2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[DanSchwartzgan]

 
About Powell, I don't know where he goes or why, but I do think his days here are over. Since they have needs and he is an expiring, if nothing else, I think they will find a utility for him in some trade or other. For some team, he can at least offer a good-attitude innings-eater for a year, if you follow the expression. Maybe Powell not THJ is the one who goes to SAC?
 

Half of the equation of fantasy trades is figuring out if the other side makes sense.  It is one thing for someone to say Player X has to go, but finding a team that might actually want or need Player X is kind of important.  For instance, what team would THJ start for?  At his money he either has to start or the deal involving him has to include someone financially unattractive.  That's why players like Tobias and Hayward come into the conversation when THJ is part of the outgoing.  It is either something like that or you hang onto him and rebuild his value between now and the TDL.

Powell doesn't have to start at his new destination, but with cheaper alternatives out there, Dallas would probably need to tip to make a deal involving Powell work.  I guess I could see Powell as a one year replacement for UFA Damian Jones if Sac. doesn't want to bring him back.  Sacramento would be losing the more talented, but disgruntled player in Holmes.  I suspect the deal would need to be Powell plus something of value for Holmes.  However, with Barnes getting a good bit of time at the four, there might be a slot for Hardaway to start in Sacramento and they could certainly use some outside shooting (much depends on the draft).  I've used Powell and THJ in trade designs with Sacramento, but I kind of like the Hardaway based deals better.  Sacramento has that $4mm TPE which also allows us to move an additional low dollar body as part of any deal.

I'm less certain than you that Powell is gone.  Maybe he's just expiring filler in a larger deal but what if there isn't some larger deal (do we have the draft capital to even do a larger deal?).  Where does he go on a stand alone basis and at what cost?  If he's going to be an innings eater, I can maybe see him being more valued by a former coach than by anyone else.  He has former coaches in Houston, Indy and Orlando.  Two of the three project to have cap room, which would help Dallas, but none really need Powell as currently constituted.  Is he part of an Eric Gordon trade with Houston if they send Wood somewhere else?  I struggle to see the need in Indy as long as they keep Turner.  Maybe there is a role in Orlando where he preserves cap room for a year and babysits the kids. Robin Lopez performs that role now, but he's 34 and free.  Does Orlando give him a multi-year?  Or take on Powell for a single year.   

It is easy to argue that Dallas should do this or that idealized outcome.  I find it much more interesting if that is accompanied by a realistic path to get there.