MAVS NEWS:

[loki]

" to dump their contracts with nothing coming back " -- Well yeah, but that's not really what's been discussed (although maybe SH is thinking that way). I am certainly not in favor of that, and don't feel it would be worth the hassle.

But I think the idea you propose is just as undesirable. It's a similar idea of a big salary dump for junk, at a price of talent. And I don't favor any pure salary dump being pursued.

I have suggested (and continue to believe) that you use Martin-Hardy to chase Ball, in which case the salary difference is way more modest, and the talent is fairly even. Ball has LOTS of question marks, but also the potential to be useful. The same is certainly just as true of both Martin and Hardy. In theory, each team is turning players with mixed value into something that is of value to them.

I don't see Chicago being tempted by Martin-Hardy for Ball without draft compensation. They've invested too much in Lonzo to move him now for two negative contracts. I definitely don't view them as mixed value. I'd be happy to be proven wrong though. 

To attach a concrete name to a possible Gafford trade, it might be something like Gaff to Atlanta, #22 to Orlando, Black to Dallas. I don't view that as a pure salary dump. That's landing a Lonzo starter kit with two healthy knees who just needs a little more development.

I don't know enough about the draft to say if it's worth trading Gafford straight up for a pick. You may be correct about the lack of depth. But if they can find the right player with enough upside, I'm happy to take the risk of it not panning out at the expense of the 3rd center. The franchise player is only 18 years old after all. I'm more concerned with building around him than going all-in to win right now. I also don't care to see many two center lineups next year, so that may be another difference in our thinking.