2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[mvossman]

I just don't see Cuban trading KP unless a trade for equal or greater value somehow falls out of the sky, IE a star player on a non-terrible contract. He's gone on record before saying that trading an all star caliber player (which is how he sees KP) basically never works out. Since I don't expect a trade like that to ever materialize due to KP's injury history, I think we're stuck with re-shuffling the deck chairs until his contract expires in 2024.

Also, I don't see them trading for a big money/big minutes center with KP on the roster, despite them insisting on starting a big next to him right now. I think they only plan on playing KP next to another center for maybe 10-20 minutes a game so I expect them to continue the bullpen approach and keep several different types of centers on smaller contracts instead. So I don't see a trade for a Turner/Capela/Holmes type happening.

I also don't see them trading Brunson unless he straight up tells them he will not re-sign with us this summer. He's emerged as a locker room leader and is a homegrown foundation piece that I think they really value. Same with DFS. So again, unless either of them flat out says they will not be coming back, I think we'll keep them and try to re-sign them this summer.

So all that leads me to believe that if we look into a trade this year, it will involve THJ and/or Bullock with S. Brown, Powell, Burke, and WCS as your potential salary filler. I think the target will be a big wing that has a little bit of playmaking ability. Jerami Grant fits this criteria the best but lots of teams want him so who knows if we have enough to trade for him.

So the question is, what, if any, value do THJ and Bullock have and who could we potentially trade them for? What kind of package could THJ/Bullock/salary filler and maybe a first rounder get in return? And which teams could use someone like THJ?

I agree with all of this except if they don't want to trade away Brunson/DFS due to home grown and "leadership" then why would they be so willing to dump THJ for air?  He was apparently a top free agent priority and part of the "leadership council" with Luka and KP.

Assuming they don't want to trade any of those guys, it means either they are paying tax to run it back (don't see Cuban doing this) or spending assets just to dump salary.  I'm not sure Powell is on that untradeable list as well (and if we are staying under the tax, no way to replace him).  The only way to keep this team intact and stay under the tax would be to somehow dump Bullock, Boban and Burke.  Probably need to let go of Brown as well.

It will be very interesting to see what Cuban/Nico do at the TDL.  If they don't trade THJ for an expiring or trade Brunson, it will take a lot of work to get under the tax next year.