times now in different settings. Even though it is exactly what I'd tell him to say if I were his agent, I believe he is sincere. Of course, everything depends on the definition of getting "everything situated". That qualifier is just as important (maybe more so) than the part about loving Dallas.
People tend to forget that he's had an MLE level deal in the past. I suspect he isn't gunning for 40% of an MLE deal. We don't have to get anything 'situated' to offer that. It is going to take us opening up space. We already pay several guys who are 5th-8th in the rotation in this range including Green, Gafford and Maxi. No way DJJ takes $5mm or even $7mm. I don't see it being less than $9mm and very likely it s the full $12.9mm
Totally agree. On the other hand, it seems like if we can get to that number, we won't have to worry about somebody offering him a silly Bruce Brown contract and him walking. He knows there is no situation where we can offer more than MLE.
This brings us back to top priority being to hold onto DJJ. Either they find a creative way to dump Timmy without spending too much in assets, or they dump Green (maybe for an asset) and then use Timmy to replace Green. I'm of a mind that sending out Green means we need another POA defender. Between injury issues and playoff performance, I don't know that we can trust Exum for that role.
A third creator would be nice, but I think the higher priority is to keep the current version of the team in tact. What we could use is a veteran point guard to provide some help when one of Luka or Kyrie are out. Maybe with the BAE or a ring chaser (we may actually get those now).