"Highsmith was offered to Phoenix for KD and other players, but Phoenix backed off the deal." -- I don't think Highsmith was of any particular value in that offer -- just some of the salary-matching filler (where a lot was needed).
"So Brooklyn essentially was happy to eat 6 mil for half a season of Highsmith? And how does that factor into their own FA's like Cam Thomas?" -- I don't think Cam Thomas is a big worry to them. He'll either take their longer offer of about 20M per (which they feel will make him a useful asset), or their qualifying offer, and it appears they are willing to live with either choice he makes.
For those keeping score, BKN still has tons of remaining cap room after the Highsmith deal, no matter which path Thomas selects, and can still easily take ANY of Hardy, Powell, or OMax into cap space (or into their room MLE) if there's a deal the teams want to do eventually. The Nets are already set to be above the minimum salary threshold, so it will cost ether a pick or compensatory cash (with presumably something extra) to take on trash player salary, unless the player has value to them. For HH, MIA gave a pick and BKN will pay the salary. It's possible (but not certain) they may see some on-court value in him also, but he's no real prize.
Mavs alternative to a BKN deal (or a salary-moving deal with another team, perhaps) would be a stretch-waive of either DP or OP. That would add enough room to sign Exum. The deadline on doing a s-w is Aug 31. Also, the Mavs have the window for a PJW extension opening on Aug 29. So we may get a flurry of Mavs' transaction activity in a couple of weeks.
"So Brooklyn essentially was happy to eat 6 mil for half a season of Highsmith? And how does that factor into their own FA's like Cam Thomas?" -- I don't think Cam Thomas is a big worry to them. He'll either take their longer offer of about 20M per (which they feel will make him a useful asset), or their qualifying offer, and it appears they are willing to live with either choice he makes.
For those keeping score, BKN still has tons of remaining cap room after the Highsmith deal, no matter which path Thomas selects, and can still easily take ANY of Hardy, Powell, or OMax into cap space (or into their room MLE) if there's a deal the teams want to do eventually. The Nets are already set to be above the minimum salary threshold, so it will cost ether a pick or compensatory cash (with presumably something extra) to take on trash player salary, unless the player has value to them. For HH, MIA gave a pick and BKN will pay the salary. It's possible (but not certain) they may see some on-court value in him also, but he's no real prize.
Mavs alternative to a BKN deal (or a salary-moving deal with another team, perhaps) would be a stretch-waive of either DP or OP. That would add enough room to sign Exum. The deadline on doing a s-w is Aug 31. Also, the Mavs have the window for a PJW extension opening on Aug 29. So we may get a flurry of Mavs' transaction activity in a couple of weeks.
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