02-18-2025, 11:21 AM
(02-18-2025, 10:12 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: @LegionHoops
BREAKING: The Mavericks have dreams of adding Kevin Durant next to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis.
(via @sam_amick,@davidaldridgedc,@anthonyVslater)
I’ve not really taken this very seriously as I’ve not really seen a reasonable path. But the more it comes up, the more I wonder what I’m missing.
Spotrac has us $3 million under the first apron for 12 players next season. So, we go over when we bring the roster up to at least 14 and over by even more if we have a draft pick or take the roster to 15. There is also the question of what Kyrie will get after he opts out and what it costs to retain Exum with EB rights and whether you spend the TPMLE. Depending on your assumptions, we can get to the second apron pretty quickly.
A way of getting away from the 100% trade rule at the first apron would be to have Kyrie take less salary. I”m not saying it is likely. Just saying it is possible. Dirk did it and AD just gave up his trade kicker. What you want to be able to do is use the 25% trade matching rule and fill out the roster with minimums, Exum and possibly the TPMLE. If the outgoing is Gafford, PJ, Naji, Powell and Hardy, you are down to 8 players. If you assume five minimums and Exum at about $5mm, you can get Irving to about $25mm on a 1+1. You’ll be hardcapped at the first apron (again), but it is less damaging to the remaining roster. BTW, Gafford, PJ and Naji would be a very useful package for Phoenix. I’m not sure it will take as much draft capital as some are imagining. At least, I hope not.
Lively
AD/OMax/Edwards
KD/Martin
KlayChristie
Kyrie/Exum