2019-2020 Mavs Trade Discussion + Salary Chart

[DanSchwartzgan]

Dan and Kamm, LOL, y'all are basically guaranteeing me that Burke is a Mav next year. We'll see. Let's put it this way - if the Mavs do not retain Burke, then they essentially enter the offseason a significantly worse team than they are today. Burke is the solitary guy on roster who reasonably qualifies to take on that role of the third- or fourth-best (likely fourth-) player on a playoff team  

I'm not guaranteeing anything.  Dallas could have had him for the minimum last summer and passed.  So, there is no telling what they will do.  What I've said is 1. It won't take cap room (as some have said) to sign him and 2. Your estimate of the MLE or more is probably too high.  He hasn't made more than minimum wage since the end of his rookie contract.  Five teams have given up on him and he was cut by Philly (a team desperate for three point shooting) as recently as February.  This isn't some unknown college player getting drafted too high because of a great March Madness run.  He is a known quantity.  He's been a net negative on the court for most of his career.  In fact, he was a net negative during the 8 warm-up games in Orlando.

With all that said, he's been a God send on several occasions since his arrival.  To me, his issue is inconsistency.  He averages good numbers, but it seems to be All-Time Great one game and dud the next.  Recall he had a seeding game where he was 0-8 from three and only scored 2 points in the first playoff game.  Assuming KP is back Tuesday, I suspect Burke will come off the bench again (who would you sit among Maxi, DFS and THJ if KP and Luka are both available?). 

There is a role here that is working.  A huge percentage of Burke's minutes have come next to Curry.  That combo has a net rating of 33.6.  He's played nearly 60% of his minutes next to Luka with a net rating of 16.7.  He has a net rating in the 20's with Boban and MKG.  We have the makings of a bit of a Death Lineup when Luka comes back from rest to play with some combo of Burke, Curry, Boban and MKG.  If Burke is hot, give him more.  If he's not...don't.