2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[Tyler]

From the article: "Matching salary in a deal for McCollum's $30.8 could be problematic for the Mavs. Dallas doesn't appear to have the combination of short-term salary, plus young prospects to put together a deal for McCollum. The Mavs have also been reluctant to part with either Jalen Brunson or Dorian Finney-Smith in trades before next week's deadline."

Dallas has $12.5mm in potential expiring contracts -- Maxi, Frank, and Moses (all non-guaranteed next year). THJ being hurt would help their tank and his declining deal could also be seen as a positive by a team looking for cap savings. And Dallas also has a TPE just big enough to take back Nance to save them even more.

THJ+Maxi for McCollum+Nance thus works financially, and would save Portland $23mm next year assuming they let Maxi go. As for young talent, Green and Moses could be easily tossed in as cheap assets. For a team like Portland in firesale mode, I think Dallas has more to offer than the author understands.

Now whether Dallas is willing to eat an even bigger luxury tax bill next season is another issue. But if they are, then that could be an interesting opportunistic framework to improve the team.