2021-2022 MAVS NEWS: 4th in West | WCF loss [ARCHIVED]

[DanSchwartzgan]

Current roster with no incoming S&T players and assuming Dragic is a Mav:

Wood       Powell

DFS         Maxi        Bertans

Bullock     Green      Frank

SDin        THJ          Pinson

Luka        Dragic      Hardy

After a little bit of sleep (and a quick re-read of Hollinger's FA BORD$ projections), I think it may be possible that:

1. Dragic comes for the minimum

2. Payton comes for the TP-MLE (or the portion left after signing Hardy) and is the defensive wing Nico spoke of wanting to add.

Luka, Bullock, DFS and Wood appear to be locks in the starting lineup and with Payton and Dragic here any of Payton, Dinwiddie, THJ or a big could start with them (or more importantly close with them).  Payton would provide a third lock down defender to go with Luka/Wood.  Dinwiddie obviously provides a second ball handler (and Dragic can run the second team).  Hardaway gives you Luka plus three shooters and an additional big pushes Wood to his best defensive position against teams with more size.  Basically, total flexibility around the Core-Four.  

As Hollinger pointed out, there is still an opportunity for a S&T if NY wants to operate over the cap.  There isn't a reason really Dallas wouldn't do this and the compensation, if any, would be minor in either direction.  Given the fact that Detroit now has Duren, Stewart and Noel, Olynyk becomes their fourth big.  He makes pretty close to the right money to come to Dallas as part of the 3-way with Detroit if Brunson is indeed getting just north of $110mm.  

One reason NY might not want to do this is being under the cap might make it easier to do a deal with San Antonio for Murray.  If they didn't guarantee Gibson, they'd still have about $10mm in space after signing Brunson.  That would be enough to do a Reddish plus picks for Murray deal without having to send additional salary/players to SA.  Of course, they could just as easily guarantee Gibson and send him and Reddish to SA (if SA has the roster spots).  Or, if Olynyk is too expensive for Cuban, Gibson would be a nice one year mobile big that could come to Dallas in the Brunson deal (or in the TPE created by the Brunson deal) as a way of helping move Murray to NY.  I think the roster needs one more big body besides Wood, Maxi and Powell.  With the TP-MLE presumably spent on Payton, it is either something like Olynyk or Gibson or we are shopping with the minimum.

Wood      Powell

DFS        Maxi       Bertans

Bullock    Green     Frank

Payton*   THJ       Pinson      (Hardy two way if we add a big)

Luka        SD        Dragic


*this spot could go to any of several people depending on matchups