2021-2022 AROUND the NBA: GSW Champs [ARCHIVED]

[F Gump]

1 ... maybe something involving THJ with more outgoing coming back from Sac (like Holmes plus Mo Harkless).  I like the latter deal for both teams.  Dallas saves $3.8mm in the swap. 
2  I could see sending the pick and Bertans to a cap room team to save another $18.2mm if getting under the tax is a priority. 
3  I believe they can pay Brunson in the $18-$19mm range and stay under the tax between those two deals, upgrade the C position and create a sizable TPE. 

^ Good thought-provoking ideas.

1a I like THJ for Holmes + Harkless as a foundational move for the summer that they can build from. (It would have to happen in July.) Instead of moving THJ just to move on, it turns him into an asset of sorts in the process. That's what the better FO's find a way to do. To me, this definitely qualifies.

1b But ...The Mavs will have a numbers problem in the summer, and this 1-for-2 makes it worse. IMO not a deal-killer, but better if it can be a 2-for-2. In the process of figuring that out, is there an even bigger possibility that includes THJ for Holmes? Just saying. It is the Kings, after all, and in desperation mode most likely.

But if available, I'd consider THJ-Holmes the one item of all the above and below that I make sure to do, the top priority, if available. Wouldn't want that to get away if offered.


2a  I wouldn't want to use a pick to move DB in in 2-for-0 (unless he spares it up the next 2 months), even despite the numbers crunch. I would think those are both assets, which the Mavs need more of, not less. IMO you need your outgoing assets to be swapped for incoming assets, not for air (aka less payroll). Or keep them.

2b I also do wonder if trading away BOTH DB and THJ might be too much shooting outgoing. (Then I pivot and wonder if there could be a trade where DB goes to Sac as added to THJ-Holmes, with some other shooter who is more cost-efficient acquired somewhere.)


3 To me, $18-19M seems higher than needed for JB starting salary. Just like $15M seemed way higher than would be needed for DFS, though oft discussed as what it could take. In his role here, JB is very good at what he does (and I think he needs to be a priority to keep), but I think such salary expectations are higher than it will take because of size, past role, past salary, and draft position. Pay tends to follow perception, and those things impact perception. Someone can always pay wildly, of course, but that's not so likely as it once was, with teams looking for better return-per-dollar for their spending.