Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Smitty]

But there has to be a cap hold, because there is no 14th guy on that form. He didn’t include Lawson, and I remember asking him about that the other night. I believe they are required to carry 14 players, but not 15, so some type of cap old has to be in place for the 14th roster spot.

What I am asking right now, very poorly, is whether or not he has included that cap hold for slot 14 into his thinking when coming up with that 174m + “apron salary” number. Because if so, it seems like a vet minimum contract, would you guys tell me only counts about that same amount, would simply replace that cap hold that is already factored in, meaning they’d THEN still have the 3.7 under his cushion.

I assume the answer is no, but does what I’m asking make sense?

I’ll let Gump take over but I ran his numbers against CBA Mavs and waiving Lawson’s salary was an EXACT match to Gumps numbers on his spreadsheet. So caphold wasn’t factored in at all.

[KillerLeft]

It's awesome you've arrived as soon as a bunch of posters were asking you to weigh in. 

Batman to the Batsignal type of vibe.

Yes, save us, Mr. Gump!

[KillerLeft]

I’ll let Gump take over but I ran his numbers against CBA Mavs and waiving Lawson’s salary was an EXACT match to Gumps numbers on his spreadsheet. So caphold wasn’t factored in at all.

I think that answers my question. So Gumps total is without Lawson, assuming that part (or all) of that 3.7 has to be used to fill slot 14.

[KillerLeft]

That would mean that simply assuming Markief is back, Lawson is very likely gone. Or, that the Mavs aren’t worried about a cushion as much as Mr Gump. But, I bet he is right about that.

[Smitty]

I think that answers my question. So Gumps total is without Lawson, assuming that part (or all) of that 3.7 has to be used to fill slot 14.

3.7 is with a 1M cushion. The question is can they get by with a ~500K cushion with signing 2 vet min guys, getting to 15-man. Seems legal but is it practical in the CBA world…

[KillerLeft]

What if we are about to see a salary dump of Kleber, somehow, either completely dumping him or taking back something much cheaper, then they sign both Morris brothers and end up not even being a tax team?

How would we feel about that? Is that even possible?

Personally, seeing the hoops that the more expensive teams are having to jump through this summer, I think I would be OK with it.

[F Gump]

FWIW Markieff Morris says on Twitter that he’s coming back to the Mavs and wants his brother to join.

@Keefmorris
I’m coming back. I want bro to come with me.

1 Mavs only have 1 roster slot open at the moment (but 2, if they waive Lawson)
2 Mavs don't have enough money for another player at the moment (or only enough for 1 player, after waiving Lawson)
3 The last time the Morris brothers were on the same roster, it was a PR and legal disaster for the Suns, and they both were sent packing. I don't think ANY team would risk that again -- seems like that bridge was burned.
4 Other Morris is the better player, but there is thuggery history between Other M and Luka. Seems like Mavs got the Good M.
5 I do see it as more likely than not that Lawson is waived and the Good M is re-signed, for his clubhouse demeanor.

The numbers with Lawson waived, showing the lack of room for 2 minimum salaries (2.1M each).

[Smitty]

What if we are about to see a salary dump of Kleber, somehow, eiter completely dumping him or taking back something much cheaper, then they sign both Morris brothers and end up not even being a tax team?

How would we feel about that? Is that even possible?

Personally, seeing the hoops that the more expensive teams are having to jump through this summer, I think I would be OK with it.

Whoa. I didn’t expect that question after all the Maxi discussion earlier. No I would not be okay with it. Dumping Maxi to sign Markieff doesn’t make them a better basketball team. And I don’t care about the tax or repeater tax or frankly anything that costs the new owner money. There’s no real penalty to team building, being over the tax line. Only the first and second apron.


Edit: But could we see Powell gone??

[BigDirk41]

Whoa. I didn’t expect that question after all the Maxi discussion earlier. No I would not be okay with it. Dumping Maxi to sign Markieff doesn’t make them a better basketball team. And I don’t care about the tax or repeater tax or frankly anything that costs the new owner money. There’s no real penalty to team building, being over the tax line. Only the first and second apron.


Edit: But could we see Powell gone??

I'd rather be able to sign another player if we can send Powell out to someone for air. Powell is a nice guy, but not a need on this team..

[KillerLeft]

Whoa. I didn’t expect that question after all the Maxi discussion earlier. No I would not be okay with it. Dumping Maxi to sign Markieff doesn’t make them a better basketball team. And I don’t care about the tax or repeater tax or frankly anything that costs the new owner money. There’s no real penalty to team building, being over the tax line. Only the first and second apron.


Edit: But could we see Powell gone??

Just musing. 

