(04-05-2022, 06:15 AM)omahen Wrote: I don't agree. You are operating under assumption that Brunson wants to stay. If that is the fact, than your job is easy and there is likely very difficult to find a better scenario than resign him. But it is also possible that Brunson will leave no matter what. Because he wants to be the lead PG. Even if you offer max salary. It is possible he will not tell you about his plans, because he is "focusing on the season and will think about it in June". It is also possible that he really doesn't want to think about it before June. That is why you need to have all scenarios covered.
The real good GM finds a positive outcome out of that scenario. This can't happen if you are surprised by Brunson stating he will sign with Knicks on the opening day of FA. There are possible scenarios where you use outgoing Brunson salary in a trade for a player you want, which enables you to send zero salary to the team selling the player. I think a good GM has to explore those options. Good GM will see who can be available in the trade and what the opposing team wants in return. Is there a good player where a team values that they don't get salary back, just picks? These are cases where Brunson contract could become valuable. If he declares he wants to leave.
Ok let's say he is deadset to leave, just for the sake of it.
You can't even make a legit trade with his salary, because out=/=in. TPE is gone at the start of FA.
You would pay assets just to make anything work.
If he's gone, he is gone.
Or you have to take what you can get, what is the opposite of planing.