Trade & FA 2024-25:

[KillerLeft]

I actually like Grant so much more. 

And if Portland says no, ok cool just stay patient. Go into the season with this team. Check back in January and he might be available then. Or there might be a host of other good fits available. 

The Locked on Mavs podcast guy was thinking this is all different sides doing this for leverage. If it wasn’t Stein reporting this, I’d not even comment on it.

I'm with you about Grant. 

Where I differ (as this conversation potentially becomes less and less relevant) is the thinking that giving Thompson a modest contract somehow precludes you from pouncing on the next available opportunity. Part of the theoretical rationalization for me was the idea that this wouldn't take any assets, other than Josh Green and Kleber. They'd have gone the whole summer without breaking off either of their currently tradable firsts or pick swaps. THAT is what is gong to get them guys like Grant - more draft capital. Contracts like this Thompson hypothetical would be just as useful in that situation as two Klebers, and if better young assets are a requirement they have a ton of those around, all of a sudden (more than draft capital, by far). 

Does that make sense? 

In fact, in this "hard cap" world we're starting to understand, Thompson at $21 M might be more tradable than Grant at $33 M (or whatever he'll be making a year from now). though the motivations for trading them would obviously be different.