Luxury Tax Hell

[F Gump]

Agree with all of this, including your projection of Brunson’s future. My feelings stem from my belief that the Mavs are incapable of spending efficiently enough to win on a budget and a small, last-ditch hope that they might be willing to spend more as a method of getting through this rough roster patch more quickly. 

I have said many times that it’s not our money, so we can’t demand it be spent. Overall, I’m right in line with this thinking. I just don’t know that I trust them to work this out at all, let alone in time to make something of their time with Luka. The Brunson disaster took a big bite out of my willingness to give them any benefit of the doubt with that. Now that they really CAN’T add significant salary, that hope is forfeit.

I don't really disagree with any of this. I share your wariness on whether they will really spend what it takes -- but, I just think that the Brunson outcome didn't give us objective answers as to what the Mavs spending mindset really is.

I also am a big believer in the need for efficient contracts, getting value for the money. Wild overpays kill. They will be saddled with a monster number for Doncic for a long time. You MUST balance that somehow, unless you have another elite guy.

The risk-reward on Brunson being worth or outplaying his contract was solid when the number was 90 or so (like they seemed to think he was available for, and seemed willing to offer), but another 10M a year was a huge risk. But IMO they did a good job on Bullock, DFS, Franky, McGee, and the risk-reward on THJ was reasonable at the time. Maybe they've seen the light.

The real issue is whether they can develop players from raw stuff into high value. Having a pipeline of that is what enhances your ability to get the talent on the other end, because other teams will want your young cheap guys in trade. That's what they're missing. The anemic GL and 2-way results by this team, where it's just constant cycles of junk and no value emerges, are a major hindrance.