(08-01-2021, 06:02 PM)Kammrath Wrote: It is going to come like a thief in the night.
A Woj bomb announcing the Mavs in serious talks to send KP to some third team to secure Ben Simmons from PHI.
1 I doubt KP is going anywhere. This summer.
I do think they can get more out of him than they got in the playoffs. I accept that they believe they can turn him into a somewhat-star, and they may be right - but I would hope it ends up in a trade eventually for more cost-efficient players, because few centers are worth max money these days.
2 I'd love to see DP moved, and Holmes incoming. But there's no room for both on the roster, if KP is still here (and I think he will be). That's assuming a starting salary for Holmes at a number around 12-14M, however, and I lose all interest at these $18M and $20M ideas being tossed around - it makes no sense to pay that for a center these days, even if you think he will be useful.
3 Once Lowry is off the board, I think the best free agent for Mavs may be Fournier. He has some secondary playmaking skills that THJ and Powell do not. Hollinger puts all 3 of those with a value-price of around $13M (+/- 0.5M), and if he's gettable at that number, to me that's attractive. I think Lonzo's price tag will be way too high. If Dragic gets traded and then bought out, that would be my alternative to Fournier, but I don't like him eating up almost $20M of my cap room.
4 I think players like Batum and Reggie Jackson will be great value for useful veterans if they can be signed for about the MLE. And I think that's going to be about the number they get. I see Batum as one of those forward-sized wings the Mavs have been needing, and now here he is looking for a home. I like Jackson as a shooter, but if bought out, I'd want Dragic over Jackson.
5 If KP gets traded, that really changes the possibilities, but I don't think that's on the near horizon.
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