I agree, of course, that Kleber makes them better, and they've given us no reason to believe that anything other than competing is their goal this season. But, I do think there's tremendous value in avoiding the tax where you can, so I guess if we imagine they see Kleber the way ChicagoJK suggested, that would be very tempting. 

I could be wrong, but I don't think Powell gets you below the tax line, even dumped for air, considering you would then have to sign two vet minimums. It could be a solution to the original question YOU posed, I suppose, right? I actually think he's a pretty good value contract for an emergency big you can trust and one of those "doesn't complain" end of bench guys we've been talking about.

[KillerLeft]

The last time the Morris brothers were on the same roster, it was a PR and legal disaster for the Suns, and they both were sent packing. I don't think ANY team would risk that again -- seems like that bridge was burned.

Whoa, I don't remember this! What happened?

[KillerLeft]

FGump is currently catching up on the last few pages, laughing his ass off at how poorly we (mostly me) grasp this stuff.

[KillerLeft]

I understand one thing: that $2.2 million in JaVale McGee dead money sure does suck when you get to this point in the summer. I hope they never stretch waive a player again.

[Smitty]

Just musing. 

I agree, of course, that Kleber makes them better, and they've given us no reason to believe that anything other than competing is their goal this season. But, I do think there's tremendous value in avoiding the tax where you can, so I guess if we imagine they see Kleber the way ChicagoJK suggested, that would be very tempting. 

I could be wrong, but I don't think Powell gets you below the tax line, even dumped for air, considering you would then have to sign two vet minimums. It could be a solution to the original question YOU posed, I suppose, right? I actually think he's a pretty good value contract for an emergency big you can trust and one of those "doesn't complain" end of bench guys we've been talking about.

Powell conveniently fits into the BAE. So easy to trade for air and I don’t think you’d have to attach a SRP or anything. Just send him to someone that wants him or where he might get PT. Doing so has no impact on win/loss though and is a way to get the Morris bros or any 2 players you like, since Gump has said it’s only possible to add one player with waiving Lawson.

[KillerLeft]

Powell conveniently fits into the BAE. So easy to trade for air and I don’t think you’d have to attach a SRP or anything. Just send him to someone that wants him or where he might get PT. Doing so has no impact on win/loss though and is a way to get the Morris bros or any 2 players you like, since Gump has said it’s only possible to add one player with waiving Lawson.

Yeah, it gets you to two new vets + a cushion, but doesn't get you below the tax.

Might be unpopular, but I'd wager that Powell would impact win/loss more than whomever the 14th guy might end up being. For all the "finally - two real centers" talk around here, I'd think the 3rd pick and roll big (making the right amount of money) would be a little more valued (as insurance). But, I agree it's a way to go if there's someone out there at the minimum they can't live without. The problem is, it would have to be a center.

[KillerLeft]

We're probably tripping, honestly. They're going to sign Markief Morris and call it a summer. Not the most fun for us, but probably the right thing to do for them.

[F Gump]

1 If you SW Powell, you have dead money of 1,333,334 this year (and 2 more years, too). Then you have to refill the slot with a minimum salary (2,087,519). So you only save 579,148. I don't think it makes sense to do that move with such little benefit - and carve into your payroll in future years.
2 If you HAD to, yes that gets you room to waive Lawson and add 2 players at minimum. You'd have another 100K leftover, on top of the 1M cushion.
3 Mavs have said Powell is going nowhere, and they're not looking to change his status on the team. So that's the biggest obstacle of all.

[The Jom]

What if instead of trading or waiving, you promote Powell to the front office?

[Smitty]

Yeah, it gets you to two new vets + a cushion, but doesn't get you below the tax.

Might be unpopular, but I'd wager that Powell would impact win/loss more than whomever the 14th guy might end up being. For all the "finally - two real centers" talk around here, I'd think the 3rd pick and roll big (making the right amount of money) would be a little more valued (as insurance). But, I agree it's a way to go if there's someone out there at the minimum they can't live without. The problem is, it would have to be a center.

To play devils advocate a bit. Would Marcus Morris a legit backup 4 AND DSJ/Dinwiddie a legit backup PG have more impact on winning than a 4th Center Powell? I’m counting Maxi as the 3rd Center in this scenario.

[KillerLeft]

To play devils advocate a bit. Would Marcus Morris a legit backup 4 and DSJ/Dinwiddie a legit backup PG have more impact on winning than a 4th Center Powell? I’m counting Maxi as the 3rd Center in this scenario.

I think both/either are likely to play almost exactly as much as Powell. 

They're giving Hardy and Exum the ball. The backup 4 might be a little thin if there's an injury, but I don't think there's a rotation spot open for one of those, either.