06-19-2022, 02:27 PM
(06-19-2022, 02:17 PM)mvossman Wrote: My case for signing Jalen Smith to the tax MLE.
I realize he may not want to sign here for the max tax MLE (roughly 3/20), but this is why I think he should be our top target.
1. Asset. He would be the youngest with most upside option we could sign. He was a lottery pick just 2 years ago and is already a rotational level player. We would basically only be paying him a little over a million more than his club option that the Suns waived (which was crazy). After trading our pick away, it would be a good way to add cost controlled youth with upside. From a purely asset standpoint, he would be the top choice.
2. Defensive big wing. There is a lot of talk of adding a defensive big wing using the tax MLE. If we add Jalen to the center rotation, then we can slide Maxi down to the 4. I would argue he is probably a better option than anyone we could get in the market. An argument could be made that Maxi is probably at his best at the 5 (one I would agree with) and there is a good chance he will spend time there in the playoffs (Jalen might not be ready for primetime, or TDL trade). But from a wear and tear standpoint it might be better to play most of minutes at the 4 during the regular season.
3. Wood insurance. There is a very real chance that Wood does not work out. Hopefully, if that is the case we can move him at the deadline instead of letting walk at the end of the season. Assuming Jalen is playing at a rotational level here, that allows us to trade Wood at the TDL for something other than a center. Maybe that defensive wing like a Crowder or Covington. Maybe they could even package Wood and Green for Grant. Having Jalen gives us a lot more options to make that Wood TDL trade without crushing our center depth (like we did with the KP trade).
I prefer Hartenstein for his defense, but I agree with this approach in general. Do the Mavs? I'm doubtful. I hope they at least consider this the backup plan if they can't find a wing.