07-02-2026, 07:15 AM
(07-02-2026, 02:54 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: If you put all of this into one deal including Collins/Joe to Detroit, Stewart/AJ Johnson to Memphis, Sasser/Aldama to Dallas it works financially for everyone. You have to meet all of the 'touching' rules, but the money works.
From there, you can add Gafford to LAC and it still works. Then, you can add Mathurin to Dallas at anything between the minimum and $24mm and it still works for everyone. Recall there were rumors of Gafford to Indy for a pick and Mathurin, but Dallas didn't want Mathurin (reportedly because it didn't want to jeopardize its cap space rather than a problem with Mathurin). Plus, LAC is still needing a center. So, maybe this was first broached back in February. Given what salaries have looked like so far, my guess would be something around the MLE with two of the three years guaranteed. Yes, Dallas could just sign him outright to that, but LAC could match since he's restricted.
At that point my best guess is the following with a good possibility Klay gets bought out at that point (and Powell gets the 15th slot?). Suddenly you look more balanced and the second unit looks fairly formidible.
Lively/Morez/Cisse
PJ/Aldama/Martin
Flagg/Naji/Klay
Christie/Mathurin/Sergio
Irving/Sasser/Nembhard
One interesting note on numbers. Christie just changed from 00 to 0. I'm not sure if you can have a 00 and a 0 on a roster, but Mathurin's number in Indy was 00 (it was 9 in LA after the TDL).
This makes some sense to me for sure. The Wing depth is loaded up. Which certainly fits with this new NBA. They will still be a 1 Guard - 3 Wing - 1 Big or 1 Guard - 2 Wing - 2 Big roster for the most part. Leaning on Coop to play make even more in Year 2. Adding Sasser, Aldama, Mathurin, and Sergio will surely increase the 3PA/g numbers. Not to mention adding Kyrie to this years' squad